It seemed Marcus Sherels would be on the Vikings roster forever, but the day came Thursday when his nine-year run ended.
Sherels, a Vikings fan and locker room favorite, will wear another NFL jersey for the first time next season after he agreed to a one-year deal with the Saints on Thursday, according to a league source.
Sherels' coaches and teammates were the few not annually questioning his job security, and his nine Vikings seasons required five different contracts.
A Rochester native, Sherels, 31, caught on as an undrafted Gophers cornerback in 2010. He won the job of punt returner a year later and ranked in the NFL's top 10 in five of the past six seasons.
That includes last fall, when he was voted an NFC specialist alternate to the Pro Bowl after averaging 12 yards per punt return and serving as a standout gunner in punt coverage.
Sherels averaged 10.6 yards per punt return and scored five touchdowns while appearing in 124 games for the Vikings. He has also returned 32 punts for at least 20 yards in his career.
Injuries limited his final season in Minnesota. Preceding his exit was the departure of one of his biggest internal supporters, Priefer, who left in January to join his hometown Browns.
New special teams coordinator Marwan Maalouf has a few internal candidates for the job before considering additions in the draft. They include running back Ameer Abdullah, cornerback Holton Hill and receiver Brandon Zylstra.
