THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

MINNEAPOLIS -- The Minnesota Vikings have signed cornerback Cedric Griffin to a contract extension.

Griffin declined to divulge terms of the deal announced on Friday, though he said it was similar in structure to the four-year contract he signed after the Vikings drafted him in the second round in 2006.

That deal included US$1.62 million guaranteed.

Griffin has started 38 games in three years. He has only three career interceptions, but has become one of the league's hardest-hitting cornerbacks, forming a formidable run-stopping tandem with fellow starter Antoine Winfield.

The Vikings have credited Griffin with 223 tackles in the three years, and was second on the team in 2008 with 100.