Age: 27
6th
season in pro football (5th active), 4th with Vikings
College: Colorado
Height: 6’2” Weight: 220
Prelude:
The
Canadian-born Berger averaged 42.7 yards punting and was successful on 19 of 32
field goal attempts in college at Colorado. He was chosen by the Philadelphia
Eagles in the sixth round of the 1994 NFL draft but was waived five games into
the season. Berger was picked up by Cincinnati but saw no action and was
released from the practice squad. He also was inactive with the Bears and
Packers in 1995 before Minnesota signed him in ‘96 and he averaged 41.1 yards
on 88 punts. His average rose to 42.9 in 1997 and 44.7 in ’98 and he was also
valued for his kickoffs.
1999 Season Summary
Appeared in all
16 games
[Bracketed
numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]
Punting
Punts – 61
Most punts,
game – 6 at Denver 10/31, vs. Dallas 11/8, vs. Green Bay 12/20
Yards – 2769
Average – 45.4
[2, 1st in NFC]
Best average,
game – 59.0 (on 3 punts) at Green Bay 9/26
Punts blocked
– 0
Longest punt
– 75 yards
Postseason: 2G
Punts –10
Most punts,
game – 5 vs. Dallas, NFC Wild Card playoff; at St. Louis, NFC Divisional
playoff
Yards – 442
Average – 44.2
Highest
average, game – 47.6 at St. Louis, NFC Divisional playoff
Blocked – 0
Longest punt
– 52 yards at St. Louis, NFC Divisional playoff
Awards &
Honors:
1st
team All-NFL: PFWA, Sporting News
2nd
team All-NFL: AP
1st
team All-NFC: Pro Football Weekly
Pro Bowl
Vikings went 10-6
to finish second in the NFC Central and qualify for the postseason as a Wild
Card entry. Won Wild Card playoff over Dallas Cowboys (27-10). Lost Divisional
playoff to St. Louis Rams (49-37).
Aftermath:
Berger spent
two more years with the Vikings, again leading the NFC with a 44.7-yard average
in 2000, before he was released after a 2001 season in which he was bothered by
neck and back injuries. He moved on to the Rams in 2002 and then New Orleans in
’03. Berger was selected to the Pro Bowl for the second time in 2004, when he
was also an All-NFC selection of Pro Football Weekly. After one last year with
the Saints, he played for the Cardinals, Steelers, and Broncos in 2007, ’08,
and ’09, respectively. Overall, over the course of 14 active seasons Berger
averaged 42.9 yards on 847 punts, with three blocked.
--
Highlighted Years features players who were first-team
All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders in the following
statistical categories:
Rushing:
Yards, TDs (min. 10)
Passing:
Yards, Completion Pct., Yards per Attempt, TDs, Rating
Receiving:
Catches, Yards, TDs (min. 10)
Scoring: TDs,
Points, Field Goals (min. 5)
All-Purpose:
Total Yards
Defense:
Interceptions, Sacks
Kickoff
Returns: Average
Punt Returns:
Average
Punting:
Average
*Leagues
include NFL (1920 to date), AFL (1926), AFL (1936-37), AAFC (1946-49), AFL
(1960-69), WFL (1974-75), USFL (1983-85)
**NFC/AFC since 1970
**NFC/AFC since 1970
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