The Minnesota Vikings have been focused on locking up their offensive line for an extended period. Without a deadline to do so, Minnesota added another year to center John Sullivan's contract.
The Vikings signed Sullivan to a one-year extension, according to NFL Players Association data. The extension keeps Sullivan tied to Minnesota through the 2017 season and is a pay raise for the steady veteran center and team leader.
Sullivan, who had two years remaining on a five-year contract he signed in 2011, will be due a $5.9 million base salary in 2015 with $5.4 million base salaries each of the following two seasons. According to Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post, Sullivan was given $1 million guaranteed and his salary cap hit will rise to $7.33 million in 2015 and account for $5.833 million against the cap in 2016 and 2017.
Sullivan, 29, started all 16 games for the third straight season in 2014 and has started all but three games for the Vikings since becoming the full-time center in 2009. A sixth-round draft pick in 2008 out of Notre Dame, Sullivan has started the fourth-most games by a center in team history.
"I want to start by saying thank you to the Minnesota Vikings for putting their faith in me as a person and football player. The Vikings have been with me through professional highs and lows, and have stood by my side and supported me through personal hardships," Sullivan said in a statement released by the team. "My ability to express the true depth of my gratitude comes from my actions on and off the field. I intend on doing absolutely everything I can to ensure we attain our ultimate goal of a Super Bowl championship on the field, and that I live my life in a way that is commensurate with that championship standard off the field.
"One of the most exciting aspects of signing this extension is the trajectory of the organization. We have a talented roster, a state of the art facility on the horizon and the best fan base in the NFL. After a year with coach (Mike) Zimmer at the helm, I couldn't be more excited about our team's future. Now, it falls on us as players to fulfill our potential and to execute and I intend on making sure that happens."
Right guard Brandon Fusco was signed to a contract extension before last season and is locked up through the 2019 season. Right tackle Phil Loadholt is signed for two more seasons. Left tackle Matt Kalil is under team control for the next two seasons if Minnesota decides to exercise the fifth-year option on the 2012 first-round draft pick.
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