4:30pm: Berry has released a statement on the Chiefs’ website:
“I am truly thankful for all of the support from family, friends, coaches, teammates and the entire Chiefs kingdom. At first I was in shock with the diagnosis on Saturday and did not even want to miss a game, but I understand that right now I have to concentrate on a new opponent. I have great confidence in the doctors and the plan they are going to put in place for me to win this fight. I believe that I am in God’s hands and I have great peace in that. I know my coaches and teammates will hold things down here the rest of the season and until I am back running out of the tunnel at Arrowhead. I am so thankful and appreciative of being a part of this franchise and playing in front of the best fans in the NFL. I will be back!”
4:00pm: The Chiefs have placed safety Eric Berry on the non-football illness list, which means he’s done for the year, a source tells Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (via Twitter).
Trainer Rick Burkholder told reporters, including Adam Teicher of ESPN.com (on Twitter), that Berry experienced discomfort in his chest after Thursday night’s tilt against Oakland. Burkholder went on to explain that upon further inspection, the Chiefs crew found a mass on the right side of Berry’s chest, tweets Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star. Right now, it is believed that Berry has lymphoma and the safety will travel to Atlanta to visit with a specialist (Twitter links). There’s no definite diagnosis yet, however, and the evaluation will continue through tomorrow.
Pro Football Rumors would like to extend our thoughts and prayers to Berry during this difficult time.
Hopefully you will be able to recover. Godspeed Mr. Berry.