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Today, the Minnesota Vikings were participating in their annual playground build, and we’ll have more on that later. However, according to what’s being put on the Twitter machine by Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press, we might be getting confirmation of something we’ve suspected for a while.
Joe Berger on retiring after 2017: "You never know what the circumstances are going to be, but in my mind, that’s the way I’m looking at it"
— Chris Tomasson (@christomasson) June 1, 2017
#Vikings OL Joe Berger, 35, on likely retiring after season: "It’s year 13 and it’s been fun. It’s a young man’s game, though.’’
— Chris Tomasson (@christomasson) June 1, 2017
Offensive lineman Joe Berger, who has been a starter for the Vikings for the past two and a half seasons, sure is making it sound like the 2017 season will be his last one in the NFL. He’s going into the final year of his contract.
Berger joined the Vikings in 2011, but didn’t make much of an impact before claiming the starting right guard spot in 2014 after an injury to Brandon Fusco. He grabbed the starting center spot in 2015 after incumbent John Sullivan suffered a season-ending injury, and has been the starter in the pivot for the majority of the past two seasons. Because of injuries, he also saw some time at guard in 2016.
With the turmoil that the Vikings’ offensive line has seen over the past two seasons, Berger has been a veritable model of consistency. He’s graded well with the folks from Pro Football Focus at both guard and center, and appears to be moving back to right guard this season, with the battle for the center spot being waged by rookie Pat Elflein and veteran Nick Easton.
If this is Joe Berger’s last season, here’s hoping that the Minnesota Vikings can help him to go out on top.