Pat Williams admitted he might have given the Vikings a slight discount on the three-year contract extension he's expected to sign today, but the Pro Bowl nose tackle said there was a good reason for that.

"I'm at home now. I call this home," Williams said Thursday.

Williams, entering the final season of a three-year, $13 million free-agent contract he signed in March 2005, will receive approximately $22 million in his new deal, with a minimum of $9.5 million in guarantees. Williams' agent, Angelo Wright, is expected to work out the final details today; the contract will run through the 2010 season.

"I'm always hesitant until we cross the T's and dot the I's," coach Brad Childress said when asked about the contract. "We'll probably have something on that tomorrow. I've always had a good relationship with him because he has always been very honest and straight, as have I."

In addition to feeling at home in Minnesota, Williams also elected not to explore free agency after the season because he wanted to continue playing alongside defensive tackle Kevin Williams. Those two were the main reason the Vikings' run defense was No. 1 in the NFL last season.

"I didn't want to go nowhere," Pat Williams said. "I want to finish [my career] playing beside Kevin Williams."

Kevin Williams received a five-year, $33.24 million extension from the Vikings last December.

Pat Williams, who will turn 35 on Oct. 24, said this will be the final contract of his NFL career. This will be his 11th NFL season and his third with the Vikings. The 6-3, 330-pound Williams spent his first eight seasons with Buffalo. He has started 80 consecutive regular-season games and last year was named to the Pro Bowl for the first time.

Contract talks between Williams' agent and the Vikings appeared to break down during training camp, but the team approached Williams again recently and said they would have an offer.

"Everything is great now," Williams said. "So I ain't got to be worried about packing my bags and leaving. It's straight home all Purple and Gold."

Feel the noise

The Vikings spent part of Thursday practicing with heavy crowd noise emanating from speakers on the sideline. Although the team will play two of its first three games on the road, Childress said the primary purpose was to force better concentration.

"In an attempt to overcommunicate clarity, everybody has to take their games up a bit," Childress said. "It's not just offensive communication, but it's defensive communication as well."

Etc.

• The Vikings' depth chart lists Bobby Wade as their kick returner and Mewelde Moore as the punt returner, but no final decisions have been made, according to special teams coordinator Paul Ferraro. Aundrae Allison (kickoffs) and Charles Gordon (punts) also are options.

"We got some of those young guys some repetitions during the preseason games and obviously we have some experience with Bobby and Mewelde," Ferraro said. "I'm excited about the options that we have there but those are ongoing conversations right now with coach Childress."

• Allison, a rookie receiver, will become the first Vikings player to wear No. 84 in a regular-season game since Randy Moss was traded to Oakland after the 2004 season. Allison made the switch from No. 14 to Moss' old number on Thursday. Allison admitted he was getting heat from teammates about his decision. Receiver Robert Ferguson also changed from No. 85 to No. 89, the number he wore in Green Bay.

• Linebacker E.J. Henderson returned to practice after sitting out Wednesday because of a viral infection. "I don't think it was ever a question of whether he would play [Sunday]," defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier said.

• Safety Mike Doss (calf) and offensive lineman Marcus Johnson (personal) did not practice Thursday.