<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Offord agrees to 2-year dealBY SEAN JENSEN and DON SEEHOLZERPioneer PressThe Vikings agreed to terms with strong safety Willie Offord on a two-year contract Friday afternoon.Agent David Canter said Offord's deal includes escalators and incentives, which were key for his client, who is coming off a torn anterior cruciate ligament.Canter declined to comment on specific terms of the deal, but Offord could kick start an escalator that boosts his 2007 base salary to $1 million and could receive bonuses for winning the NFL's comeback player of the year award.Offord's signing bonus likely was around $275,000."The Vikings showed tremendous commitment, and Rob (Brzezinski) got very creative," Canter said of the Vikings' vice president of football operations. "In the unrestricted free-agent market, it's a crapshoot for a player coming off a knee injury."Although he is coming off the torn knee ligament, Offord has made progress. He said he probably would skip the April minicamp but expected to participate in the May 12-14 minicamp."The organization is definitely going in the right direction, and I wanted to be a part of it," Offord said.Although the team didn't promise him a starting job, Offord said that is his plan heading into the offseason."That's one of the things that I'm more excited, to have a chance to start and show I do belong with Antoine (Winfield), Darren (Sharper) and Fred (Smoot)," Offord said. "I think our secondary is going to be pretty good, and I plan on contributing."Whittle signed: The Vikings agreed to a one-year contract with former New York Giants guard Jason Whittle, who was released last week in a salary-cap move. Whittle, a veteran of eight NFL seasons with the Giants and Tampa Bay, is expected to provide depth at guard and serve as backup center behind Matt Birk."He's the new Cory Withrow," agent Joe Linta said.New deal: Veteran guard Chris Liwienski agreed to a restructuring of his contract, which had three years to run but has been reduced to a two-year deal. Agent Vern Sharbaugh declined to comment on any other details of the restructuring.Liwienski, who lost his starting job nine games into last season, was scheduled to make $2.065 million this season in salary and bonuses.Off the market? The Vikings were expected to be one of the main suitors for free-agent New Orleans center/guard LeCharles Bentley, but the bidding already might be closed. The Philadelphia Inquirer, citing a source close to the two-time Pro Bowl selection, reported that Bentley, 26, was set to sign with the Eagles on Friday before the start of free agency was pushed back.Briefly: Linta said there was no news on a possible restructuring of Birk's contract or that of right tackle Mike Rosenthal.</div>
We've got Daren sharper allready though. I guess as long as he isnt geting much money though.I guess Whittle is a decent pickup to.
Willie Offord makes me laugh. He doesn't get any time playing why resign him when you can just take a rookie for a lot cheaper to fill in a backup spot.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (D WiLLiAmS @ Mar 4 2006, 08:40 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Willie Offord makes me laugh. He doesn't get any time playing why resign him when you can just take a rookie for a lot cheaper to fill in a backup spot.</div><span style="color:#993399">He's the special teams captain and leader in special teams tackles over the last 3 years. And there's also this little thing called depth. Considering Corey Chavous is not coming back, I'd say this is a pretty damn important signing.</span>
