Something refreshing came out of Cards camp today and no it wasn’t a player coming out of the shower. It actually was the news that someone took a paycut to stay with the Arizona Cardinals. Unexpectedly Bertrand Berry decided to remain with the Cards. In order to do that, he had to take a significant paycut.
This tells me a couple of things. First and foremost, either Berry felt like the Cards were going in the right direction and he decided to stay for less or he felt like he wouldn’t get the attention in the free agent market he got back in 2004 when he signed his original contract. I’m going to guess it was a little of both.
Berry, as we all know, has been hampered by injuries over the past few seasons, seeing his season end early in three of four seasons here in the desert so far. His production fell off, but I think mainly due to injury. He is getting old (or at least older by NFL standards – he is 33). I also believe the Cardinals felt they wouldn’t get a better pass rusher to replace him.
Overall this is a win-win for both sides. I read recently Berry wanted to finish his career here in Arizona and that is nice to see from such a talent. Injuries or not, I commend both sides for getting a deal done and continuing to move this franchise in the right direction. Hopefully the only “freaky” thing we see happen to Berry in 2008 is set a franchise single season record for sacks. Hey – one can always hope, right?
Score a touchdown for this transaction!
Scott Allen
AZ Scott