We’re a little more than two weeks away from the July 15 deadline for Eric Berry and the Kansas City Chiefs to agree on a long-term contract extension. This is right around the time that many league folks go on vacation and so it’s an appropriate time to check in where we’re at with the talks.
According to Rand Getlin, who spoke on the R & B podcast, there has been little communication between Berry and the Chiefs.
“At this point there’s been very little, and I mean very little, back and forth between the Chiefs and Eric Berry,” Getlin said on the podcast.
It’s coming down to the wire in a few weeks. I haven’t been all that concerned about this negotiation because locking Berry up is such a no-brainer. Can you imagine the Chiefs NOT signing him long-term and then Berry playing for the Raiders in 2017? No. No, you can’t.
Additionally, the Chiefs need to sign Berry for cap purposes. They have a league-low $226,000 in salary cap space. They will go into the season with more than that. How? Based on John Dorsey’s past, probably by giving Berry a new deal and lowering his $10.8 million cap number in 2016 via a big signing bonus.
When I look into my crystal ball, I see the Chiefs locking up the guy who beat cancer and has made four Pro Bowls with the team. Dorsey has demonstrated in the past he is a deadline dealer. I’m not giving up hope until July 15.