BEREA, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – Andrew Berry offered very little insight Friday into potential contract extensions for four key players – Baker Mayfield, Nick Chubb, Denzel Ward and Wyatt Teller.
As expected, Berry kept his cards and thoughts close to the vest and he sent zero subtle messages to agents through reporters during his 22-minute press conference.
“I understand the question for all of our guys,” Berry said. “I think you guys know at this point that with contracts and personal situations I do not think this is the most appropriate setting.”
Berry doesn’t negotiate through the media, but he has a lot of negotiating to do.
Unlike a year ago when Berry extended defensive end Myles Garrett for five years and – at the time, record – $125 million weeks before training camp, camp is underway this year without a single extension reached.
That’s not to say extensions won’t be in the works in the coming days or weeks. Berry has set no arbitrary deadlines for talks or deals.
“For us, we are not that dogmatic in any particular philosophy in that regard so I would not read anything into timing,” Berry said.
Chubb and Teller are in the final year of their deals while the fifth-year options on the rookie contracts for Mayfield and Ward were picked up in the spring.
The new NFL formula is for teams to make a Super Bowl push with their quarterbacks on rookie contracts.
The Browns are considered Super Bowl contenders as Mayfield enters year four of his five-year rookie contract this season, but Berry believes the title contention window won’t close when and if Mayfield’s extension kicks in.
“We fully believe that you can build a championship team, whether a quarterback is on a rookie deal or build a championship team whether a quarterback is on a veteran deal,” Berry said. “It does create different tradeoffs, but no different than any high price player.”
With new deals for Mayfield, Chubb, Ward and Teller expected to be in the offing, Berry doesn’t believe problems will arise if the deals take longer to do or don’t get done at all.
“I think it probably depends a little bit on the individual and the communication between the team and player,” Berry said when asked about the potential for hard feelings developing during the process. “I think you have probably seen it both ways through different examples throughout the league. It is one thing that we certainly try to do our best to communicate with all of our guys whether it is a contract situation or not, but we certainly understand that sensitivity.”
As for Mayfield and their feelings about him as their long sought after franchise QB, Berry was complimentary without tipping his hand.
“A good player, an even better person,” Berry said. “Can’t have enough people in our locker room who embody those two characteristics on our team.”
Do the Browns need to see more from the 2018 No. 1 overall pick before committing to him long term and with big money?
“Honestly, all he needs to do is work and perform,” Berry said. “He is going to be fine.”
