Vikings Sign Loeffler To 3-Year Extension

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. (AP) -- The Minnesota Vikings signed long snapper Cullen Loeffler to a three-year extension on Friday, ensuring that the league's longest-tenured kicking trio will remain intact.

Loeffler has spent his eight-year career with the Vikings after signing as a rookie free agent out of Texas in 2004.

Loeffler, punter Chris Kluwe and kicker Ryan Longwell have played in Minnesota for the past six years. That's longer than any other active trio in the league, according to STATS, LLC.

"That's a big deal," coach Leslie Frazier said. "Any time you talk to place kickers, punters, one of the first questions they ask is, 'Who is your long snapper?' They want to know, and to have Cullen in the fold provides security for both our punter and our place kicker. It's good for our team, good for our organization."

Loeffler said his close-knit relationship with Kluwe and Longwell made him want to stick around.

"It's been great being together for six years," Loeffler said. "I look forward to being together longer than that and having the same success we've had in the past. That's contributed to the fact that we've had so much success together is the fact that we've been together for a long time."

Kluwe signed a six-year extension that will keep him in Minnesota through 2013 if he plays it out. Longwell signed a new four-year deal before the season started.

"I was really excited when I found out Longwell had re-signed earlier this year," Loeffler said. "That was a part in me wanting to come back because I have a lot of respect for Longwell. He does a great job, as does Kluwe. And we all get along really well and I think because of that, that's the reason we've had so much success together."

(© Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)