The Great Eric Berry Debate: How much does the Chiefs safety deserve?
By Matt Conner
Question #2: Given that Berry has come out so strongly against a second tag, do you think John Dorsey’s only real course of action here is a long-term deal?
Stacy: Absolutely. Tagging him again throws down the gauntlet and essentially shows Berry having a future in Kansas City is not a priority for this front office.
Lyle: By the start of training camp, yes. By the deadline to designate tags, no. If they feel like they are getting close on a deal, tag him to keep other teams from negotiating with the good faith agreement that you’ll get a deal done. I wouldn’t tag him unless I’m confident a deal will get done this year.
Britt: Yes I do. The only reason to tag Berry would be to trade him. But I don’t believe you will get in a trade what you will get in terms of compensatory pick if he signs a free agent deal. So it’s either sign Berry long term or let him walk and get a 3rd round compensatory pick in the 2018 Draft.
Lyle: Tagging Berry may upset him and his agent, but it may also force them to work with the Chiefs on a deal so they don’t have to sit out.
Stacy: Dorsey doesn’t need more time. He knows, today, what kind of offer it will take to get Berr signed. They had two negotiating period last year. The check is now due. Pay him or let him walk.
Matt: Stacy, that’s a great point about the amount of time. Should we read into it, then, that Dorsey still hasn’t made the offer he knows it will take?
Britt: I agree, Matt. I’m thinking they are still trying to come in low but they know what their final offer will be. This stuff never gets done without a hard deadline. I think they will come in with a final offer at the end of the tag season. If he takes it, great; if not, he’ll be free to find better deals. It would be viewed by players in the league as unfair treatment by the Chiefs if they tag Berry again. You don’t want other free agents seeing the Chiefs in a bad light and possibly not signing here.
Matt: I like that point about other players’ perceptions.
Nick: The only reason they should tag him again has been stated: if you are close to a deal and you don’t want him to walk, then you tag him, get the deal done and move on. In an ideal world, a deal would get done for Berry before the tag deadline so they could use that on keeping Poe around and work on a new deal for him.
Britt: Every player in the league knows it’s a business and is fine with that, so don’t make it personal and hold them hostage for no reason. That’s when you get a bad rep and players look down on executives. Just see Scott Pioli for that! Give him your max offer. If he takes it, great. If he wants more, wish him luck in finding it. Let him know the offer stands, and if he doesn’t find much better offers, you’ll be happy to sign him. If he finds a better offer, wish him luck and give him the hero’s welcome when he returns to Arrowhead.
Nick: The only thing I fear is the cap room, someone is going to have to either adjust their contract to free up some space, or sadly someone is going to be cut.