ORLANDO -- Unrestricted free agent tight end Byron Chamberlain, who led all NFC players at his position in receptions last season, agreed late Tuesday night to a contract that will keep the seven-year pro with the Minnesota Vikings.

	Chamberlain

He had never started a single game in six previous years with the Denver Broncos before signing in Minnesota last spring as a free agent. He responded to his new surroundings by starting 15 of 16 games and catching 57 passes for 666 yards and three touchdowns -- all career bests.

Only three AFC players -- Tony Gonzalez (Kansas City), Shannon Sharpe (Baltimore) and Frank Wycheck (Tennessee) -- had more catches among league tight ends. Many personnel directors felt Chamberlain was among the most improved players in the league at any position.

Chamberlain, 30, will sign a five-year contract worth $8-$8.5 million, including a $1.7 million signing bonus. He had been sought by several teams over the past few weeks, made some visits, and at one point jeopardized the offer from Minnesota officials.

"But this was the team that gave me a chance," Chamberlain said late Tuesday night. "I like the players and the coaches and I felt comfortable (with the Vikings). Having other teams interested in you is nice, but sometimes the grass is greener on your own side of the street."

Under new coach Mike Tice, a former NFL tight end himself, Chamberlain's role in the offense should be even more prominent in 2002.

"We're really happy that we'll be able to keep Byron in our system," Tice said Tuesday at the NFL owners' meetings in Orlando, Fla. "He's a big part of what we're trying to do, and we're happy he was willing to work within our plan to get a deal done."

"We're very happy to be back with the Minnesota Vikings," said Chamberlain's agent, Jonathan Feinsod. "That's where we wanted to be from the beginning."

The former Wayne State standout entered the league with the Denver Broncos as a seventh-round draft choice in 1995. He played as a second or third tight end, and situation player, for Denver in his tenure there, then moved on to the Vikings in 2002.

For his career, he has 129 receptions for 1,630 yards and six touchdowns.

Len Pasquarelli is a senior writer for ESPN.com. Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.