Here's an excerpt from a story by Kevin Seifert in the Minneapolis Star-Tribune. In addition to chronicling the Minnesota Vikings' trade for Kansas City Chiefs defensive end Jared Allen, it talks about former Fresno State wide receiver Bernard Berrian and his recruitment this offseason by the Vikings.

It started on Day 1 of free agency, when [team owner Zygi] Wilf sent his private plane to Fresno, Calif., to collect receiver Bernard Berrian. The Vikings had decided that receiver and defensive end were their top priorities, and Berrian was widely considered the best pass-catcher available.

While the Vikings had Berrian on lockdown at the 601 Graves Hotel, several other teams — Oakland and Tennessee among them — tried persuading Berrian to leave town. The Vikings? They kept increasing their offer until Berrian agreed to terms on a deal that included him $16 million in guaranteed money.

Oakland ended up signing receiver free agent Javon Walker, a riskier move considering Walker’s history of knee injuries, while Tennessee was left with no choice but to re-sign journeyman Justin McCareins.

“They sold me on the fact that they’re trying to get to that championship game,” Berrian said. “They told me that they needed a couple pieces to try to get there. And the actual thing is, their two top priorities that they went for this offseason, they got them both. That was impressive.”