Vikings give Berrian a cap-friendly contract

As they have done routinely in recent years, the Vikings crafted a salary cap-friendly contract with wide receiver Bernard Berrian that allows more than half of his guaranteed money to count against their 2008 salary cap.

Berrian's $16 million in guarantees includes a $5 million signing bonus and two roster bonuses: $8 million this year and $3 million in 2009. Therefore, his 2008 cap number is at least $9.44 million -- the sum of the first roster bonus, his $605,000 base salary and the prorated portion of the signing bonus.

That cap number could increase based on the contract's incentive package, which was unavailable Monday. Among the incentives are a $100,000 workout bonus in each year of the deal.

Berrian, who spent his first four NFL seasons with Chicago before joining the Vikings as a free agent, will receive $23 million over the first three years of the deal, an important benchmark in NFL labor negotiations.

The Vikings opened free agency with $37 million in cap space.

Meanwhile, the Vikings have held preliminary contract discussions with defensive lineman Ellis Wyms, who visited Winter Park last week, but no agreement appeared imminent Monday. Wyms, who played last season in Seattle, also has visited Tennessee.

KEVIN SEIFERT

Now that Seattle has signed Julius Jones, Shaun Alexander wants to know what's going on.

The four-time defending NFC West champion Seahawks announced Monday they had signed Jones, the deposed starting running back in Dallas, to a multiyear contract. Seattle also signed running back T.J. Duckett last week.

Jim Steiner, the agent for 2005 NFL MVP Alexander, told the Associated Press he will meet with Seahawks executives about what future Alexander has in Seattle.

In 2005, Alexander rushed for 1,880 yards and 28 touchdowns, and he signed a $62 million, eight-year contract before the following season. But he has had two injury-filled and ineffective seasons since signing the deal, gaining 716 yards in 13 games in 2007.

• Lawyers for former St. Louis Rams player Willie Gary and three fans plan to withdraw a lawsuit that accuses the New England Patriots of cheating in the 2002 Super Bowl, though they say they are not giving up on the case. Former Patriots employee Matt Walsh allegedly taped a walkthrough practice by the Rams before New England's Super Bowl victory.

• Three-time Pro Bowl running back Warrick Dunn, 33, is going back to Tampa Bay. Dunn spent his first five NFL seasons with the Buccaneers and the past six with Atlanta but was released last week.

• Quarterback Trent Green, who ended last season on Miami's injured reserve after his second concussion in 13 months, agreed to terms to return to the Rams as a backup to Marc Bulger.

• Detroit and former Bucs defensive back Brian Kelly agreed on a three-year deal, and the Lions re-signed tackle George Foster to a one-year contract.