Vikings lose Rice, joining Jackson in Seattle

The Seattle Seahawks went after another free-agent Viking and this time they took their most talented option, agreeing to a five-year contract with receiver Sidney Rice.

The Vikings will be losing receiver Sidney Rice to the Seattle Seahawks when free-agent deals can be signed Friday, according to FOXSports.com’s Jay Glazer.

Rice reportedly agreed to a five-year deal with the Seahawks. According to ESPN, the deal is worth $44 million, including $18.5 million in guarantees.

The Seahawks entered free agency with nearly $40 million under the salary cap while the Vikings were almost $5 million over, giving Seattle a big advantage in negotiations. The Seahawks also agreed to terms with former Vikings quarterback Tarvaris Jackson, who is friends with Rice, on Tuesday.

Rice missed the first 10 games of the 2010 season after have preseason surgery on his hip, was limited for most of the 2008 season with a sprained poster cruciate ligament, and missed two games in 2007 with an ankle injury and one with a hamstring injury, so guaranteed money was the key to the Seahawks deal.

Playing in just six games last year, Rice caught 17 passes for 280 yards and two touchdowns after a breakout, Pro Bowl performance in 2009. That year, he ranked second in the NFC and fourth in the NFL with 1,312 yards receiving on 83 receptions and eight touchdowns, all career bests. He had just the fourth 200-yard receiving performance in Vikings history with a 201-yarder against Detroit in Week 10 and had 59 of his 83 receptions go for first downs. He also led the team in the playoffs with 10 receptions for 184 yards in two games and set a franchise playoff record with three touchdown receptions.

In 2008, he started only three games due mostly to a strained posterior cruciate ligament but played in 14 of the 17 games and had four touchdowns on 15 receptions, compiling 141 yards receiving.

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