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Sports

Vikings add bulk to DL with Joseph

By Sports Network
Published | Updated

Eden Prairie, MN (SportsNetwork.com) - The Minnesota Vikings continued to remake their defensive line on Tuesday by signing veteran defensive tackle Linval Joseph.

The 25-year-old Joseph was coming off the final year of his rookie deal with the New York Giants after being drafted by the team in the second round (46th overall) of the 2010 draft. He inked a five-year, $31.5 million deal with Minnesota, according to multiple media sources.

The 6-foot-4, 330-pound run-stuffer is expected to plug the team's need at nose tackle next to second-year three-technique Sharrif Floyd.

Joseph appeared in 46 of 48 games for the Giants in the last three seasons.

Earlier in the day the Vikings also re-signed defensive end Everson Griffen and quarterback Matt Cassel.

Griffen was selected by the Vikings in the fourth round of the 2010 NFL Draft and has 17 1/2 sacks in 59 games. He notched a career-best eight sacks in 2012, then last year added 5 1/2 sacks.

Cassel signed with the Vikings last March to be a backup for Christian Ponder, but wound up as the starter by Week 4 when Ponder was hurt. The Vikings also signed Josh Freeman last October and all three wound up starting games for the club that finished 5-10-1.

Overall, Cassel started six games, including the last four, and played a total of nine for the Vikings in 2013. He completed 60.2 percent of his passes for 1,807 yards with 11 touchdowns and nine interceptions.

The 31-year-old veteran will likely be the starter heading into training camp. He spent four seasons with New England and four years with Kansas City before joining the Vikings.

Cassel completed 57.4 percent of his passes for 9,549 yards with 59 touchdowns and 44 interceptions during his four seasons in Kansas City. His 2010 campaign included 3,116 yards with 27 touchdowns and just seven picks, helping the Chiefs to a surprising AFC West title.

The Vikings also formally announced the re-signing of linebacker Larry Dean, who agreed to a new deal on Monday. Dean, who joined the Vikings in 2011 as an undrafted free agent, set a career-high with 18 special teams tackles in 2013.