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MINNEAPOLIS -- The Minnesota Vikings had an active first day in free agency on Friday, agreeing to terms on contracts with fullback Thomas Tapeh and safety Madieu Williams and hosting wide receiver Bernard Berrian for an official visit.
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Tapeh should replace Pro Bowl pick Tony Richardson, who became a free agent at age 36. Tapeh and Richardson, coincidentally, found themselves on the same flight from Philadelphia to Minneapolis last week and chatted for the three-hour duration.
"It sounded like it was a mutual admiration society," said coach Brad Childress said, who tried to recruit Tapeh to Wisconsin when he played locally at St. Paul Johnson High School.
Tapeh chose the University of Minnesota before four seasons in Philadelphia, the first two of those with Childress as his offensive coordinator. After hurting his hip at the end of his rookie year, Tapeh sat out the entire 2005 season. He returned to play in all 32 games over the past two years with the Eagles, serving as the lead blocker while Brian Westbrook rushed for more than 1,200 yards each season.
Now, he can help clear a path for Adrian Peterson.
"He's going to make me look good. I'm not going to make him look good. All I've got to do is get in the way and he'll do the rest," Tapeh said.
Though the team did not yet confirm it, Williams agreed to the parameters of a six-year deal worth $33 million, including slightly less than $13 million in guaranteed money. He spent four seasons with Cincinnati and will step in for Dwight Smith, who was let go last week.
Williams had two sacks, two interceptions and one forced fumble while missing three games with a quadriceps injury for the Bengals, who drafted him in the second round out of Maryland in 2004. Vikings defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier held that job with the Bengals when Williams was a rookie.
Agent Ken Zuckerman said Williams wanted to choose a club first instead of going on the "banquet circuit" and potentially playing teams off each other in negotiations.
"You don't want to hold anyone up," Zuckerman said. "It just makes for better business in the future."
Berrian would be a boost for a position of need for the Vikings. He had a career-high 71 catches for 951 yards and five touchdowns for division rival Chicago last season, his fourth in the NFL. The Bears drafted him in the third round out of Fresno State in 2004.
The Vikings finalized a trade Friday that sent disappointing receiver Troy Williamson to Jacksonville for a sixth-round draft pick, so there's room to add a player or two. Backup Robert Ferguson became a free agent, too, though the team has considered bringing him back.
After a quiet 2007, the Vikings were headed toward an aggressive, expensive free agent spree like the one they conducted in 2006 that brought Steve Hutchinson, Ryan Longwell, Ben Leber and Chester Taylor.
They were interested in another former Cincinnati player, defensive end Justin Smith, and acquiring a veteran to push quarterback Tarvaris Jackson -- either through free agency or a trade -- was also a priority as the frenzy began early Friday.