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Free safety Madieu Williams became the first ex-Bengal of the 2008 NFL free agency period when he agreed to terms with the Minnesota Vikings on a six-year, $33 million contract on Friday, Feb. 29. That makes him one of the highest-paid safeties in the NFL. It’s leap year, and Williams leaped into the upper echelon of NFL riches for a defensive back. Even though I know it won’t happen, I envision Madieu lounging in a bath tub with a big, fat cigar and derby hat similar to Leon Spinks after Spinks’ heavyweight victory over Muhammad Ali in 1978. Williams is much too classy for that. The signing marks a reunion between Williams and Vikings defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier. Frazier was the Bengals’ defensive coordinator in 2004 when Williams was drafted in the second round out of the University of Maryland.
Williams, considered one of the best free agents on the open market, climbed aboard a jet bound for Minneapolis in the morning and is due to sign the contract this afternoon. The deal is richer than Deon Grant’s five-year, $31.8 million contract in 2007, but not quite as much as the contracts Bob Sanders (Colts) or Troy Polamalu (Steelers) received. Bottom line: Williams, a solid cover guy and stinging hitter, fills a gaping hole in the Vikings’ secondary. Dayton Daily News http://www.daytondailynews.com/o/content/shared-gen/blogs/dayton/chickludwig/ |
