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Carlson signs his contract

Tight end, GM Rick Spielman will talk to reporters at 4 p.m.

By Mark Craig

March 14, 2012 at 8:32PM

The Vikings have officially announced the signing of tight end John Carlson. They didn't announce terms, but it's a five-year, $25 million deal with $11 million guaranteed.

Carlson and GM Rick Spielman will talk to reporters at 4 p.m.

Here's the Vikings' press release announcing the move:

Eden Prairie, MN (March 14, 2012) – The Minnesota Vikings have signed free-agent TE John Carlson. The 5th-year veteran was a 2^nd round selection (38^th overall) by the Seattle Seahawks in 2008. Carlson, a Litchfield, MN native, set franchise records for a TE during his rookie year with Seattle with 55 receptions and 627 receiving yards. He set a team-record for Seattle TE's with 7 touchdowns in 2009. In his first two seasons in the NFL, the Notre Dame graduate amassed 12 TDs and 106 receptions. Those numbers ranked 7^th and 12^th among NFL tight ends, respectively, in that span.

about the writer

Mark Craig

Sports reporter

Mark Craig has covered the NFL nearly every year since Brett Favre was a rookie back in 1991. A sports writer since 1987, he is covering his 30th NFL season out of 37 years with the Canton (Ohio) Repository (1987-99) and the Star Tribune (1999-present).