Bernard Berrian nearly doubled his career totals with 71 catches for 951 yards. Part of the reason for him not producing, as I'm sure he wanted, was due to the up and mostly down play of his QB Rex Grossman.
Berrian chose Minnesota to sign his six-year, $42 million deal with primarily because of the conversations he had with coaches and management. They told him they were looking for a top-flight No. 1 receiver and felt he could be it. Not lacking in confidence, like most NFL wide receivers, Bernard Berrian (or B-Squared, as he is also known) knew he could be that too. He does however face another quarterback challenge – this time it is with an unproven talent leading the team.
Tavaris Jackson comes into his second year at the helm of the Vikes offense having weathered the Brett Favre storm and has been publicly backed as the starter. However with less than a full year of starts under his belt, plus the prevailing thought that the Vikings have the best offensive line/running back combination in the league, make no mistake about it, this will be a running football team.
Berrian's numbers may not reflect what he is his paychecks state, at least not early in his contract because his production will be directly tied to Jackson's development. The more the former Alabama State product shows he can handle the load, the more balls will be in the air for the speedy Berrian to come down with in the end.
The Vikings have lacked a true threat at wide receiver since the 2005 trade of Randy Moss to Oakland. They've tried to fill that void with draftees Troy Williamson and Sidney Rice. Williamson could not catch a cold in a room full of toddlers and the jury is still out on Rice. But it is leading towards a guilty verdict – guilty of being a bust that is!
A good portion of the wide receivers on the ‘08 roster is young, unproven talent. However, there is no question who is the man of this WR corps. Even under the confines of the Metrodome, this former Fresno State Bulldog looks to shine as a No. 1 target!
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