Eric Berry Contract: Latest News, Rumors on FS's Negotiations with Chiefs

The Kansas City Chiefs used the franchise tag on Eric Berry in March, but the All-Pro free safety remains without a new contract as the regular season approaches.

Continue for updates.

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Berry Returns to Chiefs

Sunday, Aug. 28 

Chiefs.com's BJ Kissel reported that "Berry has signed his franchise tender and will practice for the [Chiefs on Monday]."

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported on Friday that Berry would return to the team on Sunday. 

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Reid Comments on Berry

Sunday, Aug. 28 

“Eric’s one of our good players, and he’s in the business side of it right now,” Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said on Friday, on PFT Live, according to Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk. 

Reid continued: "This is all part of the profession, so I get it. But I also know when he comes in he’s going to be in great shape, he’ll be able to get himself back before the first game and be ready to go, because that’s the way he trains in the offseason and the kind of shape he keeps himself in."

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Dorsey Comments on Berry's Potential Return to Chiefs

Thursday, Aug. 11

"The agent has said...at some juncture during this course, he'll show up here," Chiefs general manager John Dorsey said Wednesday, per ESPN.com's Adam Teicher. "I haven't talked to Eric one-on-one about when he's going to show up. Knowing what a prideful professional he is, I think he will show up at the appropriate time."

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Berry, Chiefs Fail to Reach Deal

Friday, July 15

Dorsey released a statement on the team's official website after the July 15 deadline:

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Unfortunately, we were unable to reach a long-term agreement with Eric’s representatives before today’s deadline. Although both sides would have preferred a different outcome, Eric is a true professional and a tremendous football player, and we know that he will continue to be a leader in our locker room. We look forward to resuming our discussions on a long-term agreement when the negotiating window reopens after the season.

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In a May interview with Alex Marvez and Gil Brandt on SiriusXM NFL Radio (via ProFootballTalk's Josh Alper), Dorsey acknowledged that a quick resolution was unlikely.

"This is going to be a slow process with Eric," he said. "It's gonna be kinda like [Justin Houston] last year."

Kansas City franchise-tagged Houston last offseason, and Schefter reported on July 15, 2015 that the two parties agreed to a six-year, $101 million extension.

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Berry Comments on Negotiations with Chiefs

Friday, July 8

"I thought it would progress a little bit more," Berry said, per Herbie Teope of the Topeka Capital-Journal. "Obviously, I would love to be a Chief. I want to be a Chief long-term."

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Retaining Berry Must Be Priority for Chiefs

Simply in terms of average salary, Berry will be the highest-paid safety in the league in 2016. However, those behind him will have more guaranteed money and more long-term security, per Over the Cap:

Rank	Player	Avg. Salary	Total Value	Total Guaranteed
1	Eric Berry, KC	$10,806,000	$10,806,000	$0
2	Harrison Smith, MIN	$10,250,000	$51,250,000	$15,278,000
3	Earl Thomas, SEA	$10,000,000	$40,000,000	$14,225,000
4	Devin McCourty, NE	$9,500,000	$47,500,000	$22,000,000
T5	Mark Barron, LA	$9,000,000	$45,000,000	$15,000,000

Berry and his agent are likely adjusting their demands as well after Harrison Smith's new deal with the Minnesota Vikings. Schefter reported on June 6 that the Vikings re-signed Smith for five years and $51.25 million, which includes $15.27 million fully guaranteed.

Finalizing a long-term contract would be in both sides' best interests, though. Berry is one of the best safeties in the league, and tying him down before he hits the open market should be the Chiefs' goal this offseason.