REPORT: Eric Berry, Chiefs will not reach deal
The Kansas City Chiefs and safety Eric Berry will not have a long-term contract.
Kansas City and Berry are not going to come to a pact on a long-term agreement, according to Rand Getlin of NFL.com. Getlin has been reporting the two sides being far apart throughout the week, and now he says the negotiating is over.
I'm told there will be no long-term deal reached between the #Chiefs and Eric Berry. Never looked good to get done. This is final.
— Rand Getlin (@RandGetlin) July 15, 2016
This is a massive failure on both sides. General manager John Dorsey should have been able to find common ground for the two parties, with the salary cap pressing up against the team over the following two seasons.
For Berry, his agent failed him. Berry is 27 years old and coming off a First-Team All-Pro season after beating cancer. He is at the absolute peak of his career. Not signing might end up being a moot point if he has another incredible year in 2016, but he’s also going to be a year older. If he slips at all or gets hurt, his stock will drop.
The two sides can agree to a long-term deal after the season, but it wouldn’t be the bet to take. Berry will then be able to hit free agency unless the Chiefs want to tag him again, this time at $13 million per year. That’s not happening with the situation facing the franchise after the 2016 season.