The wait is finally over as the Vikings have reached an agreement with free agent wide receiver Greg Jennings. ESPN’s Josina Anderson reports it’s a five-year deal worth $47.5 million, including $18 million guaranteed.
In a message posted on Vikings.com, Jennings said he’s looking forward to scoring “many touchdowns and helping this team win a championship.”
In a press conference, head coach Leslie Frazier said the move “really pumps some energy into our building, into our football team as well. It is a great day for the Minnesota Vikings.”
Jennings said playing with NFL MVP Adrian Peterson was a big draw for him.
“You see a guy like All Day (Peterson) sitting in that backfield, and you see the cluster of guys that are gathered in the box for him, there’s going to be some special things that take place on that football field.”
Jennings admitted that he had to watch film of Christian Ponder to “see what I was getting myself into.”
“What I’ve seen on film, he didn’t have a lot of options to go to,” Jennings said of Ponder’s 2012 season. “You can just get a sense that he needed a little more around him to give him some help.”
The 29-year-old playmaker noted that he isn’t old. “I can definitely still do it. I can definitely still make plays and be as exciting as I was in my earlier years.”
Jennings arrived in Minnesota on Thursday and dined with members of the Vikings, including head coach Leslie Frazier, general manager Rick Spielman and defensive end Jared Allen.
The former Green Bay Packers all-pro immediately becomes the most prolific receiver the Vikings have had since Randy Moss was traded to Oakland after the 2004 season.
Jennings is now linked to a group of famous former Packers to leave Green Bay for its rival in Minnesota — kicker Ryan Longwell, safety Darren Sharper and quarterback Brett Favre.
