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Cards have big plans for Berry
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Signing targets weak pass rush
Kent Somers
The Arizona Republic
Mar. 8, 2004 12:00 AM
It's not listed in his biographical information, but this isn't Bertrand Berry's first stint with the Cardinals. He has the jersey to prove it.
In his introductory news conference Sunday morning, Berry held up a tattered red jersey that fit him probably 20 years and 150 pounds ago.
"I actually played for the Cardinals back in Pee Wee, and I got the name on the back to prove it," the 6-foot-3, 250-pound Berry said. "My first time around with the Cardinals, I won a Super Bowl. So hopefully, history can repeat itself."
The more realistic goal is for him to produce a pass rush the Cardinals have lacked since Simeon Rice left for Tampa Bay in 2001.
Berry is the team's key signing in this free-agent period, agreeing to a five-year contract worth $25 million, including a $5 million signing bonus.
It's a bargain, considering that defensive end Grant Wistrom received a $14 million signing bonus last week from Seattle. Berry had 11 1/2 sacks last year with Denver, while Wistrom had 12 sacks the past two seasons.
"I think he's ideally suited for what we're doing," coach Dennis Green said. "It's a penetrating defense, and penetration is what Bertrand does so well."
Berry, who played at Notre Dame, was one of three free agents who agreed to terms Saturday with the Cardinals, the others being backup quarterback Shaun King and fullback Obafemi Ayanbadejo.
The Cardinals are believed to be about $9 million under the salary cap and are seeking help at cornerback and on the offensive line.
Berry signed the contract Sunday morning, an event that seemed impossible in 2000, when St. Louis cut him during training camp and he spent the year out of football.
"I thought it was possible. I didn't think it was probable, to be honest," Berry said of reaching the point of being a coveted free agent. "Any time a player spends that kind of time out of the league, if you have an opportunity to get back in, usually it's going to be to contribute probably in the special-teams area and maybe a spot player. I never felt that way about myself and my ability. I always felt I could be a No. 1 guy. It was just a matter of being in the right place at the right time."
Denver signed him in 2001, and he worked his way up from a reserve level, collecting 6 1/2 sacks in 2002, to starting last year.
"We're looking for playmakers," said Rod Graves, the team's vice president of football operations. "When you get into crucial points in the game, you have to have people you can count on. And typically, you need more than one."
Cornerback is now the Cardinals' biggest need, and they've brought Indianapolis' David Macklin in for a visit. But cornerbacks have commanded large contracts in this market, which might have the team looking for help in April's draft.
"I think that we have to be very careful," Graves said. "As I heard Deion Sanders say once, he would like to come back, practice one day a week and still play better than some of the guys who get big money.
"I think you have to be real careful about where the money is going, and we want to make sure we're getting value for the dollars we're paying."
advertisement
Signing targets weak pass rush
Kent Somers
The Arizona Republic
Mar. 8, 2004 12:00 AM
It's not listed in his biographical information, but this isn't Bertrand Berry's first stint with the Cardinals. He has the jersey to prove it.
In his introductory news conference Sunday morning, Berry held up a tattered red jersey that fit him probably 20 years and 150 pounds ago.
"I actually played for the Cardinals back in Pee Wee, and I got the name on the back to prove it," the 6-foot-3, 250-pound Berry said. "My first time around with the Cardinals, I won a Super Bowl. So hopefully, history can repeat itself."
The more realistic goal is for him to produce a pass rush the Cardinals have lacked since Simeon Rice left for Tampa Bay in 2001.
Berry is the team's key signing in this free-agent period, agreeing to a five-year contract worth $25 million, including a $5 million signing bonus.
It's a bargain, considering that defensive end Grant Wistrom received a $14 million signing bonus last week from Seattle. Berry had 11 1/2 sacks last year with Denver, while Wistrom had 12 sacks the past two seasons.
"I think he's ideally suited for what we're doing," coach Dennis Green said. "It's a penetrating defense, and penetration is what Bertrand does so well."
Berry, who played at Notre Dame, was one of three free agents who agreed to terms Saturday with the Cardinals, the others being backup quarterback Shaun King and fullback Obafemi Ayanbadejo.
The Cardinals are believed to be about $9 million under the salary cap and are seeking help at cornerback and on the offensive line.
Berry signed the contract Sunday morning, an event that seemed impossible in 2000, when St. Louis cut him during training camp and he spent the year out of football.
"I thought it was possible. I didn't think it was probable, to be honest," Berry said of reaching the point of being a coveted free agent. "Any time a player spends that kind of time out of the league, if you have an opportunity to get back in, usually it's going to be to contribute probably in the special-teams area and maybe a spot player. I never felt that way about myself and my ability. I always felt I could be a No. 1 guy. It was just a matter of being in the right place at the right time."
Denver signed him in 2001, and he worked his way up from a reserve level, collecting 6 1/2 sacks in 2002, to starting last year.
"We're looking for playmakers," said Rod Graves, the team's vice president of football operations. "When you get into crucial points in the game, you have to have people you can count on. And typically, you need more than one."
Cornerback is now the Cardinals' biggest need, and they've brought Indianapolis' David Macklin in for a visit. But cornerbacks have commanded large contracts in this market, which might have the team looking for help in April's draft.
"I think that we have to be very careful," Graves said. "As I heard Deion Sanders say once, he would like to come back, practice one day a week and still play better than some of the guys who get big money.
"I think you have to be real careful about where the money is going, and we want to make sure we're getting value for the dollars we're paying."
