Vikings Back Up The Brinks Truck For Phil Loadholt

So if I was Phil Loadholt, I would make the audio of this clip my cell phone voicemail message:

Because PHIL GETTIN' THE MON-EEEEEY!!!!

Loadholts's new contract details were released a little while ago, and the the Vikings paid top dollar to keep him in a Vikings uniform.

The contract is a four year extension worth $25 million over four years, with a $7 million signing bonus. According to Tom Pelissero, with the $6.25 million/year average, that will make Loadholt the second highest paid right tackle in the NFL, behind only Doug Free of Dallas.

There was concern in the hours before free agency began that Chicago was going to make a serious run to sign Loadholt and were willing to pay top dollar, but in the end Loadholt stayed with the Vikings. And apparently, he's quite happy with his decision:

Phil Loadholt: "I love being in Minnesota, love the community, and my family feels really at home," blog.vikings.com/2013/03/12/loa…

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) March 13, 2013

Loadholt safely in the barn is the biggest news in day one of free agency for the Vikings so far, and was a huge item the Vikings needed to accomplish on their 'to do' list. They still need to address other needs, especially wide receiver, but after two days of devastating losses in Percy Harvin and Antoine Winfield, securing Loadholt was welcome news indeed.

With both Loadholt and LT Matt Kalil secured through 2016, the Vikings now arguably have the best LT-RT combination in the NFL, and with John Sullivan anchoring the line at center, Minnesota now has one of the best young lines in the NFL.

YAY GOOD NEWS!!