OFF TOPIC Eric Berry

[passhappy]

Eric Berry's season is over for the Kansas City Chiefs but the reason is for something far more serious than football. Chiefs trainer Rick Burkholder said the "leading diagnosis" right now is that Eric Berry has lymphoma. This is not a definitive diagnosis as tests will continue on the three-time Pro Bowler who was the No. 5 draft pick overall in 2010.


Here's a summary of what Burkholder had to say to reporters on Monday:

At the end of the Raiders game Berry came to the trainers and said he had some chest discomfort. The Chiefs staff examined him and then came back to Kansas City after the game. On the Friday after the game, he still had discomfort in his chest. The Chiefs did x-rays and then on Friday afternoon they did an MRI. The results showed that he had a mass on the right side of his chest. On Saturday they did more tests at KU Med. The results aren't definitive yet but the results indicate that he has lymphoma. Berry is going to Atlanta to the Emory University hospital and see a specialist in lymphoma to continue to evaluate Berry. Those tests will continue tomorrow and through the next few days.

Chiefs coach Andy Reid said, "He had an opportunity to address the team and feel their love and support, which I think is crucial in this."

Reid said that Berry was upbeat and positive when he talked to him on Monday.

Obviously we wish the best of luck to Eric Berry. There's no doubt Berry can fight this though.

[Eddie Spaghetti]

That dude is a class act all the way

I saw UTs orange and white game a few years ago and watched him sign autographs for well over an hour. Til the last person that wanted it had it

At the same game I saw Arian foster walk right by little kids clamoring for his

Prayers to the berry family

[Slapstick]

Wow. That is awful.

Best at wishes to Berry and his family.

[Iron City Inc.]

So sad. Wishing this young talent a quick recovery.

[fordfixer]

So sad. Wishing this young talent a quick recovery.

X2............

[RuthlessBurgher]

I was a huge Berry guy back during his draft year, but he was to be long gone before the Steelers were due to pick. It always throws you off when potentially life threatening illnesses strike these athletes rather than an ACL tear or a concussion. Hope that he gets healthy for his family...team comes second now for sure.

Makes me think of the rash of odd illnesses that have struck the Penguins. Pascal Dupuis gets deep vein thrombosis in his leg and the blood clot traveled up to his lung (pulmonary embolism) for the second time, a year after Tomas Vokoun experienced similar blood clot issues, which may end both of their playing careers. Olli Maatta has thyroid cancer. Kris Letang has a stroke. And all of this occurred within the last year (don't even take into account Mario's own experiences with lymphoma that took a big chunk of his career).

[BradshawsHairdresser]

This kind of thing really puts things into perspective. Football really isn't all that important in the grand scheme of things.

[Mick'sTeam]

There is way too much cancer and this type of stuff out there. I was diagnosed a few years ago at the age of 31 with Stage III colorectal cancer - no previous family history. Fortunately, I had an amazing support group, a world class team of doctors/surgeons (Vanderbilt), and mine was caught early enough to be treated. Here's to hoping Berry is as blessed as I was and is able to fight through this and come back stronger!

[feltdizz]

I have a coworker from Ohio who os a diehard Steeler fan. He was a giant... he was diagnoaed with cancer and lost 100 pounds and isn't even strong enough to stand up.

We also lost a family friend in Pittsburgh to cancer 3 days ago. He was diagnosed 2 weeks ago. Smh...