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.”

[Hydrae]

Originally Posted by BossChief

Also:

If the Chiefs tag Eric and he sits the whole year out, they can tag him again the following year.

If he wants to play hardball...fine.

But don't be surprised when the team throws 95 with movement at ya.

Pretty sure you can only tag two years in a row so I don't think they can tag him again next year if the do so this year.

[philfree]

Originally Posted by BossChief

Andy Reid said Berry wanted to get the largest contract ever for a safety.

He also said teams can't have that many players making "top of the league money. There's this salary cap thing"

With the percentage on increase in the cap and factoring in the honey badger deal, Eric Berry wants a deal that averages 14m per year.

I love the guy and he's a true legend...but I'm not sure that would be a smart move.

Also: Eric KNOWS other teams will pay him huge money. He had the non exclusive tag last year, so his agent talked contract with those other teams.

Tough one.

I was just curious if two years of Franchise Tag pay would meet what he wanted in guaranteed money. With the thought being that two years of being tagged wasn't a bad thing for him. Looks like the Tag money doesn't meet what he wanted in guaranteed money though so that idea is shot.

[SAUTO]

Originally Posted by TigerUppercut

FFS it's not like he had melanoma, colon cancer, pancreatic cancer, osteosarcoma. Like thyroid cancer, prostate cancer and APML, Lymphoma is one of the most curable cancers you can have. Not all cancers are created equal. His survival rate was >90%. (God Bless Modern Medicine).

The idea that we should be paying players for emotional/symbolic reasons is absolutely stupid (please see BB and the Pats...the only players you are allowed to be attached to are Tom and Gronk, that's it!). We already did him a favor paying him his contract that we weren't obligated to during his illness. How many more favors do we have to give Berry? His best years are behind him.

Weddle is older than him and playing on a 2 year/13mil contract and was the highest rated safety in 2016. Put that into perspective. We've already committed too much to DJ, Tamba, and Houston...why add a 4th to the list? Consider that Dorsey was bold enough (And rightfully so) to walk away from Sean Smith. He should do the same to Berry if the price is not right.

Berry is holding this team hostage and going to use the PR tactic which is bull****!

but we should tag poe?


dude you're crazy.

[SAUTO]

Originally Posted by Chief Northman

You are trying too hard to play the "anti-sentiment" on these boards. How anyone takes you seriously, let alone puts up with your dumbassery is beyond me. Your stench is in every thread. Please go have a shower and scrub.

quit "flexing" on him.



seriously though Tigerbob, when you have multiple people that cant agree on anything except YOU being a ****ing douchebag you're PROBABLY a ****ing douchebag.

[Hammock Parties]

Originally Posted by JASONSAUTO

but we should tag poe?


dude you're crazy.

Tiger has talked shit on Justin Houston, Jamaal Charles and Eric Berry.

He's not a Chiefs fan.

[Pasta Little Brioni]

Originally Posted by JASONSAUTO

but we should tag poe?


dude you're crazy.

WE MAY HAVE A NEW ROMPER ROOM FAVORITE FOLKS!!

[Hog's Gone Fishin]

So has Berry officially stated what he wants ?

[Chief Roundup]

Originally Posted by Spider2YBanana

Tiger has talked shit on Justin Houston, Jamaal Charles and Eric Berry.

He's not a Chiefs fan.

Shut the **** up you troll piece of shit

[Sweet Daddy Hate]

Originally Posted by Runny****

Berry is holding this team hostage-

Berry is not the twat who is holding this team "hostage".

[Hog's Gone Fishin]

Quote from Gil Brandt,

I talked to [Eric] Berry’s father today,” Brandt, who once signed Berry’s father, James, to a contract after he finished up his playing career at Tennessee, explained. “I told him, ‘I want you to know one thing. The best deal is not always the best deal.’ I think Kansas City is the type of town, and you can go to Bobby Bell and Len Dawson that have lived there all their life and are held in such high esteem and ask them, I think Kansas City is a great place to go.

“It’s not what you get today, it’s what you get for the next 30 or 35 years that counts.

[Quesadilla Joe]

From Eric Berry's agent...

I wouldn't characterize it as "positive" - but we are talking. We've got a long ways to go. https://t.co/QfTeLBKUgN

— Chad Speck (@a3Chad) February 10, 2017

[Hammock Parties]

Just posturing at this point. Negotiating. Long ways to go before we need to have him signed.

[Quesadilla Joe]

Originally Posted by Spider2YBanana

Just posturing at this point. Negotiating. Long ways to go before we need to have him signed.

Seems like Berry's agent isn't going to stay quiet this year. It worked for Von, maybe Berry will finally get his deal.

[Mephistopheles Janx]

I'd like to see Berry stay in KC with a fair deal to everyone. I understand the guy wants to be paid but he also should take a look at the history of NFL teams just walking away from a guy because he because unable to play ball.

KC stood by him during his fight through cancer and while that doesn't entitle Hunt and Co. a sweetheart deal... it sure should count for something.

Originally Posted by TiggerUppercut

We already did him a favor paying him his contract that we weren't obligated to during his illness. How many more favors do we have to give Berry? His best years are behind him.

Berry just turned 28 and his best years are behind him yet you fight tooth and nail for Smith every time someone talks about replacing him or how he won't be getting any better due to age.

[Red Dawg]

I said it before and I'll say it again. Berry is being unreasonable. He was unrealistic last year and is doing the same now. He obviously wants what we can't give and is being an asshole. Not every team would have gave him his full pay when he went through treatments and now he should cut us a break.

If he doesn't then **** him. He's just another greedy ****.