Sean Berton General information . Sean Berton ( born October 31 , 1979 in Columbia , South Carolina ) is a former American football tight end in the National Football League . He was undrafted in the 2003 NFL Draft out of NC 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 . 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 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 , South Carolina , West Virginia University , Maryland University , Boston College , 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 ( WVU ) 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 teams starting tight end . At the end of his sp [ homore 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 ( 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 ( NFL ) . 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 , only to be 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 .