Vikings Give Carter $23.5 Million

By CBSNews.com staff CBSNews.com staff

July 22, 1998 / 8:56 PM EDT / CBS Sportsline

The Minnesota Vikings and Cris Carter agreed Wednesday on a four-year contract extension that will pay him a reported $23.5 million.

Both Carter and the Vikings said they expect the deal means Carter, 32, will be with the team the rest of his playing days.

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Carter has been chosen to five Pro Bowls since the Vikings picked him up off waivers from the Philadelphia Eagles before the 1990 season. At a news conference to announce the signing, he said he never dreamed he would play so long.

He had one year left on his contract before the extension.

"It's unbelievable, really," Carter said. "We never, ever dreamed that we would ever make this type of money."

Carter's deal is another in a series of large contracts the Vikings have signed this off-season to retain their key players.

Those include defensive end John Randle (five years, $32.5 million), running back Robert Smith (five years, $25 million), offensive tackle Todd Steussie (five years, $22 million) and wide receiver Jake Reed (four years, $13.6 million).

The Vikings open training camp Sunday in Mankato. Vice president Jeff Diamond said it was important to sign Carter before camp opened. He caught 89 passes last season, fourth-most in the NFL, for 1,069 yards and 13 touchdowns.

"Cris plays a significant role, not only with his tremendous ability as a player, but his overall leadership role that he plays with the team," Diamond said.