The Minnesota Vikings are still clearing about business before free agency talks begin Saturday.
A day after Minnesota released defensive tackle Letroy Guion and Greg Childs, the Vikings announced they have re-signed cornerback and punt returner Marcus Sherels, who was set to become a restricted free agent. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Sherels, 26, started three games at cornerback last season and was second in the NFL in punt-return average, finishing with a career-high 15.2 yards per return. The 5-foot-10, 170-pound Sherels has developed into a reliable returner and fill-in defensive back for Minnesota after being undrafted out of the University of Minnesota.
Sherels set the Vikings' single-season punt-return average record last season and had an 86-yard return for a touchdown, setting the franchise's single-game record with 119 punt return yards. He has two punt returns for touchdowns, equaling the record for most in team history.
Defensively, Sherels set a career-high with 46 tackles last season and had the first interception of his career in a December game at Baltimore.
A native of Rochester, Minn., Sherels was signed to the Vikings' roster after going undrafted and proving himself at a rookie minicamp in 2010 on a tryout basis. A shining example of an NFL survivor, Sherels has earned another chance with Minnesota.
The Vikings have one more restricted free agent, linebacker Larry Dean, with free agency set to begin on Tuesday, March 11 at 3 p.m. CT. Teams and certified agents can begin talks Saturday at 11 a.m. CT.
Minnesota has about $40 million in salary cap space with 15 players set to reach unrestricted free agency in Jared Allen, Joe Berger, Desmond Bishop, Matt Cassel, Chris Cook, Fred Evans, Josh Freeman, Toby Gerhart, Everson Griffen, Charlie Johnson, Marvin Mitchell, Jerome Simpson, J'Marcus Webb, Joe Webb and Kevin Williams.
Carlson finds a new home: Tight end John Carlson was released earlier this week by the Vikings and it didn't take the 29-year-old tight end long to find a new team.
Carlson, who was released by Minnesota after being unable to come to terms on a contract restructuring, signed Friday with the Arizona Cardinals. Carlson, who has had concussion issues, including last season when one forced his season to end prematurely, signed a two-year contract worth a reported $4.65 million with Arizona.
Carlson had signed a five-year, $25 million contract with the Vikings as a free agent in 2012, but he had just 40 catches for 387 yards and one touchdown in two injury-riddled seasons in Minnesota.
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