The Cleveland Browns are reportedly interested in potentially dealing for Eric Berry in what might be the weirdest NFL rumor posted this week.
Eric Berry is, at this point, a complete mystery. In the last few days alone, the Kansas City Chiefs star safety has been a candidate for immediate release, while other reports have said he will be cut post-June 1 for financial reasons.
Chiefs head coach Andy Reid spoke out recently and said the team was counting on him getting healthy for the upcoming regular season, contrary to any idea that Berry wouldn’t be around. on Wednesday, however, the greatest (or most insane) rumor concerning Berry was presented by NFL reporter Art Stapleton.
Specifically, Stapleton says it’s possible that Berry won’t be on the Chiefs in 2019, but not because the team decided to release him. Rather John Dorsey, general manager of the Cleveland Browns, wants to trade for him.
Hearing rumors that John Dorsey and Browns could be making a play to pluck Eric Berry out of Kansas City.
— Art Stapleton (@art_stapleton) March 13, 2019
Normally I'd ignore those rumors, but after the events of last night, this is another one I'll be keeping an eye on.
Dorsey was general manager in Kansas City from 2013 to 2017, so he saw up close just how devastating Berry can be in the secondary when healthy. For the Chiefs, however, the ability to get something for a player that many fans would love to see cut loose for nothing is a nice proposition. Berry is most certainly a dominant performer when healthy, but he’s only played in a few games over the last two full seasons. At this point, most fans are content to turn the corner given the unpredictability over his playing status.
This is certainly a rumor to take with a grain of salt at this point, and Stapleton himself seems to understand this. However, Dorsey has already pulled the trigger on a shocking trade for Odell Beckham, Jr. so apparently nothing is off the table at this point.
Berry tore his Achilles tendon in 2017 and missed every gaem of the season except for the opener. Last year, Berry remained out until the final few games of the year as he dealt with a bone spur. He’s refused to have surgery so far, so the Chiefs are hoping the injury will heal on its own.