Eric Berrywants to stay in Kansas City. The Chiefswant Eric Berry to stay in Kansas City. But the All-Pro safety doesn't want to play on the franchise tag again.
Speaking Thursday on NFL Network's Super Bowl Live, Berry definitively rejected the notion he'd acquiesce to the tag again.
"I'm definitely not going to play under the franchise tag this year," Berry said. "I want to end my career in Kansas City. I want to play there. I love the city, I love the vibe, I love my teammates. I really look at them more than teammates. We've been through a lot and they supported me a lot. And the organization. But I don't feel comfortable playing under the franchise tag this year."
Berry played 2016 under the $10.8 million franchise tag, but because he and the Chiefs couldn't come to a long-term deal he didn't report to camp until Aug. 28. If tagged again he could sit out even longer.
The 28-year-old wants the security that comes with a long-term deal, not the short-term tag money, which would be worth roughly $13 million in 2017.
The Chiefs are making it a priority to ink Berry to a long-term deal. The safety essentially dared them to tag him again this year.