The Vikings waived third-year backup center Jon Cooper this afternoon, and announced the signing of six-year veteran center Joe Berger.
Vikings add veteran center
Joe Berger was signed, and Jon Cooper was cut
September 12, 2011 at 5:53PM
Berger started 14 games at center for the Miami Dolphins last year. Berger survived the Dolphins' final cut this year, but then was released when they added -- get this -- former Viking Ryan Cook.
Dolphins coach Tony Sparano said, at the time, he viewed Cook as an upgrade.
Berger, who is 6-5 and 315 pounds, was taken in the sixth round of the 2005 draft by Carolina. The Dolphins picked him up that year off Carolina's practice squad and he played in three games, but was cut and picked up by the Cowboys in 2006. He played three games for Dallas before signing with Miami again in 2009 as a free agent, and started 20 games. He is considered versatile enough to play most positions on the line.
Berger might be one of the smarter players in the NFL. He graduated magna cum laude from Michigan Tech with an engineering degree.
The Vikings signed Cooper as an undrafted free agent in 2009. He played in 12 games last year, starting one at center. He was active yesterday against San Diego, but did not play.
Mike Conley was in Minneapolis, where he sounded the Gjallarhorn at the Vikings game, on Sunday during the robbery.
