A lot of green may be headed Chad Greenway's way

Former Iowa linebacker Chad Greenway could get the Minnesota Vikings' "franchise player" tag by next Wednesday.

Sid Hartman of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reported today that Greenway's one-year contract is about to leap to $9 million because of it. Hartman wrote:

Greenway earned $1.3 million in 2006 and $5.48 million in his second year because that total included a $4 million signing bonus after he missed his rookie year because of a knee injury. He earned $1.7 million in 2008, 1 million in 2009 and $1.3 million this past season.

As a franchise player, Greenway's one-year contract will jump to about $9 million.

With veteran linebacker Ben Leber also a free agent, the Vikings can't afford to lose Greenway. The defense would really suffer if Greenway left the team.

The former first-round choice from Iowa in 2006 has led the Vikings in tackles for the past three seasons: 150 in 2008, 127 in 2009 and 149 in 2010.

During the 2010 season, Greenway led the team in tackles in eight games and with 10 tackles for loss. His teammates voted him Vikings defensive player of the year.

Greenway has been durable, after missing his rookie season, as well as outstanding. He has not missed a game in the past four years, a total of 64 consecutive games.

And with all the goofiness surrounding the Vikings, they're probably glad to have a player of that caliber who just shows up and plays.