Sean Berton

Last updated

Sean Berton
Personal information
Born: (1979-10-31) October 31, 1979 (age 44)
Columbia, South Carolina, U.S.
Career information
High school: Hempfield Area (PA)
College: West Virginia, North Carolina State,
Position: Tight end
Undrafted: 2003
Career history
Career highlights and awards

Sean Berton (born October 31, 1979) is a former American football tight end in the National Football League (NFL). He was undrafted in the 2003 NFL Draft out of North Carolina State University. The Minnesota Vikings signed him to a 3-year minimum rookie contract in 2003, but he was released on September 3, 2005. The New York Giants claimed him off of waivers where he finished out his rookie contract before being released on May 23, 2006.

Contents

High school

Sean started his football career at Hempfield Area High School in Greensburg, Pennsylvania. He started as a sophomore at tight end and inside linebacker. He quickly became a fierce competitor in the Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League and was revered as one of the best tight ends/inside linebackers in the western Pennsylvanian area. He began getting recruited his junior year by schools such as the University of Pittsburgh, South Carolina, West Virginia, Maryland, Boston College, and Rutgers. Sean won the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's tight end position in their Fabulous 22 team. He conducted numerous college visits, but because of its atmosphere and facilities, he finally decided on West Virginia University.

College

Sean was red-shirted his freshmen year at West Virginia University where he gained weight to become a better blocker for the mountaineers. Teammates such as Anthony Becht, Mark Bulger, and Brad Lewis had high hopes for Berton's performance in the years to come. He began playing his sophomore year as the team's starting tight end. At the end of his sophomore year, his head coach of the time Don Nehlen retired, bringing in a new coach Rich Rodriguez. Since Rich Rodriguez's offense would not utilize tight ends that often, Berton opted to transfer to a different school.

North Carolina State University was the first choice Sean had in mind. He met with coach Curt Cignetti, the tight end coach of North Carolina University, and that seemed to decide it for Berton. When he transferred he realized he had to sit out for one year, which left him with one year of eligibility. Berton played with such players as Philip Rivers and Jerricho Cotchery. After his senior season Berton received the Atlantic Coast Conference All-ACC Tight End position award. Sean was expected to be a late round draft pick, but was later picked up as a free agent to join the National Football League.

National Football League

Minnesota Vikings

Sean Berton was picked up by the Minnesota Vikings as an un-drafted free agent on April 23, 2003. While playing with the Vikings he was used primarily as a blocker in the fullback/tight end position. Sean played with NFL stars such as Daunte Culpepper, Randy Moss and Mewelde Moore. Sean played for the Vikings for two years before he got waived off the team, and picked up by the New York Giants.

New York Giants

Sean was picked up as a free agent on September 5, 2005 by the New York Giants. He was again used as a full back/tight end for blocking. Sean helped the team with his excellent blocking allowing young quarterback Eli Manning time to throw to receivers such as Plaxico Burress. Sean's main accomplishment was to allow his running back Tiki Barber to gain time and space to run the ball. In December 2005 Sean tore a ligament in his right knee and was placed on injured reserve. By May 23, 2006 Sean was waived off the team.

Lawsuit against the NFL

In December 2011, Berton made headlines when he and a group of 11 other former professional players filed a lawsuit against the NFL. Berton and his attorneys allege that the league failed to properly treat head injuries in spite of prevailing medical evidence, leading the players to develop effects of brain injury ranging from chronic headaches to depression. [1]

Related Research Articles

Ernie Sims III is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Florida State Seminoles and was selected by the Detroit Lions in the first round of the 2006 NFL draft. He also played for the Philadelphia Eagles, Indianapolis Colts and Dallas Cowboys.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mathias Kiwanuka</span> American football player (born 1983)

Mathias Kagimu Kiwanuka is an American former professional football player who was a defensive end in the National Football League (NFL). He was selected 32nd overall in the 2006 NFL draft. He played college football for the Boston College Eagles. He earned two Super Bowl rings with the Giants in Super Bowl XLII and Super Bowl XLVI, beating the New England Patriots twice.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jeff Dugan</span> American football player (born 1981)

Jeffery Stephen Dugan is a former American football tight end and fullback. He was selected by the Minnesota Vikings in seventh round of 2004 NFL Draft. He played college football for the University of Maryland. Before college Dugan attended Central Catholic High School, where NFL quarterbacks Dan Marino and Marc Bulger attended.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Long snapper</span> Specialized player in gridiron football

In gridiron football, the long snapper is a center on special teams whose duty is to snap the football over a longer distance, typically around 15 yards during punts, and 7–8 yards during field goals and conversion attempts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Madison Hedgecock</span> American football player (born 1981)

Madison Smith Hedgecock is a former American football player who was a fullback in the National Football League (NFL) for seven seasons. He played college football for the University of North Carolina. He was drafted by the St. Louis Rams in the seventh round of the 2005 NFL Draft. An All-Pro selection in 2008, Hedgecock earned a Super Bowl ring with the New York Giants in Super Bowl XLII over the-then undefeated New England Patriots.

William Scott Musgrave is an American football coach and former player who is the senior offensive assistant for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League (NFL). He is a former quarterback, offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for multiple NFL teams. He played college football for the Oregon Ducks, earning all-conference honors in the Pac-10. He is also the uncle of Green Bay Packers tight end Luke Musgrave.

Kirk Olivadotti is an American football coach who is the inside linebackers coach for the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League (NFL).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">3–4 defense</span> American football defensive formation

In American football, the 3–4 defense is a common defensive alignment consisting of three down linemen and four linebackers. It is called a "base defense" because it will readily switch to other defensive alignments as circumstances change. Alternatively, some defenses use a 4–3 defense: four down linemen and three linebackers.

Marvin Mitchell is a former American football linebacker. He was selected by the New Orleans Saints in the seventh round of the 2007 NFL draft. He played college football at Tennessee. Mitchell also played for the Miami Dolphins and Minnesota Vikings.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jerod Mayo</span> American football player and coach (born 1986)

Jerod Mayo Sr. is an American football coach and former linebacker who is the head coach for the New England Patriots of the National Football League (NFL). He previously played with the Patriots for eight seasons. Mayo played college football for the Tennessee Volunteers, where he was a first-team All-SEC, and was selected by the Patriots 10th overall in the 2008 NFL draft. During his playing career, he was named Defensive Rookie of the Year, earned Pro Bowl and first-team All-Pro honors in 2010 after leading the league in tackles, and received a second Pro Bowl selection in 2012. Mayo rejoined the Patriots as an assistant coach in 2019 and was named head coach in 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aaron Curry (American football)</span> American football player and coach (born 1986)

Aaron Curry is an American professional football coach and former linebacker who is the inside linebackers coach for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). Curry was selected by the Seattle Seahawks in the first round in the 2009 NFL Draft out of Wake Forest. Curry also played for the Oakland Raiders in 2011 and 2012.

Everette D. Brown is an American football coach and former linebacker who is currently the assistant linebackers coach for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Florida State and was drafted by the Carolina Panthers in second round of the 2009 NFL draft. Brown also played for the San Diego Chargers, Detroit Lions, Philadelphia Eagles, Dallas Cowboys, and Washington Redskins.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Connor Barwin</span> American football player (born 1986)

Connor Alfred Barwin is an American football executive and former outside linebacker, currently serving as the head of football development and strategy for the Philadelphia Eagles. He played college football at Cincinnati, and was selected by the Houston Texans in the second round of the 2009 NFL draft. He also played for the Eagles, Los Angeles Rams, and New York Giants.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arthur Moats</span> American football player (born 1988)

Arthur Moats is a former American football linebacker who played in the National Football League (NFL) for the Buffalo Bills, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Arizona Cardinals. He was selected by the Bills in the sixth round of the 2010 NFL Draft. Moats played college football at James Madison, where he was team captain.

Cody James Grimm is an American football coach and former safety. He previously served as an assistant coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Jacksonville Jaguars.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Riley Reiff</span> American football player (born 1988)

Riley Reiff is an American football offensive tackle who is a free agent. He played college football for the Iowa Hawkeyes and was selected by the Detroit Lions 23rd overall in the first round of the 2012 NFL draft. He previously played for the Lions from 2012 to 2016 and the Minnesota Vikings from 2017 to 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rhett Ellison</span> American football player (born 1988)

Rhett Marshall Ellison is a former American football tight end and fullback who played eight seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at USC and was selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the fourth round of the 2012 NFL draft. He also played for the New York Giants for three seasons.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tahir Whitehead</span> American football player (born 1990)

Tahir Ali Whitehead is a former American football linebacker. He played college football for Temple University, and was selected by the Detroit Lions in the fifth round of the 2012 NFL Draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blake Bell</span> American football player (born 1991)

Blake Bell is an American football tight end who is a free agent. He was selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the fourth round of the 2015 NFL draft. He played college football at Oklahoma, where he received the nickname "Belldozer", a play on words due to his large frame and running style.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Todd Davis (American football)</span> American football player (born 1992)

Todd Davis is a former American football linebacker of the National Football League (NFL) and podcast host for DNVR Sports. He played college football at Sacramento State University and attended Paraclete High School in Lancaster, California. He was a member of the New Orleans Saints, Denver Broncos, Minnesota Vikings and New York Giants. Davis retired in 2021 at the age of 29.

References

  1. "Seeger Weiss Represents Former NFL Players in Concussion Lawsuit". Seeger Weiss LLP. Archived from the original on December 20, 2017. Retrieved January 23, 2012.