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.”

[BossChief]

I don't think anybody would be upset if Berry had signed a LTD worth slightly more than the highest paid safety...the problem is the guy demanded over 12m per when the highest paid safety got 10.2.

That's just stupid greed and in no way is he worth that much.

TBH I don't think he's even worth 10/yr.

[RealSNR]

Originally Posted by BossChief

I don't think anybody would be upset if Berry had signed a LTD worth slightly more than the highest paid safety...the problem is the guy demanded over 12m per when the highest paid safety got 10.2.

That's just stupid greed and in no way is he worth that much.

TBH I don't think he's even worth 10/yr.

Is the issue the money or is it the weird health insurance stuff that I don't really care to go back and research? Or both?

[Skyy God]

Originally Posted by RealSNR

Is the issue the money or is it the weird health insurance stuff that I don't really care to go back and research? Or both?

Both

[ThaVirus]

Originally Posted by Detoxing

Jesus. So much Berry hate. These are just negotiations. Some of you are acting like he killed your first born.

LOL frfr

[Bwana]

Yank the tag.

[Sweet Daddy Hate]

Comical to watch people who went from such respect for this guy to, "yeah, **** him; who needs him anyway"?!?!?

#trusttheprocess/groundhogday

[BossChief]

Originally Posted by RealSNR

Is the issue the money or is it the weird health insurance stuff that I don't really care to go back and research? Or both?

The Chiefs took that part off the table and Berry still didn't sign.

Sorry, but for 12m per with 35m in guarantees (the numbers Berry demanded)...the team needs to get more impact than EricBerry.

[BossChief]

Originally Posted by Dagnabit

Comical to watch people who went from such respect for this guy to, "yeah, **** him; who needs him anyway"?!?!?

#trusttheprocess/groundhogday

John Dorsey has a long history of paying players market value in KC.

Clark Hunt went public saying he wants Eric as a Chief for life.

Eric's agent was demanding STUPID money from KC or Berry would have been signed to a LTD by now.

TBH I'm not even much of an Eric Berry fan anymore because of this whole situation. Clark Hunt, Andy Reid and numerous players visited Eric routinely while he was going through rehab...do you know how difficult that is for a guy like Clark Hunt? The team stepped up and paid the man WHEN THEY DIDNT NEED TO while going through his bout with cancer as well as doing everything in their power to provide him with world class care.

What did Berry do to repay that good will?

Completely shit on the organization by demanding almost 20% more than the highest paid safety in NFL history.

You want stupid money?

Go get it in Cleveland.

[LoneWolf]

Originally Posted by BossChief

John Dorsey has a long history of paying players market value in KC.

Clark Hunt went public saying he wants Eric as a Chief for life.

Eric's agent was demanding STUPID money from KC or Berry would have been signed to a LTD by now.

TBH I'm not even much of an Eric Berry fan anymore because of this whole situation. Clark Hunt, Andy Reid and numerous players visited Eric routinely while he was going through rehab...do you know how difficult that is for a guy like Clark Hunt? The team stepped up and paid the man WHEN THEY DIDNT NEED TO while going through his bout with cancer as well as doing everything in their power to provide him with world class care.

What did Berry do to repay that good will?

Completely shit on the organization by demanding almost 20% more than the highest paid safety in NFL history.

You want stupid money?

Go get it in Cleveland.

Show me on the doll where Eric Berry touched you.

Contract negotiations are always tense and often times ugly. This is business. It's not personal.

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by LoneWolf

Show me on the doll where Eric Berry touched you.

Contract negotiations are always tense and often times ugly. This is business. It's not personal.

The negotiations are over.

If you think that Eric Berry, a safety, is worth $12 million a year and $35 million guaranteed, you're nothing short of a moron.

[mcaj22]

did the Chiefs pull the tag yet?

[LoneWolf]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

The negotiations are over.

If you think that Eric Berry, a safety, is worth $12 million a year and $35 million guaranteed, you're nothing short of a moron.

Where in any of my posts on this board did I ever say Berry was worth $12 million per and $35 million guaranteed? I understand the negotiations are over for this season. That doesn't mean they won't be picked up again after the season when the negotiating window opens. It still is a fact that Berry is the most versatile safety in the league and allows Sutton to call a more diverse defensive game plan when Berry is on the field. What value the Chiefs put on his ability and what Berry and his agent believe his value is, I don't know, but that doesn't mean a compromise cannot be reached before free agency begins next offseason.

If a compromise in negotiations can't be reached, by all means they need to let Berry walk. For this season, the team is better with Berry on the field and their Super Bowl window is open. Let him play this season on the franchise tag and see what happens next offseason.

Your constant ****tard and moron comments that are usually off base and unwarranted are getting really stale. It might be time for you to take a break from CP again.

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by LoneWolf

Your constant ****tard and moron comments that are usually off base and unwarranted are getting really stale. It might be time for you to take a break from CP again.

It's definitely time for you to **** off, Stud

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by LoneWolf

Where in any of my posts on this board did I ever say Berry was worth $12 million per and $35 million guaranteed? I understand the negotiations are over for this season. That doesn't mean they won't be picked up again after the season when the negotiating window opens. It still is a fact that Berry is the most versatile safety in the league and allows Sutton to call a more diverse defensive game plan when Berry is on the field. What value the Chiefs put on his ability and what Berry and his agent believe his value is, I don't know, but that doesn't mean a compromise cannot be reached before free agency begins next offseason.

Um, yes it does, you butt****ing moron.

The Chiefs are NOT allowed to negotiate with Berry until the 2017 League Year begins.

Try again, STUD.

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by LoneWolf

If a compromise in negotiations can't be reached, by all means they need to let Berry walk. For this season, the team is better with Berry on the field and their Super Bowl window is open. Let him play this season on the franchise tag and see what happens next offseason..

Wow, this is ****ing GENIOUS!

Wow, mind blown.



Moron.