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.”

[staylor26]

Originally Posted by penguinz

Do you really think they will run two ILB in their 34 based defense? That is really thinking outside the box.

I'm obviously talking about outside of the base defense, where we often used a safety like a LB.

March is essentially a S/LB hybrid and could stay on the field all 3 downs like DJ, and unlike Mauga.

Marshall played 83%, and Trevathan played 67% of the Broncos snaps last season. Mauga played 41% of ours.

Another LB like DJ would likely lead to us using two "ILB's" more often.

[jaa1025]

Im not worried. I wouldnt pay Berry that money if he's regulated to SS position and can only play up the box. If he shows he can play at a high level as FS on an island then absolutely pay the man.

[Rain Man]

Originally Posted by planetdoc

just like this yr, it will likely depend on whether the Chiefs and Berry can agree on his value/worth and if any other safeties step up.

Its the same thing with Jamaal Charles. Ware and West make Charles more expendible in 2017 than if the chiefs didnt have proven backups with starter ability.

Originally Posted by Meatloaf

I think this will be Berry's last year as a Chief. If they couldn't get a deal done now, and if the rumor is true that they were never really even close to a deal, well, it'd sure seem that getting a deal done after this year is unlikely. He be gone.

I hate to see him go, but at the same time the Chiefs shouldn't overpay if they think that's the case.

[planetdoc]

Originally Posted by staylor26

He was among the leagues best in pressures from when he started to the end of the season

2015 season:
Houston: 8 sacks, 4 QB hit, and 45 hurries in 311 pass rush plays. (18%)
Hali: 7 sacks, 10 hits, 55 hurries out of 502 plays (14%)
Ford: 4 sack, 8 hit, 23 hurries out of 278 plays (12.6%)

Von Miller registered a pass-rushing productivity of 15.4 with 105 total pressures on 538 pass-rushing snaps. By comparison, Khalil Mack had a pass-rushing productivity mark of 12.3, with 82 total pressures on 534 pass-rushing snaps.

[planetdoc]

Originally Posted by penguinz

Do you really think they will run two ILB in their 34 based defense? That is really thinking outside the box.

dime and nickel.

[TEX]

Originally Posted by Meatloaf

I think this will be Berry's last year as a Chief. If they couldn't get a deal done now, and if the rumor is true that they were never really even close to a deal, well, it'd sure seem that getting a deal done after this year is unlikely. He be gone.

Probably right. Some team will have CRAZY $$$ and WILL likely throw it his way. I'm in the "Hate to see him go" side of things but understand the situation for what it is. So, I'm not going to concern myself with it any longer. Hope he has a GREAT season, along with the Chiefs D, and let the chips fall where they may after the season. It is what it is...

[RunKC]

Looks like Dorsey is agreeing with what Dane said. The Chiefs felt Berry wasn't worth the $12 million price point.

It still lays some blame on Dorsey. 6 months and not one part of this contract was agreed with Berry'a agent? Years? Gauranteed $$? Overall $$? Jesus.

[vailpass]

Originally Posted by Chief Roundup

I believe they are too. I don't think the insurance policy was a deal breaker, but I do think the Chiefs should pay the premium if they want to be the beneficiary.
I think both sides are way apart on the numbers.

I read on nfl.com that KC pulled the clause requiring him to pay the insurance premium toward the end of negotiations??

[The Bad Guy]

Originally Posted by RunKC

Looks like Dorsey is agreeing with what Dane said. The Chiefs felt Berry wasn't worth the $12 million price point.

It still lays some blame on Dorsey. 6 months and not one part of this contract was agreed with Berry'a agent? Years? Gauranteed $$? Overall $$? Jesus.

Why is that Dorsey's fault? I have no idea what the Berry camp was asking for.

I can't fault the Chiefs for taking the approach that they need to cover their asses. Chad Speck came into this negotiation with a lot of momentum on his side and I'm glad the Chiefs took a tough approach.

Berry is getting 10.8 million this year and has made over 50 million in his career thus far. I get he wants the long-term security, but he already has that based on his last deal. I don't expect him to take any less than the market dictates, I did expect some leeway with the Chiefs in helping them protect this investment. Whether it's the insurance policy, or yearly roster bonuses.

I don't have any inside knowledge of the negotiation, but I'd be shocked if Berry is a Chief past this season.

[BossChief]

The reports said Berrys side demanded the start the talks at the average of the franchise tag x2.

10.8
+12.96
23.8m
/2 = 11.9m per year.

6 years, 78m?

He's just not worth that level of risk.

IMO he's not worth that much even if he never had cancer.

[staylor26]

Originally Posted by RunKC

Looks like Dorsey is agreeing with what Dane said. The Chiefs felt Berry wasn't worth the $12 million price point.

It still lays some blame on Dorsey. 6 months and not one part of this contract was agreed with Berry'a agent? Years? Gauranteed $$? Overall $$? Jesus.

What a terrible read of this situation. How you can't see that Berry and his agent are the ones that have likely been unreasonable is beyond me.

The fact that absolutely nothing was agreed upon actually makes that pretty obvious to me. We have recent history with Dorsey that suggests he would never be that hard headed.

[RunKC]

Originally Posted by The Bad Guy

Why is that Dorsey's fault? I have no idea what the Berry camp was asking for.

I can't fault the Chiefs for taking the approach that they need to cover their asses. Chad Speck came into this negotiation with a lot of momentum on his side and I'm glad the Chiefs took a tough approach.

Berry is getting 10.8 million this year and has made over 50 million in his career thus far. I get he wants the long-term security, but he already has that based on his last deal. I don't expect him to take any less than the market dictates, I did expect some leeway with the Chiefs in helping them protect this investment. Whether it's the insurance policy, or yearly roster bonuses.

I don't have any inside knowledge of the negotiation, but I'd be shocked if Berry is a Chief past this season.

I actually think that Poe is the one who is more likely to leave than Berry. We drafted a big DL who can play NT, Jaye Howard was very good at NT last year and Poe has back problems. Not as much production last year.

I can definitely see Poe asking for a lot more than he's worth.

[BossChief]

These agents are taking advantage of the limited time cap space that teams are gonna have the next few years while numerous teams need to spend stupid money to get to the cap floor while the cap keeps going up at the same time.

The agents know this and are making sure their clients are setting the bar higher and higher to set the tone for future player negotiations.

Demanding 12m per is just silly...and it's probably telling that Berry has been a non exclusive franchise tag guy that can negotiate with other teams and that's the number they demanded. Some team would pay him that much if they didn't have to fork over picks. Otherwise they would be more reasonable.

The agents said the same with Von Miller.

[ThaVirus]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

So, Staylor is using a "crystal ball" by stating that teams will be cautious and not overpay, yet your using, what again?, to prove that he's wrong.

Brilliant argument.

The crystal ball comment was cross-thread humor. He's acting much like RustShack in that thread. I said something, he claimed I was wrong- where do we go from there? It just goes on and on so I asked him to impart his omniscience on me.

In case you haven't noticed, no one can prove anyone wrong in this situation. We don't know where or for how much Berry will sign. We don't even know how much the guy's asking for at the moment.

But.. I'm of the mind that he'll sign a very large contract whenever he does sign (barring something catastrophic, of course). They always do. Cancer or no. Players have signed large contracts with a plethora of off-the-field issues and little or no body of work on-the-field in the past. A top 3 player on the right side of 30 with top-notch intangibles will get paid by someone.

Originally Posted by staylor26

So, basically you tapped that logic is on our side, and you're the idiot with the crystal ball and a bold prediction.

If anything logic is on my side for reasons I've already pointed out. I'd bet whoever signs him long-term will have some type of protective clause but I'd also bet they pay the shit out of him. There's really not much more to say about it. We'll see when it unfolds.

[RunKC]

Originally Posted by staylor26

What a terrible read of this situation. How you can't see that Berry and his agent are the ones that have likely been unreasonable is beyond me.

The fact that absolutely nothing was agreed upon actually makes that pretty obvious to me. We have recent history with Dorsey that suggests he would never be that hard headed.

Dorsey pushing Berry to buy disability insurance and put the Chiefs as a beneficiary is absolutely 100% embarrassing and it makes the franchise look like a bunch of greedy assholes.

$2220+ million from the NFL to Clark this year and he can't py a $2 million premium?

Jesus