Sept. 17, 2015; Kansas City, MO: Chiefs safety Eric Berry points to the sky as he enters the field prior to Thursday night’s home opener against the Denver Broncos. (Chris Neal/The Topeka Capital-Journal)
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Chiefs kicked off the three-day mandatory minicamp Tuesday without two-time All-Pro safety Eric Berry.
The seventh-year pro’s absence isn’t a surprise when considering Berry hasn’t signed the one-year, $10.8 million nonexclusive franchise tender.
Berry, who also skipped the recently-concluded voluntary organized team activities (OTAs), can’t be fined for missing the three-day minicamp because he is not under contract.
Coach Andy Reid addressed the media on the final day of OTAs last week, but did not have an update on the status of negotiations when asked if he expected Berry to be in minicamp.
“That’s (general manager John) Dorsey’s,” Reid said on June 10. “I don’t know where we are with that one.”
The Chiefs and Berry’s representative have until July 15 to negotiate a multiyear contract or extension.
After July 15, Berry can only sign the one-year franchise tender for the 2016 season and any discussion on a long-term deal between Berry and the Chiefs must wait until the conclusion of the regular season.
The market for Berry may have been set on June 6, when the Minnesota Vikings signed safety Harrison Smith to a reported five-year, $51.25 million contract. The deal made Smith the highest-paid safety in the league.
The Chiefs as of Tuesday morning have $226,818 in available cap space, a figure representing the lowest amount in the league, according to the NFLPA Public Salary Cap Report.
———-
Herbie Teope is the lead beat writer and reporter for ChiefsDigest.com. Use the contact page to reach him or find him on Twitter: @HerbieTeope.
———-
