Vikes Sign Claiborne

Perhaps the Vikings took a trick from the U.S. military about how to run an underground stealthy operation -- signing LB Chris Claiborne without the Lions getting wind of it.

It may be a little too cloak-and-dagger for most football fans. While Detroit was sticking it to the Packers by offering Na'il Diggs a huge contract the Pack will find difficult to match, the Vikings snuck in and negotiated a deal with free agent Chris Claiborne.

The Vikings officially announced the signing at about 9 a.m. this morning, and VU has been told it is a two year contract worth $5 million and includes a $750,000 signing bonus. The team will hold a 12:30 p.m. press conference to introduce Claiborne.

Claiborne addresses yet another defensive need for the Vikings. He has been playing middle linebacker for the Lions, but will be more natural as an outside linebacker. He'll play OLB with the Vikings with Greg Biekert in the middle, but, if Claiborne remains with the Vikings long-term, he will eventually move back to MLB when Biekert retires.