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.”

[pugsnotdrugs19]

Using Berry's age against him is f**king stupid. 2017 will be his age 28 season. The elite safeties throughout NFL history play really well into their early-mid 30's.

[Ringless]

Originally Posted by JASONSAUTO

That's because you are a stupid ****

Cards fan perspective

Jefferson has done a great job at helping get in the right spot for big plays. We overpayed for Mathieu, just like Berry will likely be overpaid as well.

From an outside perspective, if Berry gets the contract he is seeking you wont get the returns you are seeking. Sure he will still be a talented player, but the chances of him having a season like last are unrealistic and he is more likely to come to the mean in his own averages.

In fact if you look at his career, and use the mean averages when healthy. This next season one could expect he'd have 2 picks as opposed to 4, 1 TD's as opposed to 2 (more than likely 0) and 1-2 less passes defensed.

There is a reason there is fans, and business owners. When our team let Adrian Wilson walk, and Dockett walk. As a fan I was upset. But quickly realized they FO was right all along. If the Chiefs got Jefferson at 7m, they'd have a steal, plus 6-8 million more to spend.

[Hootie]

Nice to have you aboard, Ringless.

Nice to have some new blood on the board.

[Sweet Daddy Hate]

Originally Posted by Pasta Giant Meatball

This team would score 27 PPG with Romo....in the 2 games he would be healthy enough to suit up

I hear tell he shits rainbow ice cream too!

[Nickhead]

Originally Posted by Ringless

Cards fan perspective

Jefferson has done a great job at helping get in the right spot for big plays. We overpayed for Mathieu, just like Berry will likely be overpaid as well.

From an outside perspective, if Berry gets the contract he is seeking you wont get the returns you are seeking. Sure he will still be a talented player, but the chances of him having a season like last are unrealistic and he is more likely to come to the mean in his own averages.

In fact if you look at his career, and use the mean averages when healthy. This next season one could expect he'd have 2 picks as opposed to 4, 1 TD's as opposed to 2 (more than likely 0) and 1-2 less passes defensed.

There is a reason there is fans, and business owners. When our team let Adrian Wilson walk, and Dockett walk. As a fan I was upset. But quickly realized they FO was right all along. If the Chiefs got Jefferson at 7m, they'd have a steal, plus 6-8 million more to spend.

if the chiefs got an established linebacker (or drafted), i would be okay with letting berry walk (with comp) for jefferson. berry got better as the field got shorter due to poor LB's, and i include DJ too. they played great when they had a 20 yard field, but that related to very poor field position for the offense on the whole too. need an answer opposite peters as well. shore up those spots, then berry becomes 'less' important. and keep charles. hell, run him out of the slot

[beach tribe]

Originally Posted by raybec 4

None of us really know what exactly Berry is asking for, I recall something last year saying they had agreed on money but were haggling over who would pay for the liability insurance in case he got sick again, I could be mistaken on that point though.

I think that is what was initially reported but follow ups showed it to be a little more complicated.
Can't remember to what extent exactly.

[beach tribe]

Originally Posted by kccrow

Berry has already made $60,851,000 off the Chiefs. Monetary security shouldn't really be a question, so I have a bit of problem with him saying he "definitely won't play under the franchise tag." He isn't waiting for his first big pay day in the league, unlike several other guys that get tagged before getting "monster" second contracts.

I understand that he says he wants to stay in KC and all of that. I think there has to be a certain balance between trying to squeeze every dime out of the team and appreciating what they've done to this point while also not cap ****ing them to keep your final years from being an noncompetitive disaster. Quite honestly, what's the difference if you finish your career having made 110 million or 120 million? Either way, you have way more money than you, your kids, and your grand kids will likely ever need.

Berry has had season ending injuries before. Having one while playing on the tag could potentially cost him tens of millions of dollars If he has made 60 so far another big injury could potentially cost him a quarter of his next 60.
I know it's hard for us to imagine big Millions in this way but tons and tons of NFL players are broke when the game is gone and just because you have 50 million dollars does not mean tens of millions of dollars should be treated as no big deal.
I don't know why people feel like just because a person has made x amount of dollars they shouldn't care about maximizing the return on the value of their talent and offsetting the toll that an NFL career takes on a human body.

[RunKC]

There are so many older players that we are allotting our cap to that just don't make sense anymore. The $$ for these guys should clear in the next year or 2.

Alex
JC
Tamba
DJ
Colquitt

Add in Foles, Reid and Zombo and that's more than enough $$ to give to the next younger wave (Berry, Ford, Peters).

[Mother****erJones]

Was hoping to see Berry signed any day now.

[Chiefshrink]

Originally Posted by pugsnotdrugs19

Using Berry's age against him is f**king stupid. 2017 will be his age 28 season. The elite safeties throughout NFL history play really well into their early-mid 30's.

Age is code for potential Hodgkins to come out of remission is my guess.

[Pasta Little Brioni]

He's going to get PAID and it might as well be by us. **** that one year wonder scrub Jefferson. Know mo, I do know a certain AFC WEST team in Colorado that he'd be an upgrade on though...also screw PFF for rating him so high.

[kccrow]

Originally Posted by beach tribe

Berry has had season ending injuries before. Having one while playing on the tag could potentially cost him tens of millions of dollars If he has made 60 so far another big injury could potentially cost him a quarter of his next 60.
I know it's hard for us to imagine big Millions in this way but tons and tons of NFL players are broke when the game is gone and just because you have 50 million dollars does not mean tens of millions of dollars should be treated as no big deal.
I don't know why people feel like just because a person has made x amount of dollars they shouldn't care about maximizing the return on the value of their talent and offsetting the toll that an NFL career takes on a human body.

Then let his ass do it elsewhere, seriously. Eric Berry is not a good enough player to be the top paid safety in the NFL. If he wants that, good riddance. I could give a **** less.

[TigeRRUppeRRcut]

Eric berry isn't a player that intimidates opposing players/coaches. Kam Chancellor, yes. JJ watt, yes. Houston, yes. Marcus Peters, yes. Kuechly, yes. Palomalu, yes. Ray Lewis, yes. Patrick Willis, yes.

Yet he wants to be the highest paid at his position?

[Pasta Little Brioni]

Originally Posted by TigerUppercut

Eric berry isn't a player that intimidates opposing players/coaches. Kam Chancellor, yes. JJ watt, yes. Houston, yes. Marcus Peters, yes. Kuechly, yes. Palomalu, yes. Ray Lewis, yes. Patrick Willis, yes.

?

Oh bullshit! What a crock of crap.

[Chief Northman]

I'm on the fence with the Berry situation:

I fear that his comments to the media and his agent negotiating in public recently give an indication that he wants top dollar and may harm the Chiefs cap situation moving forward. The draft is boasting a shit ton of elite safeties to choose from, and the position still does not have value that merits exorbitant amount of money to be spent at it.

But on the other hand, I loved the leadership he showed last season and to say that he does not intimidate is crazy. He laid the wood last year and was never better especially in the run game. He can still be a force as a player, but I don't think you write him a blank check.