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Berrian looking for answers about his future -- chicagotribune.com




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chicagotribune.com
Berrian looking for answers about his future

By Vaughn McClure and John Mullin

Tribune staff reporters

10:34 PM CST, December 30, 2007



Bears wide receiver Bernard Berrian said he wanted to wait until after
the season to start looking into his contract situation. After the
season began with Sunday's 33-25 victory over the Saints.

 Berrian was asked about Cowboys receiver Patrick Crayton signing a
four-year, $14 million contract with $6 million guaranteed to stay in
Dallas.

 "I have to look at it more in detail, really," Berrian said.
"[Crayton] being off the market, what's that do for me? It just frees
me up a little bit more. There weren't too many free agents in the
wide receiver group anyway."

 Freeing up doesn't necessarily mean Berrian is looking for a ticket
out of town.

 Asked what it would take to keep him in Chicago, Berrian said, "I
really don't know. There is a long list of things I need to go over
and talk about. I want to be here.

 "Free agency really doesn't start until March 1. So there's plenty of
time for a deal to get done."

 Berrian had a solid year, finishing with a career-high 71 catches for
951 yards with five touchdowns.

 He is expected to be one of the top receivers in the free-agent
market because of his big-play ability. Berrian's agent, Drew
Rosenhaus, is certain to seek top money for his client.

 One factor in Berrian's decision could be how the Bears proceed at quarterback.

 "It will factor in a little bit, but not too much," he said. "It's
hard to say because we really have no clue of what's going to go on
around here."


Peterson time?While the Bears' quarterback depth chart for 2008 has
been a major subject of debate, running back Adrian Peterson has a
question: What about me?

 Peterson had 102 yards rushing last week and 91 Sunday. He caught 51
passes this season, threw a touchdown pass to Berrian on Sunday and is
the best blocker among the Bears' tailbacks. So has he earned his
first shot at being the starter?

 "I think so," Peterson said. "But all that will take care of itself.
... When we come back, we'll see what happens."

 His 4.3-yard average Sunday was third-best by a Bears starter in 2007
and Peterson evoked memories of Walter Payton with his option pass in
the second quarter. It was the first TD pass for a Bears running back
since Edgar Bennett in 1998, but it was far from Peterson's first
successful passing attempt.

 "In 8th grade I played quarterback and in college I threw three
passes, all touchdowns," he said.

 "I almost ran the ball [Sunday] because the cornerback was tangled up
with Bernard and I didn't want to force it.

 "I started to run it, the corner fell off Bernard and I just kind of
shot-putted it out there. I didn't want to put too much air under it
and have it go out of bounds. If I missed that one, I'm pretty sure I
would have heard from him."


Extra pointsLinebacker Brian Urlacher met his yearly goal of five
interceptions and five sacks with a pick Sunday. Urlacher finished the
season as the team leader in interceptions, picking off a Drew Brees
pass on the Saints' first possession. ... With his 39-yard field goal,
Robbie Gould finished 13 of 14 (92.9 percent) on field-goal attempts
at Soldier Field. … Kyle Orton's 55-yard touchdown pass to Devin
Hester was the longest of Orton's career. All three Bears quarterbacks
have had touchdown passes of 50-plus yards this season, with Brian
Griese hitting an 81-yarder to Hester and Rex Grossman throwing a
59-yarder to Berrian. … There were 7,166 unused tickets Sunday.

Copyright (c) 2007, Chicago Tribune