Sean Berton - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

General information

Sean Berton (born October 31, 1979 in Columbia, South Carolina

Columbia, South Carolina

Columbia is the state capital and largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The population was 129,272 according to the 2010 census. Columbia is the county seat of Richland County, but a portion of the city extends into neighboring Lexington County. The city is the center of a metropolitan...

) is a former American football

American football

American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...

tight end

Tight end

The tight end is a position in American football on the offense. The tight end is often seen as a hybrid position with the characteristics and roles of both an offensive lineman and a wide receiver. Like offensive linemen, they are usually lined up on the offensive line and are large enough to be...

in the National Football League

National Football League

The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...

. He was undrafted in the 2003 NFL Draft

2003 NFL Draft

The 2003 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. The draft is known officially as the "NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting" and has been conducted annually since 1936. The draft was held April 26–27, 2003 at the Theatre at...

out of NC State University

NC State Wolfpack football

The NC State Wolfpack football team represents North Carolina State University in NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision competition. The Wolfpack currently compete in the Atlantic Coast Conference....

. The Minnesota Vikings

Minnesota Vikings

The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...

signed him to a 3-year minimum rookie contract in 2003, but he was released on September 3, 2005. The New York Giants

New York Giants

The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...

claimed him off of waivers where he finished out his rookie contract before being released on May 23, 2006.

High school

Sean started his football career at Hempfield Area High School in Greensburg, Pennsylvania

Greensburg, Pennsylvania

Greensburg is a city in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, United States, and a part of the Pittsburgh Metro Area. The city is named after Nathanael Greene, a major general of the Continental Army in the American Revolutionary War...

.He started as a sophomore at tight end and inside linebacker. . He quickly became a fierce competitor in the WPIAL (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

University of Pittsburgh

The University of Pittsburgh, commonly referred to as Pitt, is a state-related research university located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded as Pittsburgh Academy in 1787 on what was then the American frontier, Pitt is one of the oldest continuously chartered institutions of...

, South Carolina

South Carolina

South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...

, West Virginia University

West Virginia University

West Virginia University is a public research university in Morgantown, West Virginia, USA. Other campuses include: West Virginia University at Parkersburg in Parkersburg; West Virginia University Institute of Technology in Montgomery; Potomac State College of West Virginia University in Keyser;...

, Maryland University, Boston College

Boston College

Boston College is a private Jesuit research university located in the village of Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, USA. The main campus is bisected by the border between the cities of Boston and Newton. It has 9,200 full-time undergraduates and 4,000 graduate students. Its name reflects its early...

, and Rutgers. Sean won the Post Gazette's tight end position in their Fabulous 22 team. He had numerous college visits, but finally decided on West Virginia because of the atmosphere and facilities.

College

Sean was red-shirted his freshmen year at West Virginia University

West Virginia University

(WVU) where he gained weight to become a better blocker for the mountaineers. Teammates such as Anthony Becht

Anthony Becht

Anthony G. Becht is an American football tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League. He was drafted by the New York Jets 27th overall in the 2000 NFL Draft. He played college football at West Virginia. He has Swedish relatives, brother Francis and nephew Carl and...

, 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 teams starting tight end. At the end of his sp[homore year, his head coach of the time Don Nehlen

Don Nehlen

Don Nehlen is a former American football player and coach. He was head football coach at Bowling Green State University and at West Virginia University . Nehlen retired from coaching college football in 2001 with a career record of 202–128–8 and as the 17th winningest coach in...

retired, bringing in a new coach Rich Rodriguez

Rich Rodriguez

Richard A. "Rich" Rodriguez is an American football coach and former player. He is currently the head football coach at the University of Arizona. Rodriguez previously served as the head football coach at Salem University , Glenville State College , West Virginia University , and the University...

. Since Rich Rodriguez's offense would not utilize tight ends that often, Berton opted to transfer to a different school.

North Carolina State University

North Carolina State University

North Carolina State University at Raleigh is a public, coeducational, extensive research university located in Raleigh, North Carolina, United States. Commonly known as NC State, the university is part of the University of North Carolina system and is a land, sea, and space grant institution...

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

Philip Rivers

Philip Rivers is an American football quarterback for the San Diego Chargers of the National Football League . He was one half of the Manning-Rivers draft trade which sent him to San Diego and the 1st overall pick, Ole Miss quarterback Eli Manning, to the New York Giants. Rivers played college...

and Jerricho Cotchery

Jerricho Cotchery

Cotchery was selected by the New York Jets in the fourth round of the 2004 NFL draft.-New York Jets:In 2004, Cotchery caught 6 passes for 60 yards in 12 games as the team's 5th receiver...

.After his senior season Berton received the Atlantic Coast Conference

Atlantic Coast Conference

The Atlantic Coast Conference is a collegiate athletic league in the United States. Founded in 1953 in Greensboro, North Carolina, the ACC sanctions competition in twenty-five sports in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association for its twelve member universities...

(ACC) 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

(NFL).

National Football League

Minnesota Vikings

Sean Berton was picked up by the Minnesota Vikings

Minnesota Vikings

The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...

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

Daunte Culpepper

Daunte Rachard Culpepper is an American football quarterback who is currently a free agent. He last played for the Sacramento Mountain Lions of the United Football League . Prior to joining the UFL, Culpepper enjoyed a successful National Football League career after being drafted 11th overall in...

, Randy Moss

Randy Moss

Randy Gene Moss is a former American football wide receiver. He was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the first round of the 1998 NFL Draft...

and Mewelde Moore

Mewelde Moore

Mewelde Jaem Cadere Moore is an American football running back for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League. He was originally drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the fourth round of the 2004 NFL Draft...

. Sean played for the Vikings for two years before he got waived off the team, only to be picked up by the New York Giants

New York Giants

.

New York Giants

Sean was picked up as a free agent on September 5, 2005 by the New York Giants

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

Eli Manning

Eli Nelson Manning is an American football quarterback for the New York Giants of the National Football League. He is the younger brother of NFL quarterback Peyton Manning and the son of former NFL quarterback Archie Manning...

time to throw to receivers such as Plaxico Burress

Plaxico Burress

Plaxico Antonio Burress is an American football wide receiver who currently plays for the New York Jets of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers eighth overall in the 2000 NFL Draft...

. Sean's man accomplishment was to allow his running back Tiki Barber

Tiki Barber

Atiim Kiambu Hakeem-Ah "Tiki" Barber is an American football running back who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the New York Giants in the second round of the 1997 NFL Draft. He played college football at Virginia....

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.

External links

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