Since the 2014 regular season ended, both the Minnesota Vikings and linebacker Chad Greenway had expressed a mutual interest in doing something to ensure that Greenway would spend a tenth consecutive season in purple and gold.
Greenway has only played for one team since the Vikings selected him in the first round of the 2006 NFL Draft, and today the team announced that it will stay that way.
Per A.J. Mansour of KFAN, the two sides have agreed on a restructured contract to keep Greenway on the team.
Per Mansour's report, the restructure reduces Greenway's cap hit from the $7 million it was at to around $3.4 million, which opens up some space for the team under the salary cap. The deal includes just $1 million in guaranteed money, and allows Greenway to earn up to $600,000 in bonuses as well.
Greenway has certainly had his struggles over the past couple of seasons, and it remains to be seen whether or not he will be a starter in 2015 or have to take on some sort of reduced role. However, as Mansour points out, this gives the Vikings an opportunity to start planning for Greenway's eventual replacement, whether that replacing happens this season or for the 2016 season.
If this is Greenway's final go-around, part of me is happy to see that he'll be doing so with the Vikings. He's done a lot of great things for the Twin Cities community, and can hopefully provide some leadership for a young and improving defensive unit.