Vikings Sign Defensive Tackle Pat Williams

The Minnesota Vikings have signed 2006 Pro Bowl DT Pat Williams to a 3-year contract extension. Williams enters his 3rd season with the Vikings in 2007 and his 11th in the NFL. Williams was a key element in the Vikings posting the #1 rushing defense in the NFL in 2006 and allowed the 2nd-fewest yards rushing (985) in a season since the 1970 NFL merger.

Williams earned his 1st Pro Bowl berth of his career in 2006. A durable defender, Williams has started all 32 games he has played with the Vikings the past 2 seasons and has 97 career starts in his 140 games. Williams and fellow DT Kevin Williams both played in the Pro Bowl last season. The tandem marked only the 3rd time in Vikings history that 2 DTs were recognized with Pro Bowl honors, joining Alan Page and Gary Larsen in 1969 and 1970.

Pat Williams, entering the final season of a three-year, $13 million free-agent contract he signed in March 2005, will receive approximately $22 million in his new deal, with a minimum of $9.5 million in guarantees. Williams' agent, Angelo Wright, is expected to work out the final details today; the contract will run through the 2010 season.

"I'm always hesitant until we cross the T's and dot the I's," coach Brad Childress said when asked about the contract. "We'll probably have something on that tomorrow. I've always had a good relationship with him because he has always been very honest and straight, as have I."
In addition to feeling at home in Minnesota, Williams also elected not to explore free agency after the season because he wanted to continue playing alongside defensive tackle Kevin Williams. Those two were the main reason the Vikings' run defense was No. 1 in the NFL last season.
"I didn't want to go nowhere," Pat Williams said. "I want to finish [my career] playing beside Kevin Williams."

Kevin Williams received a five-year, $33.24 million extension from the Vikings last December.
Pat Williams, who will turn 35 on Oct. 24, said this will be the final contract of his NFL career. This will be his 11th NFL season and his third with the Vikings. The 6-3, 330-pound Williams spent his first eight seasons with Buffalo. He has started 80 consecutive regular-season games and last year was named to the Pro Bowl for the first time.

Contract talks between Williams' agent and the Vikings appeared to break down during training camp, but the team approached Williams again recently and said they would have an offer.
"Everything is great now," Williams said. "So I ain't got to be worried about packing my bags and leaving. It's straight home all Purple and Gold."

This information obtained from the Minnesota Vikins Web Site and Star Tribune.