Vikings add help in the secondary

Cornerback Karl Paymah agreed to a one-year, $1.55 million contract with the Vikings on Saturday, making him the first player from outside the organization to sign with team since free agency began two weeks ago. The deal includes $500,000 in potential incentives that could bring the deal to over $2 million.

Paymah, who had been with Denver, decided on the Vikings after visiting Winter Park on Friday. He also made trips to Baltimore, Tampa Bay, Cleveland and San Francisco.

Paymah's agent, Michael Hoffman, said the Vikings coaching staff made an excellent impression on his client. "Just how he connected with the coaches, the scheme, their plan," Hoffman said. "He was torn, though. He was going back and forth with Tampa, and at one point it looked as though he was on the next flight to Tampa."

Paymah, 26, likely will compete with Benny Sapp for a job in the nickel defense and will be counted on to help a special-teams unit that gave up an NFL-record seven touchdowns last season.

Paymah, a third-round pick by the Broncos in 2005 from Washington State, has five career starts. He has three interceptions, all in the past two seasons. In addition to Paymah, the Vikings have re-signed four of their own free agents: Sapp, linebacker Heath Farwell, defensive tackle Jimmy Kennedy and tight end Jim Kleinsasser.

Cornerback Karl Paymah agreed to a one-year, $1.55 million contract with the Vikings on Saturday, making him the first player from outside the organization to sign with team since free agency began two weeks ago. The deal includes $500,000 in potential incentives that could bring the deal over $2 million.

Paymah decided on the Vikings after visiting Winter Park on Friday. He also made trips to Baltimore, Tampa Bay, Cleveland and San Francisco.

Paymah's agent, Michael Hoffman, said the Vikings coaching staff was a big reason his client picked Minneesotta. "Just how he connected with the coaches, the scheme, their plan," Hoffman said. "He was torn, though. He was going back and forth with Tampa and at one point it looked as though he was on the next flight to Tampa, but when it came down to it I think the visit he had in Minnesota and [vice president of player personnel] Rick Spielman's relentless pursuit of him and some of the other factors of the deal made him a Viking."

Paymah, 26, likely will compete with Benny Sapp for a job in the nickel defense and will be counted on to help a special-teams unit that gave up an NFL record seven touchdowns last season. "He's looking forward to coming in and making a big impact in whatever way possible," Hoffman said of Paymah. I expect him to showcase what he can do and be a big contributor for the Vikings."

Paymah, a third-round pick by the Broncos in 2005 from Washington State, has five career starts. He has three interceptions, all in the past two seasons. In addition to Paymah, the Vikings have re-signed four of their own free agents: Linebacker Heath Farwell; defensive tackle Jimmy Kennedy; tight end Jim Kleinsasser and Sapp.