It took much longer than expected, but offensive lineman Corbin Lacina is finally back in purple, almost three weeks after the June 1 cutdown date freed up a little more money under the team's salary cap structure.

The Vikings completed there re-signing efforts Tuesday, inking offensive lineman Corbin Lacina to a contract — joining Chris Walsh as the top two objectives in the free agent signing process after the June 1 cut date came and went.

Terms of the agreement were not disclosed, but VU has been told that the contract is a two-year deal with playing time incentives that could turn the base salaries of a combined $1 million in excess of $2 million if Lacina sees significant playing time. In a somewhat surprising twist, the Vikings haven’t backed off the notion that Chris Liwienski will be the starting left guard, saying that Lacina will be the primary backup at all five offensive line positions. In addition, VU has been told that the contract could be easily voided after the 2001 season without the Vikings taking much of a cap hit.

With Lacina and Walsh now signed, the Vikings will turn their efforts to working on rookie contracts. With the team still pressed tightly against the salary cap, the rookie pool of money will take up much of their remaining cap room for 2001, with the exception of one position, which the Vikings expect to use to sign a veteran cornerback like Dale Carter or James Hasty if they can get either to come in at a cap-friendly number.

Lacina, who has spent the past two seasons with the Vikings, started a career-high 15 regular-season games and both playoff games at left guard in 2000. He spent his first five seasons in the League with the Buffalo Bills and one season with the Carolina Panthers before joining the Vikings in 1999. He has made 55 starts in 100 games, including playoffs, in his eight-year career, but now appears (for the moment anyway) to be slated as a backup.

THURSDAY NOTES
* The Vikings and KFAN-AM 1130 radio announced a switch in tight ends in the broadcast booth. Out is former Vikings tight end Stu Voigt, who provided color commentary on WCCO-AM when that station was the Vikings flagship, and in is former Vikings tight end Joe Senser — the second-most famous Vikings restauranteur in the Twin Cities.

The original choice for KFAN was Mike Morris, the longtime Vikings long snapper whose sense of humor has parlayed him into a mini-media empire with TV and radio appearances. But, the team rejected the selection, which many, including those at VU, attribute to some pointed comments made by Morris about Dennis Green — ranging from the coach’s girth to the handling of the Randall McDaniel situation. Morris was the only Vikings player or coach that went to McDaniel’s press conference at a Plymouth elementary school after being released and made some pointed criticism of Green for releasing his friend.

Senser spent two years as a Vikings color commentator in the mid-1990s and remains around the team, so he will be able to provide some insight into the players on the 2001 edition of the Vikings.

* Viking Update is expected to be back as part of a network of sports sites very soon. The new site will be similar to the old Rivals Network. Unlike the switch from the old Rivals site to the current VU site, you won’t have to worry about bookmarking a new web address. The current VU site will automatically redirect you to the new site when it comes on board. Lurtz and the rest of his faceless drones would like to thank you for patience during these switchovers and hope you remain with us as your first site for Vikings news year-round.