Berrian’s days with Vikings could be ending

Bernard Berrian was inactive for the second time in three weeks, and Leslie Frazier didn’t shoot down a question wondering whether Berrian had a future with the Vikings anymore.

Bernard Berrian’s days with the Minnesota Vikings could be in jeopardy after being deactivated for the second time in three games.

Berrian was inactive against the Arizona Cardinals on Oct. 9 for reportedly missing two team meetings the night before the game. Frazier admitted at the time that the deactivation then was for disciplinary reasons, but Frazier said this Sunday’s move was not disciplinary.

“No, just a decision that I made about whether or not he was going to be active or not active,” Frazier said.

Berrian was coming off his best performance of the season last week against the Chicago Bears, his former team, catching five passes for 54 yards after having only two receptions in the first four games combined.

Berrian was not listed on the injury report on Friday and caught five passes last week, making his deactivation this week even more interesting considering he wasn’t listed on the injury report this week and Frazier saying it wasn’t for disciplinary reasons.

“Just a decision that I made that we’ll probably get into later on in the week, but just a decision that I made,” Frazier said.

Given Percy Harvin’s ribs were ailing him the last few weeks and Frazier’s decision to make Berrian inactive, it’s fair to wonder if Berrian has a future with the Vikings after this week, and Frazier was asked that at his post-game press conference. Frazier didn’t shoot down that theory.
“It’s something we’ll talk about this week and we’ll talk about it more this week,” Frazier said.

As it turned out, Harvin did leave the game with sore ribs and didn’t play at all in the second half against the Packers, leaving the Vikings with only Michael Jenkins, who started for Berrian, Devin Aromashodu and Greg Camarillo for wide receivers in the second half.

Berrian attended the game and was on the sidelines with his inactive sweat suit on, but he declined comment in a very brief locker room appearance during the media’s post-game access.

Berrian restructured his contract before the season to remain with the Vikings, going from a base salary of $3.9 million to $1.9 million this year, but with his salary scheduled to jump to $6.9 million next year, even if he survives the season he likely wouldn't be brought back next year. As a vested veteran that was on the roster for Week 1, his entire salary this year is guaranteed, but the Vikings may be willing to cut their losses and move on.

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Tim Yotter is the publisher of Viking Update. Follow Viking Update on Twitter and discuss this topic on our message boards. To become a subscriber to the Viking Update web site or magazine, click here.

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