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Sports Update
Arizona signs trio, including DE Berry
By Darren Urban, Tribune
Bertrand Berry said yes to the Cardinals on Saturday. So did quarterback Shaun King and fullback Obafemi Ayanbadejo.
It wasn’t a splashy way to end the team’s free-agent drought, but it was a start.
"We are real pleased," vice president of football operations Rod Graves said.
Berry was the key, agreeing to a five-year deal to upgrade the Cards’ woeful pass rush. Terms were unavailable, but Berry is believed to have received a signing bonus of $5 million.
"He is an explosive right end," coach Dennis Green said. "The style of play we will play, I think he will fit in very well as a right end for us. We need a lot of guys to play with that kind of intensity."
Green said Berry, despite limited size at 250 pounds, will be an every-down player. It’s not good news for 2003 firstround pick Calvin Pace, who struggled all season on the right side, had just one sack and is now Berry’s backup.
Asked where Pace fit in at defensive end, Green was blunt.
"He’d better get going, that’s where he fits in with me," Green said. "Plain and simple. We should not have to go out and find an unrestricted free agent when we drafted a guy in the first round last year."
Berry was unavailable for comment Saturday, but during his visit Friday he said he was intrigued by the "freshness" of the opportunity in Arizona.
"The opportunity to play for Coach Green, I think his reputation precedes itself," Berry said. "Just him being here gives the Arizona Cardinals credibility.
"The things they want to do from a defensive standpoint, and (with) me in it, excites me because it gives me a chance to maximize my skills."
Berry had 11 1 /2 sacks in 2003 with Denver. Defensive linemen for the Cards had just 10 total, led by end Dennis Johnson’s three. It was little wonder that Graves had an anxious night after Berry — who got the contract offer Friday — decided fly home to Denver to discuss it with his wife.
Berry told the Cards they would know by 3 p.m. his decision, but Green announced Berry was coming an hour before that.
"Any time players leave you just don’t know what’s going to happen," Graves said. "It can open the door for someone to slip in.
"But he was true to his word. He told us he would not discuss our offer with another team and that he wanted to think about it."
King and Ayanbadejo agreed to two-year deals. Ayanbadejo, who came into the league under Green in Minnesota, can catch passes and play special teams. King, who appeared in just three games last year, will be the backup to starter Josh McCown.
"He comes in here understanding Josh McCown is the No. 1 quarterback and Shaun comes in as the No. 2 guy," Green said. "But he also comes in understanding NFL teams need two quarterbacks."
Green said King’s signing doesn’t have an effect on what the Cards might do in the draft.
"I am very confident in my ability," said King, who passed up offers in Tampa Bay and Atlanta. "Whatever capacity the coaches want to use me this year, I will support (Josh) and I would hope he’d support me."
EXTRA POINTS: In a move that didn’t surprise the Cards, free agent cornerback David Barrett officially left, agreeing to a six-year contract with the Jets on Saturday worth about $21 million. The signing bonus is about $4.5 million, much more money than the Cards ever wanted to spend on the fouryear veteran.
"We always felt cornerback position one we needed to address, either in free agency or the draft," Graves said. "We always thought by training camp we’d have a lot of new faces there. Losing David if he signs with Jets is a disappointment, but we anticipated it could happen."
The Cards have only had one free agent cornerback visit, David Macklin, and have yet to offer him a contract.
Graves said the team has had no conversations with San Diego about trading up for the No. 1 overall pick.
The Cards have extended an offer to restricted free agent Reggie Swinton, a kick returner and receiver, but Graves said Swinton has not signed it. If he did, Detroit, his former team, would have seven days to match it.
The Cardinals have three visits scheduled for Monday: offensive lineman Shaun O’Hara (Cleveland), receiver Dez White (Chicago) and linebacker Brandon Short (N.Y. Giants).
Bertrand Berry
Position: Defensive end
Ht/Wt: 6-3, 250
Experience: 6-year veteran
Age: 28
Contract length: 5 years
Career: 25 sacks, including 11 1 /2 last season. Spent past three seasons in Denver. Was out of football in 2000. Originally a third-round pick of Indianapolis in 1997.
Shaun King
Position: Quarterback
Ht/Wt: 6-1, 215
Experience: 5-year veteran
Age: 26
Contract length: 2 years
Career: Passing rating of 75.4, including 26 touchdowns and 20 interceptions. Completed 15 of 22 passes for 140 yards and a touchdown last season in three relief appearances for Tampa Bay. Starter in 1999 when Tampa Bay reached the NFC Championship game. Originally a second-round pick of the Bucs in 1999.
Obafemi Ayanbadejo
Position: Fullback
Ht/Wt: 6-2, 235
Experience: 4-year veteran
Age: 29
Contract length: 2 years
Career: 62 rushing attempts for 209 yards; 60 receptions for 344 yards; three total touchdowns. Spent 2003 with Miami (12 catches). Won a Super Bowl with Baltimore in 2000. Undrafted free agent in 1997 who made the Vikings, coached by Dennis Green.
Contact Darren Urban by email, or phone (480) 898-6525
Arizona signs trio, including DE Berry
By Darren Urban, Tribune
Bertrand Berry said yes to the Cardinals on Saturday. So did quarterback Shaun King and fullback Obafemi Ayanbadejo.
It wasn’t a splashy way to end the team’s free-agent drought, but it was a start.
"We are real pleased," vice president of football operations Rod Graves said.
Berry was the key, agreeing to a five-year deal to upgrade the Cards’ woeful pass rush. Terms were unavailable, but Berry is believed to have received a signing bonus of $5 million.
"He is an explosive right end," coach Dennis Green said. "The style of play we will play, I think he will fit in very well as a right end for us. We need a lot of guys to play with that kind of intensity."
Green said Berry, despite limited size at 250 pounds, will be an every-down player. It’s not good news for 2003 firstround pick Calvin Pace, who struggled all season on the right side, had just one sack and is now Berry’s backup.
Asked where Pace fit in at defensive end, Green was blunt.
"He’d better get going, that’s where he fits in with me," Green said. "Plain and simple. We should not have to go out and find an unrestricted free agent when we drafted a guy in the first round last year."
Berry was unavailable for comment Saturday, but during his visit Friday he said he was intrigued by the "freshness" of the opportunity in Arizona.
"The opportunity to play for Coach Green, I think his reputation precedes itself," Berry said. "Just him being here gives the Arizona Cardinals credibility.
"The things they want to do from a defensive standpoint, and (with) me in it, excites me because it gives me a chance to maximize my skills."
Berry had 11 1 /2 sacks in 2003 with Denver. Defensive linemen for the Cards had just 10 total, led by end Dennis Johnson’s three. It was little wonder that Graves had an anxious night after Berry — who got the contract offer Friday — decided fly home to Denver to discuss it with his wife.
Berry told the Cards they would know by 3 p.m. his decision, but Green announced Berry was coming an hour before that.
"Any time players leave you just don’t know what’s going to happen," Graves said. "It can open the door for someone to slip in.
"But he was true to his word. He told us he would not discuss our offer with another team and that he wanted to think about it."
King and Ayanbadejo agreed to two-year deals. Ayanbadejo, who came into the league under Green in Minnesota, can catch passes and play special teams. King, who appeared in just three games last year, will be the backup to starter Josh McCown.
"He comes in here understanding Josh McCown is the No. 1 quarterback and Shaun comes in as the No. 2 guy," Green said. "But he also comes in understanding NFL teams need two quarterbacks."
Green said King’s signing doesn’t have an effect on what the Cards might do in the draft.
"I am very confident in my ability," said King, who passed up offers in Tampa Bay and Atlanta. "Whatever capacity the coaches want to use me this year, I will support (Josh) and I would hope he’d support me."
EXTRA POINTS: In a move that didn’t surprise the Cards, free agent cornerback David Barrett officially left, agreeing to a six-year contract with the Jets on Saturday worth about $21 million. The signing bonus is about $4.5 million, much more money than the Cards ever wanted to spend on the fouryear veteran.
"We always felt cornerback position one we needed to address, either in free agency or the draft," Graves said. "We always thought by training camp we’d have a lot of new faces there. Losing David if he signs with Jets is a disappointment, but we anticipated it could happen."
The Cards have only had one free agent cornerback visit, David Macklin, and have yet to offer him a contract.
Graves said the team has had no conversations with San Diego about trading up for the No. 1 overall pick.
The Cards have extended an offer to restricted free agent Reggie Swinton, a kick returner and receiver, but Graves said Swinton has not signed it. If he did, Detroit, his former team, would have seven days to match it.
The Cardinals have three visits scheduled for Monday: offensive lineman Shaun O’Hara (Cleveland), receiver Dez White (Chicago) and linebacker Brandon Short (N.Y. Giants).
Bertrand Berry
Position: Defensive end
Ht/Wt: 6-3, 250
Experience: 6-year veteran
Age: 28
Contract length: 5 years
Career: 25 sacks, including 11 1 /2 last season. Spent past three seasons in Denver. Was out of football in 2000. Originally a third-round pick of Indianapolis in 1997.
Shaun King
Position: Quarterback
Ht/Wt: 6-1, 215
Experience: 5-year veteran
Age: 26
Contract length: 2 years
Career: Passing rating of 75.4, including 26 touchdowns and 20 interceptions. Completed 15 of 22 passes for 140 yards and a touchdown last season in three relief appearances for Tampa Bay. Starter in 1999 when Tampa Bay reached the NFC Championship game. Originally a second-round pick of the Bucs in 1999.
Obafemi Ayanbadejo
Position: Fullback
Ht/Wt: 6-2, 235
Experience: 4-year veteran
Age: 29
Contract length: 2 years
Career: 62 rushing attempts for 209 yards; 60 receptions for 344 yards; three total touchdowns. Spent 2003 with Miami (12 catches). Won a Super Bowl with Baltimore in 2000. Undrafted free agent in 1997 who made the Vikings, coached by Dennis Green.
Contact Darren Urban by email, or phone (480) 898-6525
