Minnesota Vikings

The Vikings have reportedly agreed to sign free agent tight end John Carlson from Litchfield, Minnesota Wednesday to a 5-year $25 Million contract. Carlson visited the Vikings facility today and agreed to the deal. Carlson was a 2nd round pick by Seattle in 2008 but missed all of last season with a shoulder injury.

The Vikings are bringing back veteran quarterback Sage Rosenfels. Rosenfels has agreed on terms of a new deal. Minnesota acquired Rosenfels off waivers from the Giants last season. He'll likely be the 3rd string quarterback behind Christian Ponder and Joe Webb.

The Vikings released guards Steve Huchinson and Anthony Herrera and cornerback Cedric Griffin Saturday. Hutchinson was scheduled to make $7 Million this season, Herrera $2.7 Million and Griffin about $3 Million. The Vikings will have $23 to $24 Million available when free agency begins Tuesday afternoon at 3pm.

Gov. Mark Dayton is proposing that Minnesota charities that operate pull-tab gambling get a bigger chunk of tax receipts from an expansion of those games at the expense of using the money to help build a Minnesota Vikings stadium.

Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton announced at a press conference today that the state, city of Minneapolis and Minnesota Vikings have an agreement to build the new stadium near where the Metrodome currently is. The deal is contingent on approval from the Minneapolis city council and Minnesota state legislature. The stadium will cost approximately $975 Million with the Vikings contributing $427 Million, the city contributing $150 Million and state would pay for $400.

The Vikings have a struck a tentative agreement with the University of Minnesota on how much the Vikings would pay for use of TCF Bank Stadium while the Vikings Stadium is built near the Metrodome. The Vikings didn't say much much they would pay per game but did say TCF Bank Stadium would add 3,000 temporary end zone seats to the University's 50,000 seat stadium.

Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton says if the Vikings are going to get a stadium bill passed this legislative session the site will have to be the where the Metrodome is. Dayton spokesman Katharine Tinucci says the Governor gave that message to Viking owner Zigi Wilf Monday. Because of practical and financial reasons the Metrodome site is believed to be the best option for the Vikings.

The Vikings have hired Indianapolis defensive backs coach Alan Williams as their new defensive coordinator. Williams coached in Indianapolis with Leslie Frazier for 2 seasons before Frazier left to be the Defensive Coordinator with the Vikings. Williams has coached in the NFL for the past 11 seasons. He replaces Fred Pagac who remains with the Vikings as linebackers coach.

Viking defensive end Jared Allen is the NFL Defensive Player of the Year. The NFL season ending awards were announced Tuesday. Allen set a franchise record in 2011 with 22 sacks and was just 1/2 sack away from Michael Strahan's single season record for sacks. Allen ranks 20th all time in sacks with 105.

The Vikings demoted Fred Pagac from defensive coordinator to linebackers coach. Pagac had been the linebackers coach when Brad Childress was head coach and spent the last year-plus as defensive coordinator with Leslie Frazier as head coach. The Vikings have reportedly interviewed Mel Tucker (Jacksonville) and Raheem Morris (Tampa Bay) for the defensive coordinator position.