By Mike Lurie
3/11/06

Veteran Safety Corey Chavous has signed a five year deal with the St. Louis Rams
worth nearly $20 million dollars. The deal will reportedly pay Chavous
approximately $4 million dollars per year for the first three years and then
become heavily incentive laden over the final two years of the contract.
Compensation for the 2006 season is reported to reach a potential $7 million
dollars with incentives and bonuses.

The news is no surprise to Viking fans, who expected Chavous to depart after a
contract rift early last year. Chavous and Vikings' nickel corner Brian Williams
both reportedly cleaned out their lockers and removed their name plates after
the Vikings victory over the Chicago Bears in the final week of the 2005 season.

Chavous should step right in as the new leader of the Rams' defensive backfield
as the team is expected to lose starting Safety Adam Archuleta to the Redskins.
St. Louis will attempt to drastically rebuild in that aspect of the roster with
new defensive coordinator Jim Haslett leading the charge. Chavous won't be in
completely unfamiliar territory with the coaching staff, as former Viking
Offensive Coordinator Scott Linehan will be his new head coach.

A second-round pick in the 1998 draft, Chavous spent his first four league
seasons in Arizona, and then signed with Minnesota as a free agent in 2002. In
2005 he started all 16 games, primarily at strong safety, and registered 90
tackles, two interceptions and one fumble recovery.

The fact of the matter is that while Chavous is a highly cerebral athlete with
an uncanny knack for breaking down the offenses he faces, there have been
questions about his ability to translate that knowledge into successful results
on the field. Known for having the most extensive collection of notes and film
on every player in the college and professional ranks, Chavous is a veritable
coach on the field. Unfortunately though, coaching and playing are two different
things, and Chavous has been labeled as being too soft to be a true safety and
too slow to be a true corner.

Willie Offord, who recently re-signed with the Vikings is expected to fill the
hole now created by the loss of Chavous, while Darren Sharper should continue to
be solid at the other Safety spot. The Vikings are also reported to be
interested in Baltimore Safety Will Demps, who is scheduled for a visit with the
Vikings this weekend.

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