With the start of NFL free agency on the horizon, the Kansas City Chiefs weren’t going to let two of their team’s biggest stars in history twist in the wind. Tuesday the Chiefs announced they had signed Berry to a six-year, $78 million deal that makes him the highest paid safety in the league.
Chiefs will sign S Eric Berry to a six-year, $78 million deal. (First reported by NFL Network, confirmed by @AdamSchefter) pic.twitter.com/pC9jcwjzSU
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) February 28, 2017
Somewhere in the American northwest, Kam Chancellor just angrily kicked over a chair at a Starbucks.
Berry gets a $20 million signing bonus and $40 million guaranteed in the deal. It’s a real moment for a guy who nearly died of cancer in 2014. Berry was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma and beat it, not only surviving, but returning to elite NFL football shape. It took no time for Berry to reestablish himself as one of the best safeties in the NFL when he returned in 2015.
Berry was the fifth overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft and his play surpassed that lofty status immediately. He’s made the Pro Bowl five times and been named an All Pro three times. Last year Berry picked off four passes, scored two defensive touchdowns, forced a fumble, defended nine passes and recorded 77 tackles.
“His (Berry’s) outstanding play on the field was rivaled only by his inspirational leadership throughout the season,” Chiefs chairman Clark Hunt said Sunday when Berry was named the team’s 2016 MVP. “…He truly is an amazing leader. All of his teammates and coaches benefit from having him part of the Kansas City Chiefs.”
Jamaal Charles released
Jamaal Charles will get a shot at continuing his NFL career but it won’t be with the team for which he made history. On the same day the Chiefs announced a new contract for safety Eric Berry, they revealed they had released Charles, their franchise’s all-time leading rusher.
Jamaal Charles will be released by the Chiefs today, as @AdamSchefter said. Interest will be there on the market.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) February 28, 2017
“I have a great deal of admiration for Jamaal Charles, his toughness, and what he’s been able to achieve in his time in Kansas City,” Chiefs GM John Dorsey said in a statement. “These decisions are never easy, but we felt it was in the best interests of the club to move on at this time. We wish Jamaal and his family the best of luck in their next step.”
I wrote that this was a real possibility last week when Kansas City announced they had signed free agent running back C.J. Spiller. Charles only saw action in three games for the Chiefs last season after tearing up his knee five games into the 2015 campaign.
If Charles never plays another down, he can probably lay claim to being one of the best running backs in NFL history. Over eight seasons (three shortened due to injury), he averaged 5.5 yards per carry and scored 43 touchdowns. He was a speedster who could find another gear anytime he needed it. Does he still have that? No doubt many NFL teams will want to kick his tires and find out.
Charles’ last full season was 2014 where he rushed for 1,033 yards and nine touchdowns while hauling in 40 passes for 291 yards and five touchdowns. Releasing Charles frees up $7 million in salary cap space for the 2017 season.
What does this mean for Dontari Poe?
The thought out there was if the Chiefs had to franchise Berry, defensive tackle Dontari Poe would be free to test the waters of free agency. The Chiefs already got lucky with Poe, getting a fifth year option on his rookie contract because they picked him in the first round of the 2012 NFL Draft. That luck has run out.
Once #Chiefs lock up Eric Berry — and they're trying — it opens up the possibility of franchise tagging DT Dontari Poe. Could keep both
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 27, 2017
With the franchise tag now on the table, the team could use it to keep Poe at the cost of over $14 million for 2017. Poe is a durable plug in the middle and missed just four games in five seasons for the Chiefs. Last year his stats were down with 24 total tackles, 1.5 sacks, three passes defended and one forced fumble so it could be smart to let Poe test the waters before committing $14 million to him and more if they can manage to sign him long term. $14 million is Gerald McCoy money and Poe doesn’t seem worth that.
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