A season past: Perretta reflects on Broncos, Vikings

JOE JASZEWSKI/MCT – Former BSU wide receiver Vinny Perretta participated with the Minnesota Vikings’ practice squad during the 2009-10 NFL football season.

Mia Parrett – Journalist

Former Boise State football player Vinny Perretta is back in Boise. After an incredible experience playing on the practice squad for the Minnesota Vikings, he plans to do all he can to make it onto the team.

“It was a journey,” Perretta said. “It was something that I’ve always dreamed of, and I got the opportunity to go and play.”

Last year, after signing with the Minnesota Vikings, along with teammate Ian Johnson, the guys were looking forward to a new experience joining the NFL.

“I didn’t really know what to expect that much, it’s a whole different animal than college football, and more of a business,” he said.

The wide receiver attended training camp with about 80 other players, and on the last cut from making the team, Perretta was called back to the practice squad. Perretta spoke of Ian Johnson, his teammate from BSU, as a comfort to him, and was glad they had each other to talk to before they had met anyone. Perretta and Johnson were roommates in an apartment about a mile away from the Vikings’ training facility outside of Minneapolis.

As a player on the team, Perretta had the opportunity to interact with some of his idols, including Brett Favre, Adrian Peterson, Jared Allen and Antoine Winfield. As some of these players were people he grew up watching and idolized — he had many of their jerseys — Perretta was thrilled to be able to play next to them.

“It’s such an honor, because some of those guys are the best ever,” Perretta said.

During the season, Perretta was one of eight on the practice squad. Besides traveling and playing in the games, Perretta did everything else with the team, which included lifting weights, practices and meetings. At games, he sat in the press box with the rest of the practice squad. At practices, he was a scout team player, with duties that included looking for the other team’s defense they would be encountering in a game, and running it against the Vikings’ offense. On top of that, he also must learn the offensive plays for his own team, in case an injury occurs and he needs to play.

“It’s stressful, because each play is like a job interview. You’ve got to really impress every week so that you can make it to the next week. It’s a cutthroat business,” Perretta said.

On a two-month long vacation from Minnesota, Perretta is back in Boise visiting his fiancée whom he plans to marry in May and working out in the weight room at the BSU Varsity Center. He has also been visiting coaches and players as spring ball commences.

“Those are the guys that I know best, they cheer for me and I cheer for them. It’s a good relationship, and I like keeping that going,” Perretta said. “I’m their biggest fan now.”

After the season ended last year, Perretta signed with the Vikings again for the following year, and will report back to Minnesota March 28. Then he will be working out, lifting and running for most of April, and in May he will be participating in spring practices, which continue on until another break for a month and a half. Then during the last week of July, training camp starts, and he will be among the 80 players who work hard to become the Minnesota Vikings. His goal for next year is to make the team, because a player can only be on the practice squad for two years. He won’t know if he has made the team or not until September.

As a former history major at BSU, Perretta understands the importance of receiving an education. When football ends for him, he wants to receive a master’s degree in athletic administration.

Originally from San Diego, Perretta came to Boise State to play football. As an NFL player, Perretta spoke of his respect for Boise State as a home that he will always have.

“I was so thankful to get the opportunity to play at BSU. It’s a great program, a great college, a great community, and everyone supports football,” Perretta said. “It was a good experience. Everything that I wanted to accomplish while I was here I got to accomplish. So it was nothing but a good time for me.”

Short URL: http://arbiteronline.com/?p=42242

Posted by Arbiter Staff on Mar 11 2010. Filed under Sports. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.