[CBFF] Berrian set to enter free agency :: CHICAGO SUN-TIMES :: Bears - Sent Using Google Toolbar

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Berrian set to enter free agency :: CHICAGO SUN-TIMES :: Bears

Berrian set to enter free agency



December 31, 2007
BY BRAD BIGGS bbiggs at suntimes.com

With as many quarterbacks as Bernard Berrian has played with for the
Bears, it might become a heck of a trivia question:

Who threw him his last touchdown pass with the Bears?

RELATED STORIES BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD

The answer -- Adrian Peterson, on a nine-yard halfback pass -- is
likely to win some bets in years to come. Odds are not as good that
Berrian will be in a Bears uniform in years to come. He, linebacker
Lance Briggs , special-teams star Brendon Ayanbadejo and quarterback
Rex Grossman are among the players on the roster set to be
unrestricted free agents March 1.

''I have no idea how this is going to play out,'' Berrian said.

He turned down an extension with nearly $8 million guaranteed in June
and is poised to be the top receiver on the market after New England's
Randy Moss. While Dallas' Patrick Crayton didn't do him any favors
with the four-year, $14 million contract he just signed with the
Cowboys, it did eliminate competition for Berrian, who has 122 catches
for 1,726 yards ( 14.1 per catch) and 11 touchdowns over the last two
seasons in the challenged Bears offense.

''[Crayton signing] just frees me up even more,'' Berrian said. ''I
haven't checked into [the specifics of the contract]. I didn't want to
look at anything during the season.''

But Berrian did think contract during the year by switching to agent
Drew Rosenhaus, who is in line to have more than two dozen
unrestricted free agents, including Ayanbadejo. The Bears are
considered a long shot to bring Berrian back. After all, what attracts
a receiver besides money? The quarterback. Asked if that would play a
role in his decision, Berrian replied, ''It might.''

Ayanbadejo joked that his final play as a Bear might be an onside kick
that the Bears covered with seven seconds to play. He has been active
in the community, organizing a turkey giveaway at Thanksgiving, and
hopes to stay. But the two-time Pro Bowler is seeking to be the
highest-paid special-teams player at $2 million annually. The Bears
have told him to bring his best offer to them when he receives it.

''I hope they match it,'' he said. ''I don't know what the market is
going to be, and I don't know how much equity I have. We'll see.''
He can drive 5-5

Brian Urlacher reached the goal coach Lovie Smith set for him going
into 2006 when he picked off Drew Brees in the first quarter. It gave
him five interceptions and five sacks, the first Bear to do that since
Wilber Marshall and Dave Duerson in 1986. Unofficially, he finished
with a team-high 156 tackles, his fewest in a full season since 2003.
Forward thinking

Sources indicate the Bears will sign safety Leonard Peters and guard
Mike Jones, both on the practice squad, to futures contracts this
week. They also might target cornerback Greg Fassitt and guard Tyler
Reed for futures deals. Teams have a five-day window of exclusive
negotiating rights for their own practice-squad players.
One that got away

Bears offensive coordinator Ron Turner thought running back Pierre
Thomas would win the Heisman Trophy when Turner signed Thomas at
Illinois from T.F. South. He might have if he could play the Bears'
defense every week.

It appeared to be a sore subject after Thomas had 226 total offensive
yards and a touchdown.

''Don't get into that, please,'' Turner said. ''I signed him out of
high school. I love that kid, always have. I tried to sign him here.
Let's not talk about it.''