Age: 29
8th
season in pro football, 7th in NFL & 1st with Cardinals
College: Notre
Dame
Height: 6’3” Weight: 250
Prelude:
Primarily
known for his pass rushing ability in college, Berry was chosen by the
Indianapolis Colts in the third round of the 1997 NFL draft. He had an
undistinguished first three seasons with the Colts, starting 13 games at
defensive end and also playing linebacker while recording five sacks. Berry
moved on to the Rams in 2000 but was cut during training camp and saw action in
the CFL with the Edmonton Eskimos. He joined the Denver Broncos in 2001 and was
a reserve for two seasons before breaking into the starting lineup in ’03 and
recording 11.5 sacks. A fine pass rusher who was less adept against the run,
Berry signed with the Cardinals as a free agent for the 2004 season.
2004 Season Summary
Appeared in all
16 games
[Bracketed
numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]
Sacks – 14.5
[2, 1st in NFC]
Most sacks,
game – 4 vs. NY Giants 11/14
Multi-sack
games – 3
Interceptions
– 0
Fumble
recoveries – 2
Fumble
recovery TDs – 0
Forced fumbles
– 4
Tackles – 39
Assists – 10
Awards &
Honors:
2nd
team All-NFL: AP
1st
team All-NFC: Pro Football Weekly
Pro Bowl
Cardinals went
6-10 to finish third in the NFC West.
Aftermath:
A torn
pectoral muscle limited Berry to eight games in 2005 and injuries remained an
issue in ’06 and ’07 as he appeared in a combined 19 games. Still effective as
a rusher from the edge who lined up more often as an outside linebacker, Berry played
with the Cards until 2009, staying healthier in his last two years in which the
team made it to the playoffs, after which he retired. Overall, Berry accumulated
65 sacks in the NFL, with 40 of them coming during his six years with Arizona. He
had four more during the postseason.
--
Highlighted Years features players who were consensus
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
