With few available receivers, Vikings turn attention to Wade

As they waited out a bizarre turn of events in Detroit, the Vikings were making plans Monday to play host to free-agent receiver Bobby Wade at Winter Park.

Wade tentatively was scheduled to arrive Monday night in the Twin Cities and would meet with coaches and members of the personnel department today. Wade, 26, is one of the few young players with a history of production who remains available on the free-agent market; he caught 33 passes last season for Tennessee and has a total of 101 receptions in a four-year career with the Titans and Chicago.

The Vikings were evaluating Wade in part because free-agent receiver Kevin Curtis, who visited Friday and Saturday, appeared to favor the Detroit Lions. He arrived Sunday in Detroit, but Monday afternoon, he fired agent Tom Condon and departed the Lions facility.

Curtis apparently wanted to sign with the Lions and resume playing for offensive coordinator Mike Martz, his former head coach in St. Louis. But his differences with Condon surfaced prior to an agreement, and there were some reports that he would visit the New York Giants today.

In either case, the events suggested Curtis did not rank the Vikings at the top of his list -- leaving them to sift through the second tier of free-agent receivers. Wade fits the profile that Vice President of Player Personnel Rick Spielman set forth prior to free agency: A young player finishing his first contract who could be "on the come," Spielman said.

Wade, a fifth-round pick of the Bears in 2003, had his best season in 2004, catching 42 passes for 481 yards for Chicago. Like Curtis, he is on the small side for receivers, standing 5-10 and weighing 180 pounds.

Wade also has been a successful return man, averaging 23.9 yards on 50 kickoff returns last season.

Etc.

• Former Vikings quarterback Brad Johnson signed a three-year contract with the Dallas Cowboys, where he will back up young starter Tony Romo. Johnson's agent, Phil Williams, said Johnson was excited by the idea of playing for Cowboys offensive coordinator Jason Garrett, a close friend.

Staff writer Judd Zulgad contributed to this report.

Kevin Seifert • kseifert@startribune.com