NFL teams
Adam Teicher, ESPN Staff Writer 8y

Source: Chiefs not expecting tagged Eric Berry when camp opens

NFL, Kansas City Chiefs

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. -- The Kansas City Chiefs are not expecting Pro Bowl safety Eric Berry to join his teammates for the start of training camp this weekend, a source said.

Veterans are to report to camp Friday and the Chiefs' first full-squad practice is Saturday.

Coach Andy Reid said he has been in contact recently with Berry, the Chiefs' unsigned franchise-tag player, but was unaware whether Berry would report Friday.

"I'm hoping he's here,'' Reid said at Missouri Western State University, where the Chiefs will begin a three-day minicamp for quarterbacks and rookies Wednesday. "If he's not, I understand that, too. I've been doing this for a few years, so I know how things go. It will all work out one way or another and he's going to continue to be a heck of a football player for us. We look forward to getting him back in here and rolling with him.

"We love Eric Berry. He's a huge part of this football team. Whether he's here or not [on Friday], I can't answer that.''

NFL Network earlier reported news of Berry's intended absence.

Berry has yet to accept the one-year contract worth about $10.8 million the Chiefs are obligated to offer him as their franchise player. The sides failed to agree on terms of a multiyear contract by July 15, the deadline for getting such deals done with a franchise player.

If Berry plays for the Chiefs this year, it will be under the one-year contract. He can't participate in training camp without first signing the contract.

Reid didn't sound as if he was expecting Berry's absence to be extended.

"Whatever way you cut it, Eric Berry is a great football player and good things are going to happen to him here,'' Reid said. "I know how he's wired. He loves to play the game. That's how it is.

"It's a weird dynamic that you're juggling with finances and playing and all those things. I've seen it before. Guys normally come in and they just go. When it's time to play, they play. They put the business side aside and they get after it.''

Reid indicated linebacker Justin Houston, the Chiefs' leader in sacks in each of the past four seasons, would not participate in training camp. Houston underwent knee surgery in February.

"That's not going to happen,'' Reid said. "He's not going to work here. He'll be here. He's just not going to be able to do the football stuff.''

The Chiefs' final practice in St. Joseph is Aug. 18.

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