DB Sapp signs, wants chance to start

Benny Sapp felt comfortable enough with the Vikings coaching staff and defensive scheme that the free-agent cornerback signed a one-year deal Tuesday, a day after visiting with the team.

"I love the opportunity the coaches are giving me and loved the coaching staff," said Sapp, who stands to make about $800,000. "It's really family-oriented and that's what I wanted to be a part of. When you have a team like that you can go far."

Sapp, 27, had made trips to Cleveland and Detroit and was scheduled to visit Green Bay.

Sapp spent his first four NFL seasons with Kansas City after signing as an undrafted free agent out of Northern Iowa. The Vikings and Chiefs play a similar version of the Cover-2 defense.

Sapp expects to get the opportunity to compete for a starting job with the Vikings. Sapp also can play the slot in the nickel defense as well and, more likely, will challenge Charles Gordon for that job.

"I'm coming in to compete for a cornerback job," said Sapp, who also could contribute on special teams. "There's an opportunity everywhere to compete. I don't downplay anybody's game. You just have to go in and compete and the best man wins."

The 5-9, 190-pound Sapp started only six of 56 games during his time with the Chiefs, including once last season, and had two interceptions. He said he is looking forward to getting an opportunity he never received in Kansas City.

"It was kind of tough to leave but I felt like I had a better opportunity in other places," he said. "I felt like they never gave me an opportunity even though I came out and busted my behind to get it."

Etc.

• Vikings linebacker Heath Farwell, a restricted free agent, signed his one-year contract tender, which will pay him a $1.4 million salary in 2008. The special teams standout has been participating in the offseason strength and conditioning program and said Monday he never considered signing an offer sheet with another team.

• Defensive end James Hall, who had a free-agent visit with the Vikings, elected to re-sign a two-year deal with St. Louis. Hall had been released by the Rams at the beginning of free agency.

• West Virginia's Ryan Mundy told Sirius NFL Radio that the Vikings have scheduled the free safety for a visit. Mundy played at Michigan before spending his senior year with the Mountaineers.