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Grading The Deal: Vikings Steal Berrian From Chicago
Authored by Andrew Perna - 13th March, 2008 - 11:58 am
With John Herrera standing to his right dressed in black and appearing not unlike an undertaker, Lane Kiffin sat down at the podium for Sunday's postgame news conference.
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The Minnesota Vikings have one of the best backfields in all of football with the dynamic combination of Adrian Peterson and Chester Taylor, but their air attack lacked bite until Sunday morning when they agreed to terms with free agent receiver Bernard Berrian.
Berrian, who spent his first four seasons with the Bears, signed a six-year deal worth $42 million with his new team. The Vikings will pay their newest player $16 million in guaranteed money.
Oakland and Chicago were also interested in the up-and-coming wide out, but Minnesota wowed Berrian and agent Drew Rosenhaus over the weekend.
Bernard had 71 catches for 951 yards and five touchdowns in Chicago last season, something Minnesota would have loved to have had during last year’s playoff push. Bobby Wade led the Vikings with 54 catches, 647 yards, and three scores in 2007 as the team ranked 29th in the NFL in receiving yards per game (183.6).
Minnesota, who led the league in rushing last season, hasn’t had a receiver reach the 700-yard mark in four seasons.
The problems with the Vikings' passing attack will not be solved solely by this acquisition as other moves will have to be made. They need help at quarterback in order to adequately retool their air game, something Tarvaris Jackson hasn’t proven he can help Coach Brad Childress accomplish.
Berrian’s hands alone will be a welcome addition to the Vikings, who had to watch speedy receiver Troy Williamson drop balls last season. Berrian has wheels, and his mitts are considerably better than those of Williamson.
The true test of whether or not this signing will benefit both Berrian and the Vikings will be how he will gel with Jackson on the field. Rex Grossman, Chicago’s much-maligned quarterback, often found a way to launch the ball towards the end zone and into the arms of his top receiver. If Jackson can learn to do the same, Minnesota will get all they need out of their passing game – enough punch to take the pressure off of their running backs.
Another key aspect of this deal is where Berrian came from.
The loss of Berrian in Chicago, in addition to that of Muhsin Muhammad, is a crushing blow to a team that already has its fair share of issues throwing the ball. The Bears ranked in the middle of the pack in terms of passing in 2007 and, barring acquisitions through the draft and free agency, will be left with Rashied Davis, Mark Bradley, and Oprah Winfrey at wide receiver.
And that’s assuming Winfrey has the time to suit up for her hometown Bears.
It’s obvious that the Vikings overpaid for Berrian’s services, an average of seven million is steep for a guy of his caliber and in this market (Donte Stallworth got five million a year from Cleveland), but Minnesota desperately needed him in purple-and-gold.
Grade for the Vikings: A-
As much as this signing means to the Vikings, it could alter the course for the Bears even more drastically. No Berrian further depletes an average receiving corps that hasn’t had someone solid to sling the ball around for quite some time.
The combination of poor quarterback play and a very shallow and unproven set of receivers could doom Chicago to the basement of the NFC North in 2008.
Grade for the Bears: D+
Andrew Perna is a Senior Writer for RealGM.com. Feel free to contact him via e-mail (Andrew.Perna@RealGM.com) with comments or questions.
