Hendo Extend-o

by Christopher Gates on Dec 15, 2006 5:48 PM CST in News

Judd Zulgad of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune is reporting that the Vikings have inked linebacker E.J. Henderson to a 5-year contract extension.

Vikings linebacker E.J. Henderson signed a five-year contract with the team on Friday that will keep him from becoming an unrestricted free agent this offseason. It's believed the contract is worth more than $25 million. The deal includes $10 million in signing and other bonuses.

Henderson earned the extension by putting together his best NFL season. In his fourth year, Henderson leads the Vikings with 108 tackles and also has three sacks, two interceptions, four passes broken up, four tackles for loss, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and 15 quarterback hurries.

Henderson has spent the past two seasons playing weak-side linebacker for the Vikings and has thrived in defensive coordinator Mike Tomlin's "Tampa-2" scheme.

Henderson is, in my opinion, a prime example of what a player can do with some real, honest-to-God coaching in this league. He wasn't getting it up until this season, but he's been a beast in 2006.

As Zulgad points out, this is the fourth contract extension that the Vikings have put together in the last 3 months. Bryant McKinnie got a huge contract extension shortly before the season opener, and TE Jeff Dugan and long snapped Cullen Loeffler have both signed long-term deals with the club.

IMO, the Vikings' next major priority should be getting big ol' #93 signed to something long-term. If Kevin Williams isn't the best all-around DT in the league, he's certainly a part of the conversation. . .and the Vikings would be foolish to let things linger too long without getting him locked into a deal.

Hey, remember when everyone laughed when the Vikings' drafted Kevin Williams because of how things transpired at the draft that year? When Brian Billick conveniently "didn't call the league office" with Baltimore's half of a trade that would have let the Ravens trade up to select Byron Leftwich? (Because, you know, a multi-billion dollar corporation like the NFL can't afford call waiting or a second phone line or anything.)

How's that Boller fella working out for Baltimore these days? Picking splinters out of his ass, you say? Interesting. . .well, if it's any consolation to the Ravens, we're quite happy with Kevin Williams, thanks.

Where'd that tangent come from?

That's all for now, folks. . .feel free to start enjoying your weekend!

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Resign Napoleon 1st, KW 2nd

I'm not sure I'm comfortable with letting Napolean Harris go at the end of this year. Like E.J., he's been playing really, really well so far this year, and he is a blitzing machine. He's definately solidified the middle for the Vikings. I'm also not sure that the Vikings should go into next year with Chad Greenway penciled in as a starter. For all intents and purposes, he's still a rookie, and one that's coming off a major injury.

Obviously, this depends on the kind of money Harris is trying to get, but I also wouldn't be all that happy about the Vikings' letting half of the Moss trade go for nothing (especially considering Harris is the successful half).

The Ragnarok

by TBird41 on Dec 15, 2006 9:21 PM CST reply actions