Fresh off an unprecedented comeback season, Eric Berry finds himself among the select group of players battling the franchise tag.
As the deadline for players to sign their tags looms, it looks as though Berry will land in the group that will play under the tag in 2016. Unless there is a significant shift in the next two days, a source familiar with the negotiations tells NFL Media's Rand Getlin the Chiefs and Berry are unlikely to come to terms on a long-term deal.
Both sides have said for months that they hoped a long-term deal would come out of the negotiations, but it appears the distance between the two might be insurmountable in the next two days. Berry is in line for a boost in pay either way and is set to make $10.8 million under the tag, but without the security of a long-term deal.
Berry returned in 2015 after a battle with Hodgkin's lymphoma to inspire a Chiefs defense that was a big part of their return to prominence, going 11-5 and dominating the Houston Texans 30-0 in the AFC Wild Card round. Berry finished with 61 tackles, 10 pass deflections and two interceptions, good enough to be selected to the Pro Bowl and to be named first-team All Pro and NFL Comeback Player of the Year.
One look at the film will show that Berry's value to the Chiefs' secondary is undeniable. But it looks as if his payday might have to wait.
