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.”

[O.city]

He will be the highest paid safety until the next good safeties deal comes up. Then he won't be.

[RunKC]

Only thing I wish Dorsey would do more of is invest in guys he likes in the draft.

Belichik traded an OL and conditional 4th for Eric Rowe, an elite athlete with 1st round athletic traits and was chosen in rd 2.
Same with picking up Barkevuois Mingo.

All 1st round caliber guys from teams with bad coaches. Surely there are guys like this that Dorsey could trade/claim.

[kccrow]

Originally Posted by O.city

He will be the highest paid safety until the next good safeties deal comes up. Then he won't be.

If that's the case, then the Giants better prep to pay Landon Collins about 120 million, because he's far better than Eric Berry

[Sandy Vagina]

Originally Posted by Marcellus

Berry is going to get a deal in KC around $12MM per avg, which is probably a bit too much but he is a key part of the team.

Poe? I don't care if he stays or not, he appears to be fairly average for his position to me.

Pretty much. They can structure it to where the last 2-3 years have considerable roster bonuses included that can fluff up the apy contract.

I hope they keep Berry, but if they don't, I won't lose sleep over it. The main, nagging concern for the D is the effectiveness of that 100,000,000 linebacker. After that, it's making sure the ILB spots are up to snuff.

Unless Poe is cool with 4-5 mil per yr, let him walk. He's just not all that anymore. Move Howard inside, and draft a day 2/3 option in case Howard wants too much after 2017.

[RealSNR]

Originally Posted by RunKC

Only thing I wish Dorsey would do more of is invest in guys he likes in the draft.

Belichik traded an OL and conditional 4th for Eric Rowe, an elite athlete with 1st round athletic traits and was chosen in rd 2.
Same with picking up Barkevuois Mingo.

All 1st round caliber guys from teams with bad coaches. Surely there are guys like this that Dorsey could trade/claim.

He kind of does that a little bit, just not with very high stakes involved. I think he was probably frustrated by some of the depth at CB not doing what he wanted, which is why he went with a guy he wanted all along in Kenneth Acker. I also think he wouldn't have been as proactive about getting Kendall Reyes and Jarvis Jones this year from the scrap heap if he didn't have a previous draft interest in them. Granted, those were "need" pickups, but it bears repeating that even when he doesn't draft a guy, he still keeps those players on the radar. If any of them are ever in a position where he can pick them up easy, you can bet your ass he'll make those moves.

He's perhaps the most active GM this team has ever had in that sense. Carl's moves were lazy, and he rarely ever shuffled around the bottom of his roster/practice squad like Dorsey has done in each of his seasons with the Chiefs. And don't get me started on Pioli.

[Bowser]

If you want SNR to get started on Pioli, type either YEA or NAY

[SAUTO]

Yea

[Rausch]

Originally Posted by Mr. Laz

I think the reason Berry hasn't signed yet is because he wants top-3 secondary money.

14-15 million per

What possible argument for that could he have?...

[Rausch]

Originally Posted by Bowser

If you want SNR to get started on Pioli, type either YEA or NAY

Pioli was the most dis-mapoint since I woke up in a grave yard with my BF's girlfriend in my lap. On a grave.

(She was a horrible gunt.)

[ThaVirus]

Originally Posted by kccrow

If that's the case, then the Giants better prep to pay Landon Collins about 120 million, because he's far better than Eric Berry

Having a better season =! being the better player.

And I think saying Collins' season was "far better" than Berry's is a stretch anyway.

[hometeam]

Originally Posted by Sandy Cheeks

Pretty much. They can structure it to where the last 2-3 years have considerable roster bonuses included that can fluff up the apy contract.

I hope they keep Berry, but if they don't, I won't lose sleep over it. The main, nagging concern for the D is the effectiveness of that 100,000,000 linebacker. After that, it's making sure the ILB spots are up to snuff.

Unless Poe is cool with 4-5 mil per yr, let him walk. He's just not all that anymore. Move Howard inside, and draft a day 2/3 option in case Howard wants too much after 2017.

I would hope you wouldnt lose sleep over a team thats not the 49ers.

[BossChief]

I think Eric is the best safety in football and is close to doing enough to be a HOFer. He's been all pro/probowl basically every healthy year.

The guy hits as hard as any safety, is opportunistic in coverage and is a tremendous leader.

All that said, I wouldn't give him honey badger money, or more.

[BossChief]

They are going to make a big song and dance routine about trying to sign Berry, but I highly doubt they end up signing him.

https://www.google.com/amp/www.arrow...t?client=safar
Read Reid's comments about Berry and the contract from August of last year after they weren't able to get Berry signed...
“On the other hand you have these capologists and they’ve gotta make sure they balance that and it’s normally on a three year scale. You can’t have everyone be the highest paid player. You can’t have that. You have to work that out and make sure there’s a balance there and you take care of that side of it.”

Sorry guys, but Berry likely isn't getting a long term deal for top dollar in KC.

[Urc Burry]

Originally Posted by BossChief

They are going to make a big song and dance routine about trying to sign Berry, but I highly doubt they end up signing him.

https://www.google.com/amp/www.arrow...t?client=safar
Read Reid's comments about Berry and the contract from August of last year after they weren't able to get Berry signed...
“On the other hand you have these capologists and they’ve gotta make sure they balance that and it’s normally on a three year scale. You can’t have everyone be the highest paid player. You can’t have that. You have to work that out and make sure there’s a balance there and you take care of that side of it.”

Sorry guys, but Berry likely isn't getting a long term deal for top dollar in KC.

We just overpaid DJ and Hali to come back. Partly because we know how much they mean to the team. You're telling me you have an inch of doubt that Berry doesn't come back? Berry isn't just another Sean Smith or Branden Albert this regime has let go. He will retire a chief

[RunKC]

Originally Posted by BossChief

They are going to make a big song and dance routine about trying to sign Berry, but I highly doubt they end up signing him.

https://www.google.com/amp/www.arrow...t?client=safar
Read Reid's comments about Berry and the contract from August of last year after they weren't able to get Berry signed...
“On the other hand you have these capologists and they’ve gotta make sure they balance that and it’s normally on a three year scale. You can’t have everyone be the highest paid player. You can’t have that. You have to work that out and make sure there’s a balance there and you take care of that side of it.”

Sorry guys, but Berry likely isn't getting a long term deal for top dollar in KC.

Colquitt and Foles are slotted to be the highest paid players at their positions next year and Jamaal will be the 6th highest paid.

That's $20.2 million cap relief if we cut those players.

We have plenty of space if we get rid of expendable players.