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Tuesday, March 25
 
Claiborne expected to bolster Vikings' defense

By Len Pasquarelli
ESPN.com

The Minnesota Vikings paid up and now they expect veteran linebacker Chris Claiborne, who late Monday night agreed to terms on a new two-year contract as an unrestricted free agent, to lighten up.

As the latest addition to a Minnesota defense that ranked 26th in the league in 2002, Claiborne has been penciled in as the starting strongside linebacker by the Vikings defensive staff. But now that the Vikings have paid up, with a deal that is worth $5 million and includes a $750,000 signing bonus, they also expect the former Detroit Lions starter to shape up.

"There is a big difference between a player and a playmaker," explained one Vikings coach. "We feel like (Claiborne) can be a playmaker and we will put him in position to make a difference for us. But if he's as (overweight) as he was last year, then he'll just be a player."

Lions coaches contend that Claiborne lined up in 2002 at nearly 270 pounds, about 12 pounds more than his usual playing weight. And while he totaled 101 tackles and a career-best 4 ½ sacks, the feeling in Detroit was that he was not as productive as he could be, one reason the Lions made so little effort to re-sign him this offseason.

The good news for the Vikings is that they are getting a very motivated player, one who understands he didn't reach expectations in '02, and who has reduced his weight. At his physical for the Vikings, he checked in at 250 pounds, and seems now to understand his production will increase as his weight decreases.

Despite starting in all four previous NFL seasons, Claiborne won't turn 25 until early in his fifth training camp, and scouts agree that he possesses terrific upside potential. It is notable, however, that few teams pursued the former Southern California standout with big-money offers.

Of the elite pool of linebackers in this year's free agent class, he received the shortest contract, and the $2.5 million average was below the market value of most of the other top players at the position who switched teams. That is in part why he ended up in Minnesota, where the Vikings have plenty of cap room but are still exercising fiscal restraint, and where the club continues to try to revamp its defense.

Claiborne becomes the fourth new defender acquired through free agency, joining cornerbacks Denard Walker and Ken Irvin and tackle Billy Lyon. The Vikings also re-signed end Lance Johnstone, their leading sacker in '02, late last week. The team pursued Claiborne quietly and, before arriving in Minneapolis on Monday night after the agreement had been struck, he had not visited with coaches or teams officials.

New defensive coordinator George O'Leary will have more than his share of fresh faces with which to work.

The Lions' first-round choice in the 1999 draft, and the ninth player chosen overall that year, Claiborne began his career as a weakside linebacker. When middle linebacker Stephen Boyd was injured in 2001, Claiborne moved to the inside spot and remained there in 2002. The plans by Vikings coaches to play him on the strong side completes the circuit for the four-year veteran.

Claiborne has posted 100 or more tackles each of the past three seasons and has 391 for his career. His resume includes 10 ½ sacks, six interceptions and five forced fumbles. He has started in 58 of his 63 appearances and missed just one game in his four years with the Lions.

Len Pasquarelli is a senior writer for ESPN.com.






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