Minnesota Vikings - Bernard Berrian

I made a statement about him back in my September article - Minnesota Vikings 2008 Season Preview- ("besides the fact that he was doing great with the Chicago Bears, does a $16 million contract with the Vikings sound accurate?")

After all the controversy around this issue, once and for all, I will make the story straight right away.

So, the Bears did propose him a $28 million contract for four years and then the Vikings answered with an astonishing $42 million contract. With an "out of the question statement" the Bears declined to equal the offer and used that money to resign Lance Briggs. During this season Briggs is a superstar and well merits the 6 year and $36 million he consents for.

Even if Bernard Berrian was not on the top 20 WR by the time Minnesota decided to rinse him on cash, he's background was foretelling that at some point the Bears were not going to regret letting him go.

For those who recognize and understand how the NFL teams manage contracts let's put it this way: the Bears offered both Devin Hester and Tommie Harris $40 million agreements, they also made Brian Urlacher the highest paid LB in the conference. Now, this is exactly what teams do, they resign players constantly, that's the way cash flows, that's why the departure of Berrian does not affect the team, yes he is making $42 million with Minnesota, but the Bears make 10 times as much resigning players.

Bernard Berrian became a practiced possession receiver the last year and a half, fast and sharpen on the field, you can see that by reviewing the stats and studying some of his films. Again, it is not a matter if he is worth the $42 million or not, many aspects come in play. Out of those $42 million, only $16 million are sure money, the rest depends on sponsorship, marketing etc... Teams like the Minnesota Vikings can afford crazy deals like this; they have the money to back it up. When an agreement like this comes to place, they are also thinking about the future, so if by chance Berrian can be traded, they will receive some profit back.

What's for Bernard this 08-09 campaign? Well, California Cool has had many injuries the past years; he is still recovering from a right toe injury and recently hurt himself in practice again (remember $16 million is sure money). And with 192 receiving yards this past months, Berrian has yet to score a touchdown.

A friendly advice to Bernard Berrian is the following: don't hit the panic switch, first of all, the Vikings reside in the NFC North Division and this one is yet to prove something on the League. Next, while healthy this past month's, the Vikings were not playing that well, and finally, you have Tarvaris Jackson beside you.

If the Vikings are signing players for millions of dollars and they are constantly injured, it does not mean they are buying damage goods, it means that injuries are and have been on the NFL vocabulary since the beginning of time.