December 15, 2006

VIKINGS REWARD HENDERSON WITH BIG DEAL
The linebacker’s desire to stay in Minnesota became a reality when he signed a five-year contract worth more than $25 million.

BY Judd Zulgad, Star Tribune

E.J. Henderson said Thursday that even though he was due to hit the unrestricted free-agent market this offseason, he “loved” it in Minnesota and his desire was to remain with the Vikings. A day later, Henderson made that a reality when signed a five-year deal that, according to people with knowledge of the situation, is worth more than $25 million.

The Vikings rewarded the linebacker with a contract that includes $10 million in guarantees with three games remaining in what has been his most productive NFL season.

Henderson enters Sunday’s game against the New York Jets with a team-leader 108 tackles and also has established career highs in sacks (three), interceptions (his first two in the NFL) and quarterback hurries (15).

“There really was no reason not to,” do this, said Henderson’s agent, Kevin Poston, who declined to give any contract figures. “They liked him, he liked them, the number was fair. What E.J. was seeking was a fair-market-value deal.”

Henderson becomes the fourth pending free agent on the Vikings to receive a contract extension since September. Left tackle Bryant McKinnie, long-snapper Cullen Loeffler and tight end/fullback Jeff Dugan also are on the list. Dugan’s five-year, $4.25 million deal was announced this week.

“It feels good to have the Vikings show their confidence in me by making this kind of commitment,” Henderson told the Vikings’ website. “I feel good about this team and where we are going. It’s good to know I will be here for the next several years, and hopefully I end my career as a Viking.”

A second-round pick by the Vikings in 2003 out of Maryland, Henderson had a team-leading 125 tackles playing middle linebacker in his second season. He was moved to weak-side linebacker during training camp in 2005 and started 14 of the 15 games he played, finishing second on the ream with 102 tackles.

Henderson’s maturity at the weak-side position has taken another step this season playing in the scheme installed by new defensive coordinator Mike Tomlin.

That success certainly would have made it interesting for Henderson to test free agency. “You always know the market is there and look at each individual situation, and he could have done that,” said Poston, who opened talks with the Vikings about a month ago. “But at the end of the day you want to get paid what you’re worth, and we think he has.”

Henderson also might get his wish to play middle linebacker again --“I think that’s my natural spot,” he said – starting next season. Napoleon Harris, who starts in the middle, will be an unrestricted free agent this offseason.

Moving Henderson to his old spot would open a place for first-round pick Chad Greenway on the weak side. Greenway is expected to be recovered from a torn left anterior cruciate ligament by this spring. Those two, along with Ben Leber, who signed a five-year, $20 million free-agent deal with the Vikings last March, could make up the starting linebacker corps next season.

With Henderson’s deal done, another major contract looming on the horizon is standout defensive tackle Kevin Williams. Williams can be an unrestricted free agent after the 2007 season, but most NFL teams – the Vikings included – prefer to get a contract done long before that point. However, there has been no known progress toward an extension for Williams.