Kansas City Chiefs safety Eric Berry doesn't sound like a player who expects to sign a long-term extension before Wednesday's deadline for teams to designate franchise players.

"I'm just being patient because you never know ... I'm not getting my hopes up," Berry told ESPN's Adam Teicher.

The impending free agent stood by his claim that he won't play under the franchise tag for a second straight season.

It will be awkward, but it certainly looks like the Chiefs are headed toward calling his bluff and slapping the tag on him again.

Doing so would give Berry a one-year deal worth about $13 million, but he clearly believes he's earned a long-term deal worth far more in total money.

It's possible the Chiefs will tag Berry and then work out a long-term deal, but they have incentive to lock him up before Wednesday's deadline, as doing so would allow the team to use the tag on impending free-agent defensive tackle Dontari Poe.