Report: Chiefs safety Eric Berry expected to skip most of preseason

It appears Chiefs safety Eric Berry is primed to skip the preseason.

According to a report by ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Berry plans to miss most — if not all — of the preseason.

Such a move would be a way for the Pro Bowl safety to show his displeasure with team’s inability to reach a long-term contract agreement with him this summer.

Chiefs coach Andy Reid said Tuesday that he’s communicated with Berry via text this summer but he was uncertain of Berry’s plans. Veterans at expected to report to Chiefs camp Friday at Missouri Western.

Berry, who turns 28 in December, can skip the entire preseason, sign the tender right before the season and still collect his full $10.8 million salary on the franchise tag. Because he is not officially under contract, he cannot be fined for missing camp.

Considering Berry’s strong track record as a player — he was chosen the NFL’s comeback player of the year for 2015 and an All-Pro after defeating lymphoma — and his oft-stated overall value as a leader, it would make sense if Berry was unhappy. The franchise tender is good money, but the game’s highest-paid safety, Minnesota’s Harrison Smith, received nearly $17 million more in guaranteed money in the contract he signed in June.

The Chiefs had until July 15 to reach a long-term deal with Berry this summer.

This story was originally published July 27, 2016 at 7:20 PM with the headline "Report: Chiefs safety Eric Berry expected to skip most of preseason."