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.”

[Mr. Laz]

Originally Posted by RunKC

2 things here:

1. As of today, Justin Houston has never been paid "Aaron Rodgers money"
2. When the new league year starts, Justin Houston will be paid this upcoming season more than Aaron Rodgers has or will ever make in a season.

Whatever

We aren't cutting him so it's only a matter of a few months until he does.

[Urc Burry]

Originally Posted by Mr. Laz

We don't have the Patriot's coaching staff.

Everyone focuses on Tom Brady, but the Patriots had the top-rated defense (By Points) in the league while still being 30th in cash spent. Patriots are also 5th in amount of cap space available.

The Patriots have 8 guys on their defense with a cap # over a million.

S/CB Devin McCourty is by far their highest paid defender with a cap number of 5 million this year.

I haven't busted out the calculator, but it appears that Houston and Berry make more than the entire Patriots' defense. Houston might make enough by himself.

Are you aware of how NFL contracts work? We could sign Berry and his cap hit could be 1 mil this year

[mdstu]

Originally Posted by Urc Burry

Are you aware of how NFL contracts work? We could sign Berry and his cap hit could be 1 mil this year

I'm guessing I don't understand how NFL contracts work then.

Explain how his contract is going to have 30-35m in guarantees with a first year hit of 1 million.

Surely he is going to want a pretty hefty signing bonus. Are they able to push pro-rated signing bonus money out of the first year?

[RunKC]

Originally Posted by Mr. Laz

Whatever

We aren't cutting him so it's only a matter of a few months until he does.

Justin Houston had 4.5 sacks and looked mostly normal this year while dealing with a swollen knee post surgery. He was a dominant pass rusher in 2015 up until he got injured.

His knee should be fine by September. All indications are he's the same guy if he's healthy...worth the $$

[kccrow]

Originally Posted by Pasta Giant Meatball

That's why I call him kcoldcrow. Drunk ass takes.

Homers...

Eric Berry is the greatest of all-time, HOFer, and noone can say anything else to the contrary.

Eric Berry isn't as good as people around Chiefs' Kingdom make him out to be. He's a good player, but he's not great and he isn't the best in the league at what he does.

Watch Landon Collins play, then get back to me. Harrison Smith is better. There are better players at his position. Why the **** on Earth would you give a guy TOP CB money to play safety when he's just inside the top-10.

I mean, is it attachment syndrome? Is it that you just want the Chiefs to sign him because you like him? I could be on board with signing guys just because I like them, but I sure wouldn't hope for extended winning because that cap ****s a team with underperforming, aging players.

[SAUTO]

Originally Posted by Coogs

2003. Lawyer Malloy. Pats lost 31-0. Finished the season at 14-2. Super Bowl champs!

Yep

[SAUTO]

Originally Posted by RunKC

Justin Houston had 4.5 sacks and looked mostly normal this year while dealing with a swollen knee post surgery. He was a dominant pass rusher in 2015 up until he got injured.

His knee should be fine by September. All indications are he's the same guy if he's healthy...worth the $$

Didn't he have a 4 sack game?

[BryanBusby]

Originally Posted by raybec 4

It's easy to take care of the Justin Houstons and the Jay Howards one had a career year at one of the highest paid positions in the league, the other was a journeyman who performed above his pay. Berry is a guy who is probably top 3 at his position but safety's aren't nearly as coveted as pass rushers. So, the question is what's appropriate? And who's scale are we using? Certainly not the fans, or the media. I'd imagine if Berry isn't a Chief next year he'll get a honey badger deal or better somewhere else.

Houston was a top of the NFL pass-rusher and was paid appropriately. Howard had to flounder in the market because he asked for too much and the team kept him at a market appropriate deal.

Key in on the word appropriate. Badger got a bump in pay with how much he also played in a cb oriented role and did well at. He and Berry aren't completely alike and he wants a deal that trumps badgers. Not an appropriate deal.

If he was asking for Harrison Smith range, he'd probably be in the middle of a 4-6 year deal right now.

With that said, I don't blame Berry or anyone that tries to get as much money as they can if that's what they desire. Giving him too much money is a move for shit franchises like the Browns and 49ers to do.

[Mr. Laz]

Originally Posted by Urc Burry

Are you aware of how NFL contracts work? We could sign Berry and his cap hit could be 1 mil this year

THIS ****ING YEAR Houston and Berry got paid more than the entire Patriots defense.

Houston made more from the tub than most of the Patriot's defense.

[Mr. Laz]

Originally Posted by RunKC

Justin Houston had 4.5 sacks and looked mostly normal this year while dealing with a swollen knee post surgery. He was a dominant pass rusher in 2015 up until he got injured.

His knee should be fine by September. All indications are he's the same guy if he's healthy...worth the $$

Houston didn't look mostly normal

he got 3 of his sacks in 1 game against a backup RT.

I think he didn't get any more sacks once Stephenson came into the game, which isn't a good thing.

We can only cross our fingers that he can stay healthy and return to being productive next year.

[BossChief]

Originally Posted by O.city

I'm torn here on what they should do.

I completely agree.

If you sign him to a huge mega deal, you have to hope and pray Berry continues to grow into his role as a deep safety (which I've said should have been his position since he was drafted) and continues to make impact plays as consistently as he did in 2016.

You also have to hope his Achilles holds up through every year of the new deal, when it's been a concern the last 2-3 years (I remember reading a quote from a defensive coach talking about his Achilles before the whole cancer thing)...if it bursts, it would be a massive blow to the team.

You have to hope the cancer doesn't return...but I guess the Chiefs could NFI list him if it returns...but if they do pay him, that's a huge chunk of basically unused cap space. I wonder what happens if the cancer returns during the guaranteed part of his new deal. Tricky.

I mean, that's a crapton that needs to go absolutely perfect for the new deal to be even decent value.

If they let him walk or tag/trade him, that's a concern as well. The locker room would take a shot as would chemistry.

That's a slippery slope.

Especially with guys like Houston being his best friend.

I know this is going to sound crazy, but I think I'd probably shake hands with the man, wish him the best and let him walk. I'm basing that on the assumption that Berry will be demanding 14m per with close to 40m guaranteed.

I just don't think any safety is worth that much of the teams cap.

If I'm spending that kind of money on defense, I'm spending it on an elite pass rusher or a lock down corner. Especially with the way Dorsey has been able to find cheap safeties that play extremely well every year (Abdullah, Parker, Sorenson, etc) and his drafting of Murray, who has the tools to be an excellent free safety that plays the ball well, hits hard and can be physical in run support. A rare safety that can play the pass and run equally as well.

I really loved that pick.

I hate to be that guy, but I'd probably let Berry and Poe both walk if they refuse to sign reasonable deals.

[RunKC]

Originally Posted by BossChief

I completely agree.

If you sign him to a huge mega deal, you have to hope and pray Berry continues to grow into his role as a deep safety (which I've said should have been his position since he was drafted) and continues to make impact plays as consistently as he did in 2016.

You also have to hope his Achilles holds up through every year of the new deal, when it's been a concern the last 2-3 years (I remember reading a quote from a defensive coach talking about his Achilles before the whole cancer thing)...if it bursts, it would be a massive blow to the team.

You have to hope the cancer doesn't return...but I guess the Chiefs could NFI list him if it returns...but if they do pay him, that's a huge chunk of basically unused cap space. I wonder what happens if the cancer returns during the guaranteed part of his new deal. Tricky.

I mean, that's a crapton that needs to go absolutely perfect for the new deal to be even decent value.

If they let him walk or tag/trade him, that's a concern as well. The locker room would take a shot as would chemistry.

That's a slippery slope.

Especially with guys like Houston being his best friend.

I know this is going to sound crazy, but I think I'd probably shake hands with the man, wish him the best and let him walk. I'm basing that on the assumption that Berry will be demanding 14m per with close to 40m guaranteed.

I just don't think any safety is worth that much of the teams cap.

If I'm spending that kind of money on defense, I'm spending it on an elite pass rusher or a lock down corner. Especially with the way Dorsey has been able to find cheap safeties that play extremely well every year (Abdullah, Parker, Sorenson, etc) and his drafting of Murray, who has the tools to be an excellent free safety that plays the ball well, hits hard and can be physical in run support. A rare safety that can play the pass and run equally as well.

I really loved that pick.

I hate to be that guy, but I'd probably let Berry and Poe both walk if they refuse to sign reasonable deals.

Good post Boss. All good points.

In your opinion, you think they won't tag one of the 2 players? Seems like their goal is to try to keep 1 on the tag.

[BossChief]

Originally Posted by RunKC

Good post Boss. All good points.

In your opinion, you think they won't tag one of the 2 players? Seems like their goal is to try to keep 1 on the tag.

I have no doubts that Dorsey is going to do everything REASONABLE to keep both guys in KC.

He's a phenomenal GM.

I just think it's the same as last year and I've already quoted Reid's response from last year, saying "you can't pay everyone top of the league money"...I just don't see Dorsey getting bent over and overspending to keep either guy and both players can get huge money in FA with teams like Jacksonville driving the price tag up for everyone by having to spend close to 80m this offseason.

Berry already said he won't play on the tag and the last thing Dorsey wants is to disrupt the locker room. Also, if they tag Berry that means 13m in cap space is locked up and can't be used to improve the team...unless Dorsey thinks he can trade Berry on the tag, he should probably give Berry the teams best offer and if it doesn't work out, shake hands and wish Eric the best.

Tagging Poe would be silly. It would cost like 15m and even when Poe is at his best and fully healthy (which he hasn't been for quite some time) he's not a game changer. He's not a 10 sack disrupter and he gets pushed around in the run game too much for that kind of money. I mean, the guy has played a TON of snaps every year and still doesn't have the numbers you want for a guy worthy of 10m per...let alone 15-17. And he has back problems.

Poe is easily our most overrated player and before 2016, Berry was probably second on that list.

If Eric wants to sign a carbon copy of the Harrison Smith deal, sign me up. Maybe 8 dollars more, but I wouldn't give him 13-14m per with close to 40 of it guaranteed.

Id offer Poe 8-9m per year and I might push that a hair, but I just don't see a guy worthy of a crazy deal like Malik Jackson got in FA.

I'd be perfectly fine getting a pair of third round comp picks next year for the 2 of them and letting Howard and Murray take over their roles while using that money to bolster other positions.

[milkman]

Originally Posted by O.city

I'm torn here on what they should do.

Locker room leadership and team dynamics are worth a lot of money.

But not worth the kind of money Berry appears to be seeking.

[ThaVirus]

Originally Posted by kccrow

Homers...

Eric Berry is the greatest of all-time, HOFer, and noone can say anything else to the contrary.

Eric Berry isn't as good as people around Chiefs' Kingdom make him out to be. He's a good player, but he's not great and he isn't the best in the league at what he does.

Watch Landon Collins play, then get back to me. Harrison Smith is better. There are better players at his position. Why the **** on Earth would you give a guy TOP CB money to play safety when he's just inside the top-10.

I mean, is it attachment syndrome? Is it that you just want the Chiefs to sign him because you like him? I could be on board with signing guys just because I like them, but I sure wouldn't hope for extended winning because that cap ****s a team with underperforming, aging players.

The issue is that your claim is essentially baseless.

You couldn't find anyone with general NFL knowledge to agree that a Berry is "just inside the top 10". No one.