XXKSXX
09-06-2007, 06:16 PM
Defensive tackle Pat Williams, one of the NFL's most dominant interior players against the run, has reached agreement in principle with the Minnesota Vikings on a three-year contract extension that runs through the 2010 season.
The deal, reported by the St. Paul Pioneer-Press and confirmed by sources close to Williams, will be officially signed before the start of the regular season. The extension, which had been a stated offseason priority for the Vikings but took longer to complete than most thought it would, is worth $22 million in so-called new money.
Williams, who signed a three-year, $13 million contract with the Vikings as an unrestricted free agent in 2005, was entering the final year of that deal, and scheduled to earn a 2007 base salary of $2.65 million.
The 34-year-old Williams, a 10-year veteran, will now have a chance to finish his career in Minnesota. With the Vikings, he teams with four-year veteran Kevin Williams to comprise one of the league's premier tackle tandems. Both players were voted to the Pro Bowl in 2006, the first such berth for Pat Williams.
In large part because of the presence of their two standout tackles, the Vikings led the NFL in 2006 in defense versus the run and were No. 8 in the league in total defense.
Hardly a flashy player, the 317-pound Williams remains a solid anchor and a two-gap type defender who occupies blockers and allows the linebackers the freedom to run to the ball. He regularly commands double-team blocking and is a player whose value is not measured by his statistics alone.
A former Texas A&M star, Williams entered the league with the Buffalo Bills in 1997 and made their roster as an undrafted free agent. He played eight seasons in Buffalo (1997-2004) before signing with the Vikings in 2005. He has started all 32 games during his two seasons in Minnesota and, in addition to his solid play, is regarded as a key team leader.
In 139 games, Williams has registered 337 tackles, 15½ sacks, five forced fumbles, six fumble recoveries, one interception and nine passes defensed.
ESPN
The deal, reported by the St. Paul Pioneer-Press and confirmed by sources close to Williams, will be officially signed before the start of the regular season. The extension, which had been a stated offseason priority for the Vikings but took longer to complete than most thought it would, is worth $22 million in so-called new money.
Williams, who signed a three-year, $13 million contract with the Vikings as an unrestricted free agent in 2005, was entering the final year of that deal, and scheduled to earn a 2007 base salary of $2.65 million.
The 34-year-old Williams, a 10-year veteran, will now have a chance to finish his career in Minnesota. With the Vikings, he teams with four-year veteran Kevin Williams to comprise one of the league's premier tackle tandems. Both players were voted to the Pro Bowl in 2006, the first such berth for Pat Williams.
In large part because of the presence of their two standout tackles, the Vikings led the NFL in 2006 in defense versus the run and were No. 8 in the league in total defense.
Hardly a flashy player, the 317-pound Williams remains a solid anchor and a two-gap type defender who occupies blockers and allows the linebackers the freedom to run to the ball. He regularly commands double-team blocking and is a player whose value is not measured by his statistics alone.
A former Texas A&M star, Williams entered the league with the Buffalo Bills in 1997 and made their roster as an undrafted free agent. He played eight seasons in Buffalo (1997-2004) before signing with the Vikings in 2005. He has started all 32 games during his two seasons in Minnesota and, in addition to his solid play, is regarded as a key team leader.
In 139 games, Williams has registered 337 tackles, 15½ sacks, five forced fumbles, six fumble recoveries, one interception and nine passes defensed.
ESPN