Vikes Sign Wyms

The Vikings’ mini-flurry of backup free-agent signings continued by agreeing to terms with veteran defensive lineman Ellis Wyms and outside linebacker Dallas Sartz.

Wyms played the first six seasons of his career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who play a similar defense to Minnesota’s signature scheme (although how much the Vikings actually employ the Tampa-2 defense is up for debate). While with the Bucs, Wyms registered 14½ sacks, including a career-high five in his final season in Tampa Bay.

But agent Brian Levy said the familiarity of the scheme wasn’t the biggest factor in Wyms signing with the Vikings. He said Wyms enjoyed his visit with the Vikings’ coaches on March 8, and opportunity also played a role. Wyms figures to be a part of the Vikings’ regular rotation at defensive tackle behind Pro Bowl players Kevin Williams and Pat Williams. Currently, the Vikings have only Fred Evans and Wyms behind them. Spencer Johnson, a backup for the last four seasons with the Vikings, signed a five-year, $17.5 million contract with the Buffalo Bills that included $6 million in guarantees.

Last year, Wyms played for the Seattle Seahawks, where he had two sacks and was credited with 11 tackles. For his career, he has 145 tackles and 16½ sacks, along with three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.

Wyms was originally drafted in the sixth round (183rd overall) of the 2001 NFL Draft out of Mississippi State and has played in 79 games with nine starts during his career. He started a career-high eight games at defensive tackle for Tampa Bay in 2006 but has experience at both tackle and end during his career. Wyms was a part of the Buccaneers squad that won Super Bowl XXXVII against Oakland, a game in which he notched a sack of Raiders QB Rich Gannon.

Wyms agreed to a one-year contract that could pay him about $1 million.

Source: Scout.com

Wyms Set to Visit Vikings

Meanwhile, free agent defensive tackle Ellis Wyms will visit Friday. Wyms spent last season in Seattle after playing six years in Tampa Bay.

Wyms would provide depth behind starting defensive tackles Pat Williams and Kevin Williams following the departure of free agent Spencer Johnson, who signed with Buffalo.

Full Story: Linemen Kearse, Wyms set up visits - [StarTribune.com]

Darby, Wyms on the Road

Defensive tackle Chuck Darby is visiting the Lions today. He has a couple of other free-agent visits lined up this week, but that’s only if he gets out of Detroit. Sounds like the Lions might not want him leaving the building without a contract.

Ellis Wyms will take a look at Minnesota and then Tennessee though not necessarily in that order.

The line of communication remains open between the Seahawks and both players so a return to the Seahawks has not been ruled out in either case.

Lions Insider Tom Kowalski said on a Michigan radio station that Chuck Darby is the most likely defensive lineman to sign with Detroit. He has a good relationship with Rod Marinelli, who he credits with developing him as a player. Here is the link.

If Darby left, that would be four of 11 unrestricted free agents who have left for other teams. Marcus Pollard, Jeff Robinson and Josh Scobey will not be back, leaving D.J. Hackett, Ben Joppru, Floyd Womack and Ellis Wyms unresolved

Wyms Fills in the Blanks

It was mid-October, three years since his last appearance in an NFL game, and Howard Green was home in Louisiana about to return to classes at LSU to complete a degree in business management when the call came.The Seahawks had lost another defensive tackle to injury. This time it was veteran Chuck Darby, whose knee injury would place him on injured reserve where he would join fellow tackle Marcus Tubbs. The team needed another big body, and Green, at 6 feet 2, 320 pounds, fit the description.

“You never know how much you miss it until you’re out of it,” Green said. “It makes you realize what you missed the most — the locker room and Sundays on the field. Those things you can’t trade for anything else.”

Full Story: Unlikely trio fills in the blanks for Seahawks - [Seattle Post-Intelligencer]

Seahawks Sign Wyms

As first reported by PewterReport.com, and confirmed by the NFL Network, the Seahawks have signed former Tampa Bay defensive tackle Ellis Wyms.

Wyms, a seven-year veteran from Mississippi State, was selected in the sixth round of the 2001 draft when current Seattle front office main men Tim Ruskell and Ruston Webster were basically running pro personnel in Tampa. Though he’ll add to the rotation in the wake of Marcus Tubbs’ season-ending knee injury, Wyms is known more as a pass-rushing tackle.

Full Story: Seahawks Sign Ellis Wyms - [Scout.com]

Related: Wyms to the Rescue - [Seattle PI]

New Hawk Wyms happy with career choice - [Seattle PI]