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

Sat Mar 1 20:57:00 MST 2008

Yes, he was pretty important.  The Bears didn't have a big time
running game so it was necessary to have some sort of passing game to
offset that and keep the defenses honest.  He's a true deep threat
that defenses have no choice but to respect.  His 5 catches for 105
yards and a TD against the Seahawks were huge, then he follwed it up
with 5 more for 85 and a TD against the Saints.

Do we win those games with Rashied Davis as our #2 WR?  I doubt
it--especially not the first game.

How are the Bears going to plug this hole?  I'll be interested to find out.

RD

On Sat, Mar 1, 2008 at 9:44 PM, Jason Cetina <jason at cetinas.org> wrote:
> OK,  put another way, do you think the Bears would have lost those games
> w/out Berrian? Is his presence that important? Rashied Davis made a
> pretty damn clutch catch against the Seahawks in the divisional round of
> those games. We might have lost the Seahawks game if not for him (and
> Grossman's perfect throw to him). Should we break the bank for him, too?
>
> Berrian had great stats for those games for sure, and he'll be missed.
> But in the long run, the team needs to focus on re-tooling the ground
> game first. They won't be able to do jack s**t on offense until they do.
> -
> Jason
>
>
> Ryan Dietzenbach wrote:
> > Berrian wasn't a difference maker for the Bears the past two seasons?
> > He wasn't a difference maker on the road to the NFC title in 2006?  I
> > would strongly disagree with that.
> >
> > I don't think he was an absolute superstar but he was the best we had
> > and other than Moss he's the best on the market right now.
> >
> > Unless something drastic happens this made us a worse team.
> >
> > RD
> >
> >
> > On Sat, Mar 1, 2008 at 8:18 PM, Jason Cetina <jason at cetinas.org> wrote:
> >
> >> I'm not saying we won't miss him, just that the money  is better spent
> >> elsewhere long term. Beyond that, receivers in general and Berrian in
> >> particular don't tend to be difference makers on the road to a
> >> championship. The money is better spent in the trenches than at the edges.
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> Ryan Dietzenbach wrote:
> >>
> >>> I'll remember these posts if and when we are bemoaning the lack of
> >>> quality WR play during the upcoming season.  As it stands right now,
> >>> our WR corps are pathetic and the options literally are dwindling by
> >>> the minute.
> >>>
> >>> RD
> >>>
> >>> On Sat, Mar 1, 2008 at 6:58 PM, Jason Cetina <jason at cetinas.org> wrote:
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>> That's stupid money. Beyond that, I'm not sure any receiver ever really
> >>>> puts a team over the top and into the Super Bowl. The free agents that
> >>>> always seem to make a difference are the defensive ones (Reggie White,
> >>>> Deion Sanders, various Patriots players). The only reason this reeks at
> >>>> all was because of the missed opportunity to franchise him.
> >>>>
> >>>> I'm thinking that even though Angelo won't call it such, we're in year 1
> >>>> of a 3 year rebuilding project. If that's the case, he was right to let
> >>>> Berrian go so he can focus on younger more important talent (Briggs,
> >>>> Harris), and to start rebuilding the o-line through the draft. I think
> >>>> the defense has 3-5 years left in the tank if Harris stays and we
> >>>> solidify the safeties. The nucleus of this team is no longer Urlacher
> >>>> and Mike Brown, though. It's Tommie Harris, Briggs, Tillman, Vasher,
> >>>> Ogunleye, and A. Brown.
> >>>>
> >>>> For the record, Berrian probably will do really well this year because
> >>>> the Vikings can easily sell play action. If their running game collapses
> >>>> though, he won't do much.
> >>>> -
> >>>> Jason
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>> Tom Shannon wrote:
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>> 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)
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>> RELATED STORIES Blog: Inside the Bears Updated 9:30: Gilmore
> >>>>> officially signs with Bucs Bears hold out hope
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>>  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.
> >>>>>
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