Claiborne Signs With Rams

The differences between Chris Claiborne's value as viewed by him and his agent and the Vikings organization came to a head Thursday as Claiborne signed with St. Louis.

Of the Vikings free agents in the Class of 2005, only Chris Claiborne was a player that the Vikings thought they would lose because of price.

They were right, as Claiborne signed a three-year, $10.5 million deal with the Rams -- opening a starting job on the Vikings and giving the Rams a second overpriced linebacker in two days (the Rams earlier dropped too much for Cowboys castoff Dexter Coakley).
Claiborne came to the Vikings in 2003 after being sent adrift by the Lions. He battled weight and injury while with the Vikings, but when healthy, he was the best linebacker the team had. Concerns over keeping him healthy got the Vikings out of the running.

FRIDAY NOTES
* Former first-round wide receiver Travis Taylor visited Winter Park Thursday.
* The Vikings are said to be in talks with free agent Plaxico Burress.
* As a salary cap move, the Packers released both starting guards -- Mike Wahle and Marco Rivera. The two spent less than 24 hours on the market before signing as free agents.