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.”

[Chief Northman]

Originally Posted by Dagnabit

Damn, Chief Northman discussing QB replacement?

Oh how the times have changed....

(for the better)

Well Sweets/Dag,

I never liked the piling on mentality, and still don't with regards to Smith. He gets shit on too much here. I will also say though, that he cannot get us to the Superbowl. It has less to do with what he can achieve on the field as I am becoming more and more convinced that the league favours franchises with stars, marketability, and faces of the franchise namely at the QB position. If we look at the quarterbacks that have represented the AFC over the last 15 years it is a pathetic short list. Smith is like that thing or person from the old Sesame Street rhymes and songs about "one of these things doesn't belong here, three of these things are kind of the same". He is risk averse to a fault, and I don't think he truly inspires confidence in his teammates although they all seem to say the right things about him in his defense.

This last playoff loss really shook me. For the team to come out that flat and have a lacklustre effort after so many exciting and hard-fought regular-season victories was inexcusable. Pittsburgh is overrated in my opinion and even though the patriots may have steamrolled the Chiefs the following week, getting to the championship game could have really been A landmark victory for the franchise moving forward. I am not one to be pessimistic, but I think that loss to Pittsburgh was a crippling one and I am of the opinion that a huge opportunity was lost and that the team will actually regress instead of continue to improve as many seem to think.

It is time this franchise nuts up and gets their own Hoss at the qb position to put the league on notice and get some legitimate respect.

[Nickhead]

think about this... atlanta could have used berry in that super bowl

what bout next year? franchise, trade to atlanta and get two bottom round 1st rounders

[Nickhead]

Originally Posted by Chief Northman

Well Sweets/Dag,

I never liked the piling on mentality, and still don't with regards to Smith. He gets shit on too much here. I will also say though, that he cannot get us to the Superbowl. It has less to do with what he can achieve on the field as I am becoming more and more convinced that the league favours franchises with stars, marketability, and faces of the franchise namely at the QB position. If we look at the quarterbacks that have represented the AFC over the last 15 years it is a pathetic short list. Smith is like that thing or person from the old Sesame Street rhymes and songs about "one of these things doesn't belong here, three of these things are kind of the same". He is risk averse to a fault, and I don't think he truly inspires confidence in his teammates although they all seem to say the right things about him in his defense.

This last playoff loss really shook me. For the team to come out that flat and have a lacklustre effort after so many exciting and hard-fought regular-season victories was inexcusable. Pittsburgh is overrated in my opinion and even though the patriots may have steamrolled the Chiefs the following week, getting to the championship game could have really been A landmark victory for the franchise moving forward. I am not one to be pessimistic, but I think that loss to Pittsburgh was a crippling one and I am of the opinion that a huge opportunity was lost and that the team will actually regress instead of continue to improve as many seem to think.

It is time this franchise nuts up and gets their own Hoss at the qb position to put the league on notice and get some legitimate respect.

alex won't KEEP you from the SB, but he won't will his team to one either i think is what you meant

[TigeRRUppeRRcut]

Originally Posted by Chief Northman

I think Atlanta or Tennessee would pony up.

If the Chiefs are smart, they ask for a 2018 first round pick. Get ammo for that yuge QB class.....

How is this a 'yuge' QB class. Please tell me when all the reports are skeptical on all these 1st round prospects. There's no RG, Luck, Cam, Wentz, Carr hype with these guys

[TigeRRUppeRRcut]

Originally Posted by Nickhead

think about this... atlanta could have used berry in that super bowl

what bout next year? franchise, trade to atlanta and get two bottom round 1st rounders

Jesus, do you know anything about the NFL? Or have any sense of reality?

[Nickhead]

Originally Posted by TigerUppercut

Jesus, do you know anything about the NFL? Or have any sense of reality?

think about this, you bite at my mindless dribble more than i am serious about what i post.

and yes, there are certain rules and regulations in the nfl that i am not up on as i have been living in australia for the last 8 years.

so combining the two statements above has one obvious conclusion.

you are too easy

so, instead of berating me about my silly comments, why not simply answer the question. tagging berry and letting him sign elswhere, does that not get the chiefs two first round picks?

[Coogs]

Originally Posted by Nickhead

don't the chiefs get two first round picks for berry if he is tagged and leaves?

That is what the tag says. I believe teams can also negotiate a lower compensation deal if they so choose.

[BossChief]

Originally Posted by Nickhead

alex won't KEEP you from the SB, but he won't will his team to one either i think is what you meant

Alex Smith kept us from beating Pittsburgh.

Don't get it twisted.

[BossChief]

Originally Posted by Nickhead

think about this, you bite at my mindless dribble more than i am serious about what i post.

and yes, there are certain rules and regulations in the nfl that i am not up on as i have been living in australia for the last 8 years.

so combining the two statements above has one obvious conclusion.

you are too easy

so, instead of berating me about my silly comments, why not simply answer the question. tagging berry and letting him sign elswhere, does that not get the chiefs two first round picks?

2 firsts is what it would take if another team wants to force a signing of a player, the the team that gave him can negotiate that compensation.

The Patriots took a second round pick from KC when they franchised Cassel and traded him to KC.

[Rausch]

Originally Posted by BossChief

Alex Smith kept us from beating Pittsburgh.

Don't get it twisted.

Play calling held a lot of the blame as well...

[BossChief]

Originally Posted by Rausch

Play calling held a lot of the blame as well...

The playcalling wasn't perfect, but it was enough to get Tyreek Hill running wide open for 2 free TDs.

Alex hits that first one, KC probably wins the game.

He hits both, not only do we win but NE has to play us honestly the next week by keeping safeties back.

[SAUTO]

Originally Posted by TigerUppercut

How is this a 'yuge' QB class. Please tell me when all the reports are skeptical on all these 1st round prospects. There's no RG, Luck, Cam, Wentz, Carr hype with these guys

Im not sure you can actually read

[Rausch]

Originally Posted by BossChief

The playcalling wasn't perfect, but it was enough to get Tyreek Hill running wide open for 2 free TDs.

Alex hits that first one, KC probably wins the game.

He hits both, not only do we win but NE has to play us honestly the next week by keeping safeties back.

True statements...

[Nickhead]

Originally Posted by BossChief

2 firsts is what it would take if another team wants to force a signing of a player, the the team that gave him can negotiate that compensation.

The Patriots took a second round pick from KC when they franchised Cassel and traded him to KC.

thanks very much.

see tiggerupper****, was that so tough

[raybec 4]

Originally Posted by TigerUppercut

How is this a 'yuge' QB class. Please tell me when all the reports are skeptical on all these 1st round prospects. There's no RG, Luck, Cam, Wentz, Carr hype with these guys

Pretty sure he just said the 2018 class. But hey, you keep on keeping on.