[CBFF] Bye bye, Berrian :: CHICAGO SUN-TIMES :: Bears - Sent Using Google Toolbar

[Tom Shannon]

Bye bye, Berrian :: CHICAGO SUN-TIMES :: Bears

 Bears receiver Berrian to sign with Vikings



March 1, 2008
BY BRAD BIGGS

The Bears have lost wide receiver Bernard Berrian.

 Minnesota was determined not to let Berrian leave for a visit to the
Oakland Raiders, and after the Vikings lost out on defensive end
Justin Smith Saturday morning when he agreed to a deal in San
Francisco, there were more resources to pour into a wide receiver to
bolster the offense. Terms of the deal have not yet been confirmed,
but once source said the Bears never moved off their offer of $25
million over five years.

» Click to enlarge image
The NFL's shopping bonanza kicked off with wide receiver Bernard
Berrian being one of the hottest commodities.
(Tom Cruze/Sun-Times)


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 Berrian's departure leaves the Bears' receiving corps in a hole.
Muhsin Muhammad was previously released so the team must come up with
two starters now. Mark Bradley, Devin Hester, Mike Hass and Brandon
Rideau are the only receivers under contract. Rashied Davis has been
tendered an offer at the low level of $927,000 as a restricted free
agent.

 ``We don't have any choice but to make it,'' wide receivers coach
Darryl Drake said. ``You have to move on and work on getting better.
It'll be tough without him.''

 Berrian led the Bears with 71 receptions for 951 yards and five
touchdowns last season. The Bears had offered him a $25 million,
five-year contract with $8 million to sign. They remained in
discussions with agent Drew Rosenhaus during Berrian's visit to
Minnesota, but couldn't lure him back.

 Here is how big of a hole the Bears have on offense now-Berrian and
Muhammad combined for 111 catches, 1,521 yards and eight touchdowns
last season. The rest of the wide receivers on the roster had 43
catches for 535 yards and three touchdowns. Bradley, the former
second-round draft pick player coaches and management alike have been
talking up so much, had only six receptions and barely saw the field.

 The departure of Berrian signals the Bears will likely increase
efforts to re-sign three-time Pro Bowl linebacker Lance Briggs.
However, the market has been eerily quiet for him thus far and it
might be a situation right now where there is no one for the team to
bid against. The Bears have a big-money deal on the table for him.

 As for the needs at receiver, the Bears will likely contact agent
Joel Segal about finalizing a visit with Bryant Johnson, provided he
does not sign with the Buffalo Bills, where he is headed this weekend.
Javon Walker and D.J. Hackett are also part of Plan B. The Bears may
need to move quickly as NFL Network reports Donte Stallworth has
agreed to terms with Cleveland.