Vikings encourage George to look elsewhere

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The first domino fell Tuesday in what figures to produce a chain reaction at the center position when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers spirited free agent snapper and two-time Pro Bowl performer Jeff Christy away from NFC Central rival Minnesota, as SportsLine reported first on Tuesday.

Agent Ralph Cindrich was still finalizing details of the contract and reviewing language on Tuesday evening, but sources told SportsLine the five-year deal is worth $3.5 million per year.

A seven-year veteran, Christy began his NFL career as a fourth-round choice of Arizona in the 1992 draft. But he was cut by the Cardinals and signed by the Vikings the following season. In '94, the former University of Pittsburgh star moved into the starting lineup and eventually came to anchor one of the league's premier blocking units.

Christy has started every game in five of the last six seasons and started for the NFC in the Pro Bowl game the past two seasons. For his career he has played in 101 games, starting 92 of them.

The 31-year-old center said several factors played in his decision, including a desire to stay in the NFC Central Division and his familiarity with Bucs coach Tony Dungy and offensive line coach Chris Foerster, both former Vikings assistants.

"Fortunately we were able to get the numbers ironed out, cross the T's and dot the I's," Christy said. "I'm very excited about it. And I'm very excited about our chances of winning a Super Bowl here."

Improving one of the NFL's least productive offenses is Tampa Bay's top priority this winter.

The Bucs were 30th in passing and ranked 28th overall in 1999, yet were still able to post the best regular-season record in franchise history (11-5) and reach the NFC championship game because of a dominant defense.

Offensive coordinator Mike Shula was fired two weeks ago and Christy was among several free agents, including former Minnesota teammate and 11-time Pro Bowl guard Randall McDaniel, the Bucs targeted to try to upgrade their attack.

"Signing Jeff is one of the pieces of the puzzle we had set up for this off season. It's awfully nice to get it done early," general manager Rich McKay said. "We're trying to retool and rebuild the offensive line, and Jeff was a big piece of that."

Besides facing Christy twice a year with the Vikings, the Bucs got to take a close look at the 6-foot-3, 285-pound free agent at the Pro Bowl where Dungy and his assistants coached the NFC squad.

"We got a chance to evaluate him in our division, blocking the guys he's going to have to block," Dungy said. "It was a pretty easy decision for us."

The signing means Tony Mayberry, a three-time Pro Bowl pick who backed up Christy on the NFC squad the past two years, won't return to Tampa Bay for an 11th season in 2000.

Mayberry's streak of 144 consecutive starts for the Bucs is tied for third among active NFL players.

Dungy called it a "bittersweet" day.

"It's difficult. For a guy to play that well, and play in three straight Pro Bowls for us, play so many straight games and really be a part of the foundation of what we're trying to build -- it's tough to say goodbye, in so many words," the coach said. "But it's something that this system forces you do."

While it didn't take Christy long to decide Tampa Bay was a good fit for him, he's not sure what it'll take to get McDaniel to follow.

"I can't speak for Randall," he said. "We're good friends. I'll definitely give him a call."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.