Berger

The Pro Bowl punter re-signed with Minnesota, agreeing to a five-year, $6 million deal that includes a $1.65 million bonus, a record for an NFL punter.

The total value of the deal ties Cleveland's Chris Gardocki as the richest ever signed by a punter.

Agent Tom Mills said the Vikings agreed to the bonus Wednesday morning, stopping the free agent from boarding an evening flight for Kansas City. Berger also canceled visits to Tampa Bay and Green Bay.

"Had he taken some of those trips, there was a possibility of a higher offer, but in the grand scheme staying in Minnesota and indoors in a dome was very influential in his decision," Mills said.

The Vikings, who cut Pro Bowl guard Randall McDaniel to slash their salary cap overrun last week, had made Berger their top priority among the team's 17 unrestricted free agents.

They restructured receiver Cris Carter's contract to get the room to sign Berger, who had a punting average of 45.4 yards and a net average of 38.4 last season, when he became the first Vikings punter ever named to the Pro Bowl.

Much of Berger's success had to do with playing in the Metrodome.

Mills said Berger will make $450,000 next season, $500,000 in 2001 and $1 million in each of the remaining three years of the contract, plus $200,000 spring roster bonuses in each of the final two seasons.

Berger made $435,000 last year in the final season of a two-year $900,000 contract he signed in 1998.

Mills and his father, Jack, also represent McDaniel, the 11-time Pro Bowl starter who is attending a wedding in Arizona before deciding whether to retire or entertain offers.

Pro Bowl center Jeff Christy left the Vikings on Monday to sign with the Buccaneers and said he would try to entice McDaniel to join him.

"Randall's not going to go just anywhere," Mills said. "He would have to go to a team that could win a Super Bowl in a year or two because he doesn't have many years left. And that's why Tampa's attractive."

Christy will be reunited with coach Tony Dungy and Bucs offensive line coach Chris Foerster in Tampa. Both were assistants in Minnesota during the 1990s.

"Jeff and Randall are very good friends. Jeff would like to have him down there," Mills said. "But ultimately, it's up to the Buccaneers' front office."