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.”

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by BleedingRed

I know they are different positions but, these numbers really put into perspective how good Peters was last year

Your stupid ass will be banned again soon, houstonwhodat.

[Hog's Gone Fishin]

Originally Posted by staylor26

I'd rather not overpay also, but why the **** are some of you talking about Berry like he didn't just play at an All-Pro level at a new (and ideal) position less than a year after battling cancer?

IMO he didn't play at an all Pro level. But his popularity and cancer comeback won him a probowl anyway. Don't get me wrong, he's good, he's above average but to be the highest paid safety in the league is not validated.

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by staylor26

I'd rather not overpay also, but why the **** are some of you talking about Berry like he didn't just play at an All-Pro level at a new (and ideal) position less than a year after battling cancer?

He did not play at an All Pro level.

3.5 tackles a game and 2 Int's in 16 games aren't stellar numbers.

It was an honorary nod due to the cancer.

[Chief Northman]

If Berry does indeed get paid as the top safety in the league it will be more for what he represents for the Chiefs brand and marketing than for what he brings on the field. Solid contributor, but not meriting of the biggest contract for his position. Love his run support, ability to blitz when rarely called upon, and short to mid-depth coverage. But a middle field roamer who provides help over the top he is not.
If he and his agent ask for the moon, Dorsey would be wise to let him play out under the tag. Invest in Poe and Fisher instead. This draft with the plethora of dbs selected was designed to fill some holes and bring some young athletic depth to the backend. Will not be shocked to see Murray, Nelson, White, Peters and Russell become the future top dogs in the Chiefs secondary.

[staylor26]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

He did not play at an All Pro level.

3.5 tackles a game and 2 Int's in 16 games aren't stellar numbers.

It was an honorary nod due to the cancer.

I couldn't care less about the stats. I watch a ton of NFL football and Berry was playing like a top 3 safety last year once he got going. We're consistently one of, if not the best, teams in the league at defending TE's year in and year out because of Berry.

I don't think he's the best safety in the NFL, but he's clearly top 3-5 going into 2016. I don't think he's getting enough credit.

[Chief Roundup]

Originally Posted by Smellway

I don't believe Berry is that much better than Ron Parker. If Ron Parker had been drafted in the first round instead he'd probably be getting tons of love right now.

Last 3 seasons:

Parker - 188 tackles, 27 PD, 6 INT, 3 FF, 7 sacks (2,623 snaps)
Berry - 172 tackles, 22 PD, 5 INT, 1 FF, 3.5 sacks (2,435 snaps)

I'm sure there's some other mystical, intangible quality Eric Berry possesses though.

Flame away.

Go away Clay. They should not have let you back in here.

[RunKC]

Of course Berry didn't have as many INT's. He played almost exclusively as box safety last year and even the year before while Parker was the single high far more.
And even Branch was playing some cover safety as well.

It doesn't matter bc the Chiefs have no choice but to pay him, unless Dorsey wants a bad stigma to his name like John Elway currently has.

[O.city]

Berry didn't play as a box safety last year.

[RunKC]

Originally Posted by O.city

Berry didn't play as a box safety last year.

Yes he did. Go watch the game at Oakland last year and you will see..

[Hog's Gone Fishin]

Originally Posted by RunKC

Of course Berry didn't have as many INT's. He played almost exclusively as box safety last year and even the year before while Parker was the single high far more.
And even Branch was playing some cover safety as well.

It doesn't matter bc the Chiefs have no choice but to pay him, unless Dorsey wants a bad stigma to his name like John Elway currently has.

doesn't matter, you should still have the ability and skills to jump a pass. There are more passes thrown to slot receivers than WO's anyway.

[O.city]

Originally Posted by RunKC

Yes he did. Go watch the game at Oakland last year and you will see..

Soo he was primarily a string safety last year, or are you basing this on 1 game?

[Mr. Laz]

Originally Posted by Hog Farmer

doesn't matter, you should still have the ability and skills to jump a pass. There are more passes thrown to slot receivers than WO's anyway.

Yea, but that's not really the point.

Berry was pretty decent in coverage IN THE BOX but what we really need is a guy that makes QB's afraid to throw deep unless they move him first. That changes their offense significantly.

Once again, everyone wants to keep Berry.

I would LOVE to pay Berry as salary that let's us keep him in the box where he thrives. Eric is a great run stuffer and a good box coverage guy. DJ and Berry down low makes our front 7 much improved. Berry and DJ together would make all those dink and dunk passes much harder to complete. It's where Berry belongs at this point.

Berry just seems to want elite Free safety money and that's an entirely different situation. Paying him that much wouldn't make it very difficult to keep Poe imo.

[BryanBusby]

Originally Posted by Meatloaf

I'm definitely with you on Fisher, but a bit less so on Poe (simply due to health concerns), but I'd agree that both are more crucial than Berry. Damn, I think I just agreed with Dane!

How many games has Poe missed due to injury compared to Fisher? Don't know where the **** you're going here.

Are we still pretending Poe has back aids when he was just fine by the point where therr was an actual proper amount of time to heal? Not early last season when they were so ****ed they rushed him back too fast.

[BlackOp]

Originally Posted by Smellway

I don't believe Berry is that much better than Ron Parker. If Ron Parker had been drafted in the first round instead he'd probably be getting tons of love right now.

Last 3 seasons:

Parker - 188 tackles, 27 PD, 6 INT, 3 FF, 7 sacks (2,623 snaps)
Berry - 172 tackles, 22 PD, 5 INT, 1 FF, 3.5 sacks (2,435 snaps)

I'm sure there's some other mystical, intangible quality Eric Berry possesses though.

Flame away.

I've been saying he's the most over-rated Chief for a while...in all actuality, he's the only one I can think of. He's fleeced KC for 5 years and only played for 3 1/2. When he was drafted ..he was the highest payed safety in history without playing a down.

When he left with cancer, KC actually improved on defense. Unless he has some intangible, kinetic locker-room Yoda energy that cant be quantified...I would hold out, let him play on the tag and see where he is with his recovery.

IMO ..he owes KC. They did him a solid in 2014...and have made him a very rich man. I can think of a lot of other "impact" places to spend $50 million...

[Hog's Gone Fishin]

Originally Posted by Mr. Laz

Yea, but that's not really the point.

Berry was pretty decent in coverage IN THE BOX but what we really need is a guy that makes QB's afraid to throw deep unless they move him first. That changes their offense significantly.

Once again, everyone wants to keep Berry.

I would LOVE to pay Berry as salary that let's us keep him in the box where he thrives. Eric is a great run stuffer and a good box coverage guy. DJ and Berry down low makes our front 7 much improved. Berry and DJ together would make all those dink and dunk passes much harder to complete. It's where Berry belongs at this point.

Berry just seems to want elite Free safety money and that's an entirely different situation. Paying him that much wouldn't make it very difficult to keep Poe imo.

Maybe Berry would be an elite ILB opposite DJ.