Eric Berry ‘a bit surprised’ on lack of extension progress

[Quesadilla Joe]

http://www.kansascity.com/sports/nfl...e88612427.html

Spoiler!

Against the backdrop of approximately 352 kids laughing, jumping and playing on a humid summer night, Chiefs safety Eric Berry wore a smile on his face as he stood on the turf at North Kansas City High School and explained what he knew about his current contract status.

And Berry — who has until July 15 to get an extension done with the Chiefs, lest he play the 2016 under the one-year franchise tag — took a break from his sixth annual free youth football camp on Friday and made a few things clear.

One, he absolutely still wants to be a Chief for the long term.

And, two, yes, he is a bit surprised it’s taken so long for a new deal to get done.

“I thought it would progress a little bit more,” Berry said. “But it’s still been pretty much the same since the last time we talked. A lot can change in a week. A lot can change for whenever the deadline is.”

Berry’s surprise makes sense. Chiefs chairman Clark Hunt said at the NFL’s annual meeting in March that he’s hopeful to get a long-term deal done with Berry, and that he’s “certainly” somebody that they “would like to be a Chief for a very, very long time.”

Hunt added that he got a sense that Berry shared the sentiment to stay, a notion the 27-year old Berry — who has spent the last seven years with the Chiefs — also said in March and repeated Friday.

“Obviously I’d love to be a Chief — I want to be a Chief long term, just because of the community, the staff, from top to bottom, the players and everything,” Berry said. “But sometimes things don’t go as planned, and I’m prepared for that, but hopefully it goes as planned, and I’m prepared for that, as well.”

If the Chiefs can’t reach a new deal with Berry before the July 15 deadline, Berry would have to play the 2016 season under the $10.8 million franchise tender. However, he could also hold off on signing the tender, which would allow him to skip training camp and the preseason and return shortly before the regular season and still collect his full $10.8 million salary.

Still, an extension is sensible for both sides. Although the franchise tender is good money (and guaranteed, too) Berry stands to collect far more guaranteed money with a new deal, as he has the same number of all-pro selections (two) and three more Pro Bowl selections (four) than the league’s highest-paid safety, Harrison Smith, who recently signed a five-year, $51.25 million pact with the Vikings that includes nearly $29 million guaranteed.

What’s more, assuming Berry agreed to a richer deal than Smith’s, the cash-strapped Chiefs — who have a league-low $226,818 in cap space. according to the NFL Players Association — would still stand to create a minimum of $3 million or so in cap room this year with an extension. Iit’s worth noting the team already has a significant amount of money committed to 2017 — upwards of $166 million, which already surpasses the 2016 cap number of $155 million.

The Chiefs also have the option of rescinding the tender on Berry, which would create $10.8 million in cap room. However, that would make one of their most popular — and more important — players an unrestricted free agent, which hardly seems like a reasonable option for a team with Super Bowl aspirations.

“It’s a completely different atmosphere (without him),” said center Mitch Morse, who helped out at Berry’s camp on Friday. “I’ve only met a few people who, when they walk into a room full of people, that you feel their presence and people immediately shut up. He’s such a profound speaker, and he has profound things to say, and you inherently want to listen and gain knowledge. You respect the hell out of him.”

Berry, who fast-tracked his way back from a December 2014 diagnosis of Hodgkin lymphoma to return in time for the start of training camp last July, served as the emotional leader of the 2015 Chiefs, which rallied from a 1-5 start to win 11 straight games, including their first playoff win in 22 years.

He did it on the field too, as he looked quicker and faster than in previous seasons — he was back to playing at his college weight of 210 pounds — on the way to racking up 61 tackles, 10 pass deflections and two interceptions and make the Pro Bowl, be named an all-pro and win the NFL’s comeback player of the year award.

“He’s one of the main focal points of this team,” said Morse, whose comments have been parroted by several teammates, including quarterback Alex Smith. “He means a lot to Chiefs Kingdom, and he sure as hell means a lot to us, as players. We’re incomplete without him and we love the energy and passion he brings.”

Still, business is business, and Berry understands that. One of his closest friends on the team is outside linebacker Justin Houston, who was franchise-tagged in March 2015 after a 22-sack season and had to wait out the next several months as his agent, Joel Segal, and the Chiefs hammered out a six-year, $101 million extension right before the July 15 deadline.

“It’s crazy because I was talking to him when he was going through the exact same thing — it’s like roles have switched just a year later,” Berry said. “He just keeps telling me to be patient and control what I can control. So I gave him that advice, and he’s given me the same advice. That’s all I can do.”

So Berry, who has always believed in letting his work speak for himself, has spent the last several months training in Florida, getting ready for the season.

He looked trim and happy as he worked with the kids on Friday — the turnout was the best his camp in Kansas City has ever had, by the way — his trademark brown, red-tinged hair and goatee fluffy and full, a stark contrast to the way he looked last summer, even after his chemo treatments had long come to an end.

To be sure, Berry is grateful for that, a fact that came across as he spoke optimistically about his goals for the next several months, despite the uncertainty of his contract situation.

“I definitely want to get a ring, and I definitely want to be a Chief,” Berry said. “Hopefully, we can make that happen.”

And to be clear, Berry hasn’t lost faith, regardless of his surprise at the lack of recent progress.

“You know miracles happen — I’m a witness,” Berry said with a smile. “So it might go down to the wire, you know ... and hopefully they handle their end, and hopefully it comes together like it’s supposed to.”

[Bowser]

Just when I think Tiger has hit bedrock with his dipshittery, he grabs a jackhammer and aims for China.

[Bowser]

Tiger - "If Berry were in some Nike or Outback Steakhouse commercials, we would be justified in paying him!"

[TigeRRUppeRRcut]

Top 50 Player Sales Report YTD (June 1 – August 31, 2016)

1. Dez Bryant, WR, Dallas Cowboys

2. Tom Brady, QB, New England Patriots

3. Aaron Rodgers, QB, Green Bay Packers

4. Russell Wilson, QB, Seattle Seahawks

5. Odell Beckham, WR, New York Giants

6. Tony Romo, QB, Dallas Cowboys

7. Rob Gronkowski, TE, New England Patriots

8. Cam Newton, QB, Carolina Panthers

9. J.J. Watt, DE, Houston Texans

10. Jason Witten, TE, Dallas Cowboys

11. Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Dallas Cowboys

12. Antonio Brown, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers

13. Von Miller, LB, Denver Broncos

14. Derek Carr, QB, Oakland Raiders

15. Todd Gurley, RB, Los Angeles Rams

16. Luke Kuechly, LB, Carolina Panthers

17. Amari Cooper, WR, Oakland Raiders

18. Khalil Mack, LB, Oakland Raiders

19. Richard Sherman, DB, Seattle Seahawks

20. Clay Matthews, LB, Green Bay Packers

21. Carson Wentz, QB, Philadelphia Eagles

22. Jordy Nelson, WR, Green Bay Packers

23. Teddy Bridgewater, QB, Minnesota Vikings

24. Marcus Mariota, QB, Tennessee Titans

25. Le’Veon Bell, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers

26. Andrew Luck, QB, Indianapolis Colts

27. Ben Roethlisberger, QB, Pittsburgh Steelers

28. Navorro Bowman, LB, San Francisco 49ers

29. Julian Edelman, WR, New England Patriots

30. Jared Goff, QB, Los Angeles Rams

31. DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Houston Texans

32. Larry Fitzgerald, WR, Arizona Cardinals

33. Jameis Winston, QB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

34. Eli Manning, QB, New York Giants

35. Demaryius Thomas, WR, Denver Broncos

36. Drew Brees, QB, New Orleans Saints

37. Julio Jones, WR, Atlanta Falcons

38. Alshon Jeffery, WR, Chicago Bears

39. Jimmy Graham, TE, Seattle Seahawks

40. A.J. Green, WR, Cincinnati Bengals

41. Carlos Hyde, RB, San Francisco 49ers

42. Eddie Lacy, RB, Green Bay Packers

43. Jarvis Landry, WR, Miami Dolphins

44. Brandon Marshall, WR, New York Jets

45. Kirk Cousins, QB, Washington Redskins

46. Adrian Peterson, RB, Minnesota Vikings

47. Joe Haden, DB, Cleveland Browns

48. Tyler Lockett, WR, Seattle Seahawks

49. Kam Chancellor, SS, Seattle Seahawks

50. Ryan Tannehill, QB, Miami Dolphins

[TigeRRUppeRRcut]

'Eric Berry is a household name' - CP delusionals

[TigeRRUppeRRcut]

Originally Posted by Bowser

Just when I think Tiger has hit bedrock with his dipshittery, he grabs a jackhammer and aims for China.

See the above. Facts, not fiction.

[TigeRRUppeRRcut]

Originally Posted by pugsnotdrugs19

This has to be a troll job. You cannot be serious with this shit about Berry.

There's a difference between fan recognition in KC and neighboring states, versus the rest of the nation. Don't let your homerism blind you into thinking he is an elite defender. He's simply above average at his position. He's no Earl Thomas or Chancellor

[Perineum Ripper]

http://www.kansascity.com/sports/spt...e31028232.html


After defeating Hodgkin lymphoma to return to the football field this month, it’s no surprise Chiefs safety Eric Berry is pretty popular these days.

According to a jersey report released by Dick’s Sporting Goods, Berry’s No. 29 jersey has risen from No. 103 to No. 43 in overall NFL jersey sales the past 30 days.

[TigeRRUppeRRcut]

Story was 2 years ago and he barely broke into the top 50, most of those sales came locally. Face it, he's not a household name. Otherwise he'd be on commercials selling shit left and right like Sherman and Watt have

[Bowser]

Berry, who has made the Pro Bowl in 5 of his 7 seasons, been named All-Pro the last two seasons, and has beaten cancer to return to football (something that is talked about nearly every Chiefs game) isn't a "known commodity"? And you are seriously doubling down on your statement by saying his jersey isn't a top 50 seller? We got that right, here?

[ThaVirus]

Colin Kaepernick's been in commercials and his jersey sales were at or near the top recently.

Guess he deserves a new, max contract.

[RunKC]

Originally Posted by mac459

http://www.kansascity.com/sports/spt...e31028232.html


After defeating Hodgkin lymphoma to return to the football field this month, it’s no surprise Chiefs safety Eric Berry is pretty popular these days.

According to a jersey report released by Dick’s Sporting Goods, Berry’s No. 29 jersey has risen from No. 103 to No. 43 in overall NFL jersey sales the past 30 days.

He was also 4th in rookie jersey sales his rookie year. But Tiger doesn't like facts

[ThaVirus]

Originally Posted by Bowser

Tiger - "If Berry were in some Nike or Outback Steakhouse commercials, we would be justified in paying him!"

A worse take than Staylor claiming he didn't want to stay in KC because he didn't Tweet about it

[RunKC]

Hey guys, no Chiefs should be paid bc they aren't household names. Not one Chief on the top 50 sales this year and Kelce even had a tv show.

Nope. Don't pay anyone until they are on TV!

[Bowser]

Originally Posted by RunKC

Hey guys, no Chiefs should be paid bc they aren't household names. Not one Chief on the top 50 sales this year and Kelce even had a tv show.

Nope. Don't pay anyone until they are on TV!

"Yeah, Eric, your work ethic and desire to be great is unmatched and we love what you bring to this team, but we heard you turned down an opportunity to be in that M&M's commercial. We can't have a bunch of ****ing nobodies on this team, in spite of your back-to-back All Pro seasons. There's the door, you probably ought to just hit it."

[Perineum Ripper]

Originally Posted by TigerUppercut

Story was 2 years ago and he barely broke into the top 50, most of those sales came locally. Face it, he's not a household name. Otherwise he'd be on commercials selling shit left and right like Sherman and Watt have

Where does it say most sales were local