Former Bengals DB Chris Crocker Signs With The Vikings

If you were expecting another late arrival from Chris Crocker, who keeps returning late in September (in each of the past two seasons at least), it probably won't happen again this year. Crocker, who spent six years in Cincinnati with Mike Zimmer, is following his former defensive coordinator to Minnesota. The Vikings announced the signing late on Monday afternoon (h/t FanPosts).

Crocker was a mid-season signing in 2008 after he was dumped by the Miami Dolphins. During Cincinnati's final eight games, Crocker generated 48 tackles, 1.5 quarterback sacks, a forced fumble and six passes defensed. Now a mainstay in Cincinnati's backfield, Crocker would go on to start 38 games from '09-'11 with meaningful production. Zimmer convinced Crocker to return in each of the past two years -- the first on Sept. 27 in 2012, and again on Sept. 25, 2013 -- adding a veteran presence on an underachieving secondary that the Bengals felt that they needed.

A former third-round pick ('03) for the Cleveland Browns, Crocker played 71 games (in six seasons) in Cincinnati, generating 8.5 quarterback sacks, eight interceptions, a pick-six, 34 passes defensed and five forced fumbles.