Berry savors return to Arrowhead
Cancer defeated, safety working way back into lineup.
Eric Berry has made the drive into Arrowhead Stadium on game day dozens of times over the years. On Friday night, he rolled down the windows and went a little bit slower.
He wanted to smell the barbecue wafting off the grills in the parking lot. He wanted to see the kids throwing footballs between the cars. And more than anything, he wanted to hear all those Kansas City Chiefs fans shout words of encouragement when they saw him roll past.
“All those emotions and things that come with the game, you get it riding through the parking lot,” he said. “You have to be a Kansas City Chief to understand.”
Few people expected Berry to make that drive Friday night, at least not in December, when the Pro Bowl safety was diagnosed with lymphoma and stepped away from the game.
But after grueling rounds of chemotherapy, Berry was deemed cancer-free in June. He was back in training camp in July, and made his return to the field last week in Arizona, a remarkable recovery that left even his doctors in Atlanta amazed. He’s not just playing, either. Berry is flourishing. He began working with rookies and long shots in training camp, but has slowly moved up the pecking order, spending most of his time lately with the No. 2 defense. But against the Seahawks, he was on the field several snaps with the starters.
“I think the coaches are doing a great job of easing me back in,” he said.
Giants: Starting middle linebacker Jon Beason suffered a knee sprain in the second quarter against the Jaguars on Saturday night and did not return. Rookie safety Justin Currie broke his right ankle and veteran backup linebacker Mark Herzlich suffered a concussion.
Panthers: Defensive end Frank Alexander tore his right Achilles in Saturday night’s game and will miss the season. Center Ryan Kalil left with a knee injury, the extent of which is unknown.
Bucs: Coach Lovie Smith has decided to take over play-calling duties from defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier. Smith would not elaborate on his increased role.
Seahawks: Hosted free-agent guard Evan Mathis for a physical on Saturday, coach Pete Carroll confirmed.
Jets: Wide receiver Jeremy Kerley, running back Daryl Richardson and safety Durell Eskridge suffered concussions and wide receiver Shaquelle Evans suffered a sprained back in Friday’s game. Fiers still celebrating
A day after flinging his glove in the air after the final out of his no-hitter against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Houston Astros right-hander Mike Fiers was still enjoying an emotional high.
“I prayed for this opportunity to pitch for this organization, to pitch in front of these fans,” he said Saturday. “It’s a good feeling.”
Fiers, acquired by the AL West-leading Astros from Milwaukee at last month’s trade deadline, had never thrown a complete game in 58 starts over five seasons. He threw 134 pitches to blank the NL West leaders 3-0.
Elsewhere
Yankees: Former catcher Jorge Posada’s No. 20 was retired Saturday in a ceremony at Yankee Stadium, and a plaque was unveiled in Monument Park honoring his 17-year career.
Tigers: The team said an unidentified woman who was hit by a foul ball Friday night at Comerica Park was released from the hospital Saturday.