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.”

[RunKC]

JC
Colquitt
Foles
Zombo
Mauga
Acker

A little over $24 million from cutting these guys. Add in the current cap space and it's at $30 million, and that's not counting the bump from the cap rise projection.

[Mr. Laz]

Originally Posted by RunKC

JC
Colquitt
Foles
Zombo
Mauga
Acker

A little over $24 million from cutting these guys. Add in the current cap space and it's at $30 million, and that's not counting the bump from the cap rise projection.

30 million in open cap space would still put us at 19th in the NFL. That's after we make moves to open space but other teams haven't yet.

Cap space is relative when it comes to competing for players.


We better sign our players before they hit the market because other teams are going to have more money. I imagine our upcoming FAs have already been told that by their Agents.

[hometeam]

Originally Posted by Mr. Laz

30 million in open cap space would still put us at 19th in the NFL. That's after we make move to open cap space but other teams haven't yet.

Cap space is relative when it comes to competing for players.


We better sign our players before the hit the market because other teams are going to have more money. I imagine our upcoming FAs have already been told that by their Agents.

Most of our guys are signed, except for the main two subjects of our current affection in regards to FA.

Everything gonna be alright

[TigeRRUppeRRcut]

I bet we keep colquitt. We paid him pretty much the same as the cost for next yea. you can't put a price on the field position advantage be helps us get

[kccrow]

Originally Posted by ThaVirus

Having a better season =! being the better player.

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

Delusional rose colored glasses shit right there.

I don't think you realize just how good Collins was as a rookie last year and how phenomenal he was this year. Best safety in the game right now and he's only going to get better.

[cmdrzman]

Berrys from Atlanta- loves that city- He's gonna give them a hometown discount- Not to mention they went to the SB.. Berry aint playing here next year- expect him to go back home where he will go deep in the playoffs with the Falcons... he's got no hope here-

[kccrow]

Originally Posted by cmdrzman

Berrys from Atlanta- loves that city- He's gonna give them a hometown discount- Not to mention they went to the SB.. Berry aint playing here next year- expect him to go back home where he will go deep in the playoffs with the Falcons... he's got no hope here-

And he gets to reunite with the man that drafted him, Scott Peeholie!

[RunKC]

Originally Posted by Mr. Laz

30 million in open cap space would still put us at 19th in the NFL. That's after we make move to open cap space but other teams haven't yet.

Cap space is relative when it comes to competing for players.


We better sign our players before the hit the market because other teams are going to have more money. I imagine our upcoming FAs have already been told that by their Agents.

Berry's deal in only $5 million in 2017 if he gets extended. Same thing with Honey Badgers first year. Dorsey has done this with several contracts.

Poe's franchise puts us at a little under $20 million total. Not sure what the deal is since we would still have roughly $10 million in space.

Now add the 2018 budget of $31 million. Poe's first year would probably be low if he was signed.

I'm failing to see the issue in keeping both unless Dorsey is too loyal to expendable players that wouldn't restructure.

[ThaVirus]

Originally Posted by kccrow

Delusional rose colored glasses shit right there.



I don't think you realize just how good Collins was as a rookie last year and how phenomenal he was this year. Best safety in the game right now and he's only going to get better.

I watch plenty of football to know.

What you're suggesting is too much.

[Sweet Daddy Hate]

Berry knows how to win games.

The opinions of the fat piece of shit who saddled him with an offense whose only attribute is stroking its own pitiful, little micro-peen for a few minutes every field goal-producing quarter, is of little consequence in this matter.

[BryanBusby]

I don't really see all the hysteria of tagging Poe.

He was invisible in a good share of games last season and tagging him would mean paying way more than you should pay a 0-tech.

We're gonna have to let some dudes walk unless we plan to be in forever cap hell. He's who I would start with.

He was a great Nose at one time, but that was years ago by now. At this point I really don't see why Howard couldn't at least match his production, at a much lower salary.

[Nickhead]

Originally Posted by BryanBusby

I don't really see all the hysteria of tagging Poe.

He was invisible in a good share of games last season and tagging him would mean paying way more than you should pay a 0-tech.

We're gonna have to let some dudes walk unless we plan to be in forever cap hell. He's who I would start with.

He was a great Nose at one time, but that was years ago by now. At this point I really don't see why Howard couldn't at least match his production, at a much lower salary.

he definitely picked the worst moment to decline before year 5 started. before last season i was worried he would get suh like pay, but no chance now.

[Nickhead]

getting vbulletin warning after each post, have to refresh to see the thread again.

[Frazod]

Originally Posted by Nickhead

getting vbulletin warning after each post, have to refresh to see the thread again.

Yeah, this is happening to me on and off. That Algerian ****er must really be annoyed with us.

[Nickhead]

so to recap, sometimes can't get to the last page of thread, and vbulletin times out after some posts.

anything else