If the Kansas City Chiefs want to lock up Pro Bowl safety Eric Berry long-term, the clock is ticking.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports the Chiefs have not “ruled out” reaching a long-term agreement with franchise-tagged Berry before Friday’s deadline. This comes shorty after NFL Network’s Rand Getlin reported that the Chiefs were unlikely to extend Berry before the July 15th deadline.
While neither reporter completely ruled out the possibility of Berry working out a long-term deal with the Chiefs.
Berry is seeking a deal in the range of Harrison Smith’s five-year, $51.25M extension and Kansas City has, at times, appeared willing to let Berry play out the next season under the franchise tag.
At last night’s ESPY Awards, Berry won the ESPY for Best Comeback Player, in recognition of his Pro Bowl season in his return from battling Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
Upon accepting the award, Berry delivered an inspiring speech which included the following:
“I’m not a victim of circumstance. I’m not a victim of diagnosis. I can do it if I put my mind to it, and I have a wonderful support system. So, I’m not accepting this award for me, I’m accepting it for all the fighters out there. Regardless of what your circumstance is, regardless of what your diagnosis is, just keep pushing and always remember, ‘Honor your legacy, baby.’ And you can push through it.”