Berrian eyes more than Bears have offered Free agency starts tonight, with receiver seeking Branch-like deal February 28, 2008 BY BRAD BIGGS bbiggs@suntimes.com Here's the bottom line for the Bears' attempt to re-sign wide receiver Bernard Berrian: Their most recent offer -- $8 million in bonus money in a five-year, $25 million package -- wasn't enough to get a deal done.Free agency begins at 11 tonight, and Berrian is seeking a payday well in excess of that -- $24.5 million in the first three years of a contract -- though general manager Jerry Angelo last week called the Bears' offers to Berrian and linebacker Lance Briggs ''aggressive.'' It's unknown how much room the Bears have to improve that offer for Berrian, who is expected to be courted by the Minnesota Vikings. It's also unclear whether Berrian and agent Drew Rosenhaus will be able to get another team -- the Cleveland Browns, New York :wink: Jets :wink: , Oakland Raiders and San Francisco 49ers also are thought to be interested -- to meet his asking price, which probably would require a signing bonus of more than $12 million.Berrian is aiming to top the six-year, $39 million deal former Super Bowl MVP Deion Branch received from the Seattle Seahawks last fall. That contract pays Branch $23 million in the first three years. If the Bears don't step up and retain Berrian, it might create a scramble at Halas Hall to replace him with some experience on the depth chart. Angelo has said the focus of the team's offseason is to invest in its own players, and the Bears' success will be judged on their ability to keep Berrian and Briggs. The Arizona Cardinals' Bryant Johnson doesn't have the speed the Bears would need in a replacement for Berrian. The Bears haven't shown interest in Marty Booker. The Jacksonville Jaguars traded for Troy Williamson to replace Ernest Wilford, so that shows what they think of Wilford.The Houston Texans' Andre Davis fits the speed profile but has yet to put together a season like Berrian. Then there are castoffs such as the Jets' Justin McCareins, the Washington Redskins' Brandon Lloyd and the Kansas City Chiefs' Eddie Kennison, an ex-Bear. Briggs is thought to be seeking $20 million guaranteed in a deal that will average more than $7 million annually. The Redskins tried to trade for him last year, but they reportedly are tightening their belt when it comes to free agency, perhaps the result of busting out on a few too many players.The 49ers have been linked to Briggs since last fall. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers reportedly have $44 million in cap space, and the Cardinals could use an impact defensive player. The Bears sent qualifying offers Wednesday to wide receiver Rashied Davis and safety Brandon McGowan, both restricted free agents. Davis was tendered at the low level of $927,000, and because he was not a draft pick, any team signing him to an offer sheet would not have to give the Bears a pick if the Bears opted not to match. He might be a good fit in San Francisco, where offensive coordinator Mike Martz is looking for multiple receivers.It's unknown if the Bears tendered McGowan at $927,000 or at the intermediate level of $1.417 million, which would provide them with right of first refusal and a second-round pick as compensation. No team is going to swap a second-rounder for McGowan, but he might generate interest at the low level, considering he also was an undrafted free agent and the Bears would have only right of first refusal on an offer sheet. The New York Giants' Gibril Wilson might be the most talented safety available in a thin free-agent market. Angelo called the class of safeties in the draft ''anemic.'' > http://www.suntimes.com/sports/football/bears/816974,CST-SPT-bear28.article
Give me DJ Hackett or someone of that ilk for the same money. Berrian is all flash and no substance. -X-
don't think spending a ton of $ on a wr, is worth it. i think we can fill the hole we have through the draft, and with a lower level fa
Berrian has never had a QB throwing to him, but he certainly is a deep threat who would compliment Cotchery pretty well. That being said, I think I'd pass.
He's made some pretty nasty catches in his career. He's a playmaker on a Chicago offense full of duds. I don't think he's a good fit for the Jets, but he should put up pretty big numbers next year.
I could see us being able to pick up a WR as soon as the 3rd round. I want Gholston or McFadden at 6, Carl Nicks or Gosder Cherilus at 36, after that we should go BPA and get some depth.
I'm getting excited. And not about Berrian. I'm thrilled this team is connected to everyone. This offseason will beat last years wonderful offseason where fans on this board were trying to buy into Andre Wadsworth.
So I am assuming everyone is OK going into next year with the WR core we have plus a mid round rookie? I'm not. We need a tall receiver w/some hands. Berrian doesn't fit that but we really need some QUALITY depth not BS.
i would still contact the bengals about vilma+, for chad johnson. i want some personality on this team
Pass. Let's save that money and give it to Coles and Rhodes. There will be other WR's available in Bryant Johnson, D.J. Hackett, Brandon Lloyd and Jabbar Gaffney.
