The Minnesota Vikings announced on Wednesday that they have agreed to terms with cornerback Terence Newman, who will return to the team for a third season.
Newman, 38, is coming off two strong seasons with the Vikings, where he reunited with coach Mike Zimmer for the third time in his career.
In 2015, after signing a one-year deal, Newman impressed by getting three interceptions for a team that won the NFC North title. Newman had one interception as he played 15 games in 2016, triggering a $300,000 incentive in his contract by playing 72.5 percent of the Vikings' snaps, even as second-year corner Trae Waynes took on a slightly larger role.
A bizarre episode on Christmas Eve in Green Bay, however, loomed over the end of Newman's second season with the Vikings. After Minnesota's 38-25 loss to the Packers, Zimmer told reporters that cornerback Xavier Rhodes was supposed to shadow wide receiver Jordy Nelson, until "someone decided they wouldn't do that."
Asked for further clarification, Zimmer said, "In the first half, Terence Newman came over and said something to me like, 'I can cover this guy; let me have him,'" Zimmer said. "I said, 'Do what you're supposed to do.'"
Rhodes told reporters that the Vikings' cornerbacks had decided during the week they would play Nelson differently than what coaches had planned, and as the story mushroomed, the Vikings scrambled to get their story straight. Newman and Rhodes repeatedly called the issue a "miscommunication" two days after the game, while the veteran corner insisted there was no issue between himself and Zimmer.
"I've had the guy for however many years; Terence and I have an unbelievable relationship," Zimmer said two days after the incident. "Terence would be the last guy in the world to ever be belligerent or go against anything that we'd do."
The fifth overall pick in the 2003 NFL draft, Newman has 41 career interceptions, eight forced fumbles, six fumble recoveries, three defensive touchdowns, one punt return for a touchdown and 841 career tackles with the Cowboys, Bengals and Vikings. He is a two-time Pro Bowl selection.
ESPN's Ben Goessling contributed to this report.