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.”

[BlackOp]

Originally Posted by RunKC

Jason La Canfora

At this point would take some major movement for the Chiefs and Eric Berry to strike a long term deal by the deadline Fri

If Dorsey thought he was worth it...this deal would have been done a while ago. He's a straight shooter...and has been right more than wrong. I wouldn't tie up a lot of guaranteed money on a player that just came off chemo...I would wait it out and make sure he is 100% healthy, long-term, first. It's a tough situation but KC has Poe's contract coming up...and he is more rare than a SS.

I think this is more about positional value and cap management than Berry as a person...if Berry is asking for a record deal after how KC supported him, that kind of sucks on his part. I dont think he holds out over it...

[thabear04]

Time to work on Poe deal if we can't get Berry to a long term contract.

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by BlackOp

If Dorsey thought he was worth it...this deal would have been done a while ago.

And people on CP said the same thing about Houston last year at this time.

That said, I'm fine with him playing on the tag and drafting his replacement in 2017.

[RunKC]

Rand Gettlin is also saying Von Miller is "seriously considering" sitting out and wouldn't be surprised if he did.

The media will say about anything to get attention.

I wouldn't worry about this unless it doesn't get done and it's past the deadline.

[scho63]

I expect that this will be Berry's last year with KC working on a franchised contract.

[Hog's Gone Fishin]

Berry is just as overrated right now as he was 2 weeks ago.

[BlackOp]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

And people on CP said the same thing about Houston last year at this time.

That said, I'm fine with him playing on the tag and drafting his replacement in 2017.

I didn't...Houston was coming off 22 sacks and a plays a key position to make Sutton's D function.

Berry is a very good player and person...but he did get torched by Gronk on what became the winning TD. If he wants to be the highest paid..he has to make that play at that time in the game. It's what superstars do..

[Hammock Parties]

Originally Posted by scho63

I expect that this will be Berry's last year with KC working on a franchised contract.

Absolutely. Either he puts up an 80-tackle, 15 PD, 5 INT year or he's gone to someone else at an exorbitant rate.

Someone is going to overpay for Eric Berry but it won't be the Chiefs.

[staylor26]

Originally Posted by Smellway

Absolutely. Either he puts up an 80-tackle, 15 PD, 5 INT year or he's gone to someone else at an exorbitant rate.

Someone is going to overpay for Eric Berry but it won't be the Chiefs.

We all know it will be Pioli.

[IowaChiefs83]

Originally Posted by Mr. Laz

All depends on Berry's development at at the free/deep/coverage safety position. I doubt the Chiefs want to spend 10+ million for a box safety. I imagine Sutton wants a guy that can protect both sidelines deep so that he can blitz more. If Berry can do that then he will get his money. If not then they probably let him walk.


Let they crying begin.

http://www.arrowheadpride.com/2015/1...689.1436923739

[RunKC]

Originally Posted by scho63

I expect that this will be Berry's last year with KC working on a franchised contract.

This is really hard to tell.

Dorsey has drafted said players replacement a year in advance. Seems like Poe would be more likely to leave per Dorsey's history here.

[Red Dawg]

What holds up contract in the NFL is guranteed money. He must want like 50 mil. That is too much when we have Fish and Poe. We need them more I think especially Fish. We drafted to maybe replace Poe.

[Easy 6]

Its an incredibly tough call, but I'm leaning towards Black Ops takes

Berry is an incredible person and story, but when all things are weighed out... is he really more important than Poe, is his position harder to fill?

I'm thinking no

That said, of course I want Eric back if there is any way possible... he brings an intangible heart and soul to the team. But as BO pointed out, its entirely reasonable for Dorsey to play out the string a little bit

Eric needs to understand the tenuous position he puts the organization in

[Hammock Parties]

Originally Posted by RunKC

Dorsey has drafted said players replacement a year in advance. Seems like Poe would be more likely to leave per Dorsey's history here.

And we drafted safeties.

[Red Dawg]

Berry also was drafted the final year of the rookie big money so he had a large pay day already. If he wants to much and we have let Poe the walk then forget him.