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Rick Gosselin: Free-agent card: an ace for Arizona
12:50 AM CST on Friday, November 26, 2004
Free agency is an NFL myth.
There's a perception that if a team has enough money available under its salary cap in the off-season, it can buy a free agent to solve its woes.
Maybe that was the case in 1994 and 1995 when NFL teams could bid on a Reggie White, Kevin Greene or Ken Norton – quality players in their primes who could lead a team on and off the field. But not in 2004.
The NFL has figured out free agency. Teams no longer let their best players into the marketplace. If a name player is seeking employment in free agency, there's a reason. Generally he's too old (Warren Sapp) or looms as an injury risk (Hugh Douglas).
That is why Bert Berry glows like a beacon in the night in the Class of 2004. He was a still young (29), productive (11 ½ sacks in 2003), low-mileage (30 career starts) player at an impact position (pass rusher).
Yet only two teams pursued him in free agency, Arizona and Dallas. Both were in dire need of a pass rusher. The Cowboys ranked 21st in the NFL with 32 sacks in 2003, the Cardinals 30th with only 21.
The Cowboys were an incumbent playoff team and perennial winner. The Cardinals were a perennial loser. The Cowboys also were closer to home for Berry, a native of Houston.
The Cowboys would have been the smart, easy and logical choice. Berry could have used the Cardinals as a bargaining chip to drive up the price – like so many other free agents have done – then taken the best Dallas offer and walked right in at weakside end on the NFL's No. 1 defense.
Instead, Berry signed with the Cardinals, accepting their five-year, $25 million contract offer that included a $5 million signing bonus.
"I thought it was a great opportunity for myself to be in a position of leadership and part of a turnaround," Berry said. "I've always been part of good, established programs, and I wanted to see if I could do it with a team that did not have quite the tradition or success. I wanted to see if I could help be part of a resurrection."
Berry played at Notre Dame from 1993-96 and went to three New Year's Day bowls. Then he was a member of playoff teams at Indianapolis and Denver during his first six NFL seasons. But he has always been part of the supporting cast in his football career.
For the money the Cardinals were paying, Berry would be expected to perform like one of the team's stars. And he has. Berry has been worth every penny of his bonus, ranking second in the NFL with nine sacks.
The bonus the Cardinals have received has come off the field. Berry walked in as one of the hardest workers in the team's off-season program and quickly emerged as a leader of this Arizona defense.
"Bert brings a very professional, business-like approach very similar to what Darren Woodson did in Dallas," said Cardinals defensive coordinator Clancy Pendergast, a former Cowboys assistant. "There's a parallel on and off the field between those two guys. Bert plays hard and plays fast, and he's a leader."
Berry has indeed led a bit of a resurrection. The Cardinals have won a game on the road this season – something they didn't do a year ago. They also have a three-game home winning streak, their longest since 1999.
The Cardinals rank 18th in defense this week. They haven't ranked outside of the 20s since 1994. More importantly, they rank fifth in takeaways with 21 and 11th in sacks with 24. You'd have to go back to 1999 to find an Arizona defense with more sacks or forced turnovers.
Despite a 4-6 record, the Cardinals remain in playoff contention. Don't laugh. An 8-8 finish is not out of the question for the Cardinals, who play four of their last six games at home. And 8-8 just might be good enough for an NFC wild-card spot.
A good decision by Berry last March could loom as an even better decision in January.
"It was just a gut feeling," Berry said. "When you commit for however long the contract is, you were committing your life to that city. At the end of the day, my heart kept telling me Arizona was the place to be. I have no regrets about the decision."
E-mail rgosselin@***BANNED-URL***
12:50 AM CST on Friday, November 26, 2004
Free agency is an NFL myth.
There's a perception that if a team has enough money available under its salary cap in the off-season, it can buy a free agent to solve its woes.
Maybe that was the case in 1994 and 1995 when NFL teams could bid on a Reggie White, Kevin Greene or Ken Norton – quality players in their primes who could lead a team on and off the field. But not in 2004.
The NFL has figured out free agency. Teams no longer let their best players into the marketplace. If a name player is seeking employment in free agency, there's a reason. Generally he's too old (Warren Sapp) or looms as an injury risk (Hugh Douglas).
That is why Bert Berry glows like a beacon in the night in the Class of 2004. He was a still young (29), productive (11 ½ sacks in 2003), low-mileage (30 career starts) player at an impact position (pass rusher).
Yet only two teams pursued him in free agency, Arizona and Dallas. Both were in dire need of a pass rusher. The Cowboys ranked 21st in the NFL with 32 sacks in 2003, the Cardinals 30th with only 21.
The Cowboys were an incumbent playoff team and perennial winner. The Cardinals were a perennial loser. The Cowboys also were closer to home for Berry, a native of Houston.
The Cowboys would have been the smart, easy and logical choice. Berry could have used the Cardinals as a bargaining chip to drive up the price – like so many other free agents have done – then taken the best Dallas offer and walked right in at weakside end on the NFL's No. 1 defense.
Instead, Berry signed with the Cardinals, accepting their five-year, $25 million contract offer that included a $5 million signing bonus.
"I thought it was a great opportunity for myself to be in a position of leadership and part of a turnaround," Berry said. "I've always been part of good, established programs, and I wanted to see if I could do it with a team that did not have quite the tradition or success. I wanted to see if I could help be part of a resurrection."
Berry played at Notre Dame from 1993-96 and went to three New Year's Day bowls. Then he was a member of playoff teams at Indianapolis and Denver during his first six NFL seasons. But he has always been part of the supporting cast in his football career.
For the money the Cardinals were paying, Berry would be expected to perform like one of the team's stars. And he has. Berry has been worth every penny of his bonus, ranking second in the NFL with nine sacks.
The bonus the Cardinals have received has come off the field. Berry walked in as one of the hardest workers in the team's off-season program and quickly emerged as a leader of this Arizona defense.
"Bert brings a very professional, business-like approach very similar to what Darren Woodson did in Dallas," said Cardinals defensive coordinator Clancy Pendergast, a former Cowboys assistant. "There's a parallel on and off the field between those two guys. Bert plays hard and plays fast, and he's a leader."
Berry has indeed led a bit of a resurrection. The Cardinals have won a game on the road this season – something they didn't do a year ago. They also have a three-game home winning streak, their longest since 1999.
The Cardinals rank 18th in defense this week. They haven't ranked outside of the 20s since 1994. More importantly, they rank fifth in takeaways with 21 and 11th in sacks with 24. You'd have to go back to 1999 to find an Arizona defense with more sacks or forced turnovers.
Despite a 4-6 record, the Cardinals remain in playoff contention. Don't laugh. An 8-8 finish is not out of the question for the Cardinals, who play four of their last six games at home. And 8-8 just might be good enough for an NFC wild-card spot.
A good decision by Berry last March could loom as an even better decision in January.
"It was just a gut feeling," Berry said. "When you commit for however long the contract is, you were committing your life to that city. At the end of the day, my heart kept telling me Arizona was the place to be. I have no regrets about the decision."
E-mail rgosselin@***BANNED-URL***