Another ex-Viking linebacker is available

The Vikings and representatives for Napoleon Harris talked Tuesday, according to people with knowledge of the situation, but the linebacker's first free-agent visit is scheduled to be to Detroit. Harris, who played for the Vikings in 2005-2006, hit the open market Tuesday when he was released by the Kansas City Chiefs after that team failed to trade him.

The discussions with Harris' reps came one day after the Vikings re-signed another one of their former players, Dontarrious Thomas, to add depth to a thinning linebacker corps that has lost middle linebacker E.J. Henderson (dislocated toes) for the season. David Herron, who took over for Henderson, suffered what appeared to be ankle and head/neck injuries Sunday against the Lions. This forced Vinny Ciurciu, primarily a special teams player, into a bigger defensive role than the Vikings would like.

Harris, 29, was the Vikings' starting middle linebacker in 2006, and is familiar with facets of the team's Tampa-2 defense. The Vikings made little attempt to keep Harris after the '06 season -- Henderson had signed a contract extension late that year and took over at middle linebacker in 2007 -- and he received a six-year, $24 million deal from the Chiefs that included $7.5 million in guarantees.

Harris had a career-high 116 tackles in 16 games with the Chiefs last season but fell out of favor early this year. He was benched halfway through training camp and had yet to play in a game this season despite the Chiefs' needs at linebacker.

Coach Brad Childress said it wasn't only one isolated problem that enabled the Detroit Lions to eclipse their entire season output for sacks Sunday with five.

"About one of everything," he said after reviewing his team's breakdowns in a 12-10 victory.

The Lions had collected only four sacks in their first four games, but used a variety of blitzes to get pressure on quarterback Gus Frerotte, who was also hurried five times and took a number of hits.

"You just don't want that when you are back there throwing it," Childress said. "Those set you back as much as anything, and it's demoralizing."

Bernard Berrian's 86-yard touchdown catch was the second- longest in team history, behind Charley Ferguson's 89-yarder from Fran Tarkenton in 1962. He also became the first Vikings player to post back-to-back 100-yard receiving games since 2004.

The Vikings are using Berrian in different receiver spots in order to create different looks for the defense. But Childress said he also sees Berrian becoming more comfortable in the offense in general.

"[We want to] make defenses hunt for him, and I don't think there is any downside to that," Childress said. "I think it helps a little bit that now he has more understanding in terms of the route-running, the flexibility along the lines that you draw and exactly how we are going to try to attack a team and a defense."

Tight end Jim Kleinsasser had a foot injury that limited him in practice last week, but that didn't prevent him from making a big catch-and-run in the fourth quarter Sunday. Kleinsasser finished with two catches for 40 yards, including a 34-yard reception on third-and-8 early in the quarter.

It was the second-longest catch of Kleinsasser's 10-year career. He had a 39-yard reception against Tampa Bay in 2002.

On the 34-yarder, Kleinsasser blocked for a second before releasing upfield. Frerotte dumped the pass off, and Kleinsasser rumbled to the Detroit 46-yard line before being tackled by three defenders.

"I wish I had a little more wheels," Kleinsasser said.