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Kevin Williams signs extension

  • Article by: Kevin Seifert , Star Tribune
  • Updated: December 23, 2006 - 10:29 PM

The Pro Bowl selection and pivotal player in the Vikings' run-stuffing defense will earn up to $50 million over seven years.

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Kevin Williams

Photo: Judy Griesedieck, Star Tribune

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The Vikings can cross another offseason chore off their list. Continuing their proactive stance to retaining their core players, the Vikings signed defensive tackle Kevin Williams to a seven-year contract extension Saturday that could pay him up to $50 million.

Williams' current deal would have carried him through the 2007 season, but the Vikings pursued an extension now to avoid a future bidding war or franchise designation. Named to his second Pro Bowl earlier this week, Williams will receive multi-tiered bonuses of $16 million as part of the extension.

After struggling through an injury-plagued season in 2005, Williams reported to training camp this summer in better shape and ranks second on the team with five sacks. Most important, he is a key figure in the team's top-ranked run defense.

For now, the agreement concludes a four-month period in which the Vikings have signed six veterans to contract extensions worth a combined $133 million, including upwards of $47 million in guaranteed bonuses. Their most prominent pending free agent is middle linebacker Napoleon Harris, whose movement will be unrestricted; defensive end Darrion Scott will be a restricted free agent.

The Vikings traditionally have not negotiated contracts during the season, but the NFL's new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) has mandated higher salary caps that could trigger more liberal spending during the open market in 2007 and especially 2008.

Under the old CBA, the salary cap traditionally rose about 5 percent each season. In 2005, the cap was $85.5 million. The new CBA, agreed to in March, raised the cap 16 percent to $102 million for 2006. In 2007, the cap is expected to rise six percent to $109 million, and in 2008, it will rise another six percent to $116 million.

Kevin Seifert • kseifert@startribune.com

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