Earlier this week Kansas City Chiefs general manager John Dorsey characterized contract talks with Pro Bowl safety and team leader Eric Berry’s representatives as “very positive conversations.” That sentiment may not be shared by Berry’s side.
Berry’s agent, Chad Speck, tweeted the following response to the ArrowheadPride.com story:
“I wouldn’t characterize it as ‘positive’ — but we are talking. We’ve got a long ways to go.”
It seems that the two sides still have some work to do. It’s hard to wrap your head around the idea of Eric Berry not playing in a Chiefs uniform next season but Berry said on NFL Network last week that he would not play under the franchise tag again.
This puts the pressure on the Chiefs organization to get a deal done.
Dorsey talked about the potential of Berry returning to Kansas City next season.
“In today’s football, you never know,” Dorsey said, per ArrowheadPride.com. “When I look at this, we have very positive and open dialogue with the representatives, that’s a good thing from my perspective. Everybody’s entitled to their opinions. I know when I deal with Eric’s representatives and I feel good and positive and his representatives feel positive I think that’s positive for everybody moving forward.”
It is likely that if a deal is not completed over the course of the next few weeks that Kansas City will be forced to use the franchise tag, yet again, on Berry. In the event that it plays out that way it’s fair to expect a lengthy holdout which could cost Berry significant time on the field in 2017.
There is still time for the two sides to find some common ground to get a deal done but as of right now it appears that they have differing viewpoints.