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.”

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by mcaj22

that's a lot of coin for a safety.

that 12 million could probably lock up Poe and half of Fisher

Uh....what?

For, like, 7 games maybe.

$12 million won't lock up Poe, let alone half of a LT. The AAV on the first 3-4 years of Poe's deal (especially if you also figure in cap penalties) will almost certainly be in the $13 million range. Athletic DTs make bank.

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by Pestilence

Is Harrison Smith worth what he got paid?

I'm of the mind that he is not. I simply don't put that kind of value on the position.

But regardless, when you look at Smith and Thomas, the market's cut and dry. And if I'm going to then try to place Berry in it, I'm not going to simply concede that Berry's a better player than Smith. Harrison Smith is an extremely good, very underrated player.

And with Berry not being a clearly better player, he has no claim to re-set the market.

[ChiefAshhole1056]

Why should we rescind the tag? What benefit will we get out of the added $11 mil for this season that will equal what Berry would bring this year. Just let him approach this as a contract year, let him ball out, and let go about his way after the year. Or if he gets hurt or doesn't perform, we get a cheaper deal.

No need to send off a team and locker room leader just for the sake of training camp money. It's not like he'll hold out. He just involuntarily sat out due to cancer, he will want to play.

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by ChiefAshhole1056

Why should we rescind the tag? What benefit will we get out of the added $11 mil for this season that will equal what Berry would bring this year. Just let him approach this as a contract year, let him ball out, and let go about his way after the year. Or if he gets hurt or doesn't perform, we get a cheaper deal.

No need to send off a team and locker room leader just for the sake of training camp money. It's not like he'll hold out. He just involuntarily sat out due to cancer, he will want to play.

The $11 million that rolls into next year.

Just because you have it, that doesn't mean you should spend it. That $11 million saved would create a massive cap credit for next season that could help the team a ton when it comes to negotiations with Poe and/or Fisher.

And like I said, there's a pretty good chance that some team would flip you a good pick for him.

[ChiefAshhole1056]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

The $11 million that rolls into next year.

Just because you have it, that doesn't mean you should spend it. That $11 million saved would create a massive cap credit for next season that could help the team a ton when it comes to negotiations with Poe and/or Fisher.

And like I said, there's a pretty good chance that some team would flip you a good pick for him.

I feel you. But why wouldn't that $11 mil be available next year? If he's no longer accounted for on our roster, what happens to the $11 mil that we are no longer spending on Berry in 2017? Sorry, just not completely familiar with salary cap management.

[thabear04]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

Uh....what?

For, like, 7 games maybe.

$12 million won't lock up Poe, let alone half of a LT. The AAV on the first 3-4 years of Poe's deal (especially if you also figure in cap penalties) will almost certainly be in the $13 million range. Athletic DTs make bank.

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by ChiefAshhole1056

I feel you. But why wouldn't that $11 mil be available next year? If he's no longer accounted for on our roster, what happens to the $11 mil that we are no longer spending on Berry in 2017? Sorry, just not completely familiar with salary cap management.

Because it's an 'above the line' credit, for lack of a better way of putting it.

So let's say for the sake of easy math that the cap this year is $150 million and next year it's $155 million. If we spend $150 million this season (right up to the cap), our cap next season will still be $155 million.

If, however, we only spend $140 million this year, it creates a $10 million cap credit (the difference between what we spent and this season's cap) that then goes towards next season. Once that credit is applied, our 'effective cap' for next season is actually $165 million.

That's why it's silly to spend money just because you have it. It isn't just about clearing salary for next season, it's about actually gaining cap for next season.

Cutting Berry and his $11 million cap figure this season would create a cap credit that would serve to actually raise our cap by $11 million next season. It's a huge benefit.

[mcaj22]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

Uh....what?

For, like, 7 games maybe.

$12 million won't lock up Poe, let alone half of a LT. The AAV on the first 3-4 years of Poe's deal (especially if you also figure in cap penalties) will almost certainly be in the $13 million range. Athletic DTs make bank.

I can't really see everyone being a 10+ million dollar player here

you can't give out 10+ per to Poe, Fisher and Berry


I'm actually curious what NFL team has the most 10 million+ per players on their roster right now and how many players are fit under it

[Mile High Mania]

Originally Posted by mcaj22

I'm actually curious what NFL team has the most 10 million+ per players on their roster right now and how many players are fit under it

http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/rankings/average/

Looks like 85 players top $10M average salary right now... KC and Denver each has 4 in that group. SEA has 6.

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by mcaj22

I can't really see everyone being a 10+ million dollar player here

you can't give out 10+ per to Poe, Fisher and Berry


I'm actually curious what NFL team has the most 10 million+ per players on their roster right now and how many players are fit under it

No you cannot.

So is it more valuable to have a Safety that's 20% better than league average, a DT that's 15% better than league average or a LT that's 5% better than league average? (ed. note: all numbers culled from my ass, but they feel about right).

For my money, give me the LT and the DT in that order.

You can't keep everybody. Now you backload heavily under the thought that Bray, Hogan or Murray will be able to supplant Smith and you can get his money off the cap in a year or two, but whoever takes over for him will need a new deal shortly thereafter.

There just aren't easy answers here and anyone that makes the same tired old "the cap is easy to get around if you're not a cheap asshole like Clark Hunt" argument just doesn't really get how the cap works. It's easy to abuse it for 2 or 3 years, but you'll pay the piper for it in very short order.

[O.city]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

The $11 million that rolls into next year.

Just because you have it, that doesn't mean you should spend it. That $11 million saved would create a massive cap credit for next season that could help the team a ton when it comes to negotiations with Poe and/or Fisher.

And like I said, there's a pretty good chance that some team would flip you a good pick for him.

It's tough, because they're also coming in a year where they are pushing for contention. Berry, theoretically, would go along way in helping them be better on defense.

As we've seen, you are only gonna keep the band together so long.

[The Franchise]

I've got no problem letting him play under the tag this year. And I haven't heard shit about him holding out.....so I don't see it being a problem.

[Coochie liquor]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

Peace out, EB.

I give him to Friday night to get real reasonable, real quick. If he doesn't, I rescind the tag and walk away.

Again - it's a damn good thing the Chiefs banked all that good will with him when they essentially gave him about $7 million they didn't have to give him. Way to pay it forward, big guy.

Kinda how I feel too. I totally get "gotta get paid when you can" but we did showed him our good will and obviously he didn't think much of it.

[O.city]

We value poe alot here, but statistically, he's not been as dominant as you'd think. I wonder what he'll be looking for.

He's got alot of miles on him, added with the back issue, I'm leary of giving dl like that big deals

[The Franchise]

What did you expect him to do?

"Oh hey guys....I know you paid me my contract while I had cancer......so go ahead and put together a new contract that pays me $8 million a year and I'll sign it today."