Kansas City Chiefs: No Deal For Eric Berry
By Charles Lam
The Kansas City Chiefs could not come to terms on a long-term deal with Safety Eric Berry. The team negotiations with Berry’s camp didn’t go well.
Eric Berry played last season after enduring Hodgkin Lymphoma cancer in December of 2015. He beat the cancer and came back and played spectacular defense for the Kansas City Chiefs.
Berry accumulated two interceptions for 40 yards, 55 tackles and 10 pass deflections in 16 games with the Chiefs (15 starts). Not the most impressive numbers for the former 4-time Pro Bowler but considering the circumstances, he played great.
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I watched all the games last season and Berry lit guys up. Some of the hits he put on guys made me think the player wasn’t going to get up. His violent hits make him a special player for the Chiefs defense. He’s the last line of defense that no player wants to run into.
The Kansas City Chiefs and Berry’s agent were said to be far apart all day today and before that. Shortly before noon, Chiefs beat reporter, Terez A. Paylor, posted this to Twitter.
Hearing the #Chiefs and Eric Berry remain far apart on a deal as of this morning.
— RIP Terez A. Paylor (@TerezPaylor) July 15, 2016
Later in the afternoon more news came out that the sides disagreed on having Berry pay for a disability policy. This may have rubbed Berry and his agent the wrong way. Terez A. Paylor confirms the following tweet.
During talks w Eric Berry, Chiefs proposed he pay for a disability policy that named the club as beneficiary, sources say. Later backed off.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) July 15, 2016
The news got even worse as the trade deadline came and went without a deal like reported earlier. The two sides did not come to one term on an agreement. Not a single one.
A bit of surprising news regarding Berry: I’m also hearing the two sides never agreed on a single component of a deal. Not one.
— RIP Terez A. Paylor (@TerezPaylor) July 15, 2016
All of this is bad news for Chiefs fans and the team in general. Berry can hold off from signing the $10.8 million franchise tag. He has the option to not sign into the season as well. This would hurt the Chiefs defense mightily if Berry doesn’t play due to contract issues.
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The Chiefs might have to play Ron Parker, Dan Sorensen and Stevie Brown at safety during a regular season game. Not ideal for a team dealing with a multitude of injuries already.
The Kansas City Chiefs could put the franchise tag on Berry again next season. If the team chooses to next season. The tag price would rise to nearly $13 million and would hinder the all ready strapped for cap space Chiefs.
I think Berry will sign before the regular season begins. Hopefully he signs before the preseason starts to get much-needed reps before the first regular season game on September 11th vs. the San Diego Chargers at home.
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Berry has said he wants to remain a Chief but sometimes things happen. The NFL is a business. If the team a player plays for doesn’t give him what he thinks he’s worth that could create a void in the relationship. I don’t think that will happen here. Let’s hope it doesn’t. The Chiefs need Eric Berry.