Eric Berry isn’t optimistic about long-term deal from Chiefs
By Kareem Gantt
Kansas City Chief’s safety Eric Berry isn’t letting the thought of a long-term deal dance in his head.
The deadline to apply the franchise tag to players is Wednesday, but Kansas City Chiefs All-Pro safety isn’t sweating the deadline. Speaking to ESPN.com’s Adam Teicher, Berry said he would love to have his future set in Kansas City, but thanks to the Chief’s cap space situation, he has resigned himself to the fact that a long-term contract may not be in his immediate future.
“I’m just being patient because you never know…. I’m not getting my hopes up,” Berry told ESPN.”
So why isn’t he getting his hopes up? Because there is a great chance that Kansas City will slap the dreaded franchise tag on him that would see his salary balloon to $13 million for next season. Berry was franchised last season, and he has vowed not to play out this season on the dreaded tag.
However, with the prospects of a long-term contract coming from the Chiefs becoming increasingly dimmer as each day past, Berry has wrapped his head around the fact that he will be tagged for at least one more season.
Is it fair for the Chiefs to continue to toy around with their most valuable safety? No, it isn’t. Berry deserves a contract, and the Chiefs need to make every effort to secure their best secondary player. With Dontari Poe also a pending free agent, and talks progressing on a long-term deal, the Chiefs have to use every available salary cap dollar to keep both those stalwarts in town.
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We don’t know what’s going to transpire over the next few days, but for Berry, and the Chiefs, let’s hope the scenario turns out to be a good one for both parties involved. If he is tagged, we may have to hear about Berry sitting out offseason workouts, though.