Vikings extend Zimmer’s contract

The Vikings announced Thursday they’ve extended coach Mike Zimmer’s contract, rewarding their coach well before his contract status ever became a headline.

General manager Rick Spielman declined to disclose the terms of the deal, revealed when the Vikings reported to Minnesota State University, but Zimmer’s original contract was not close to expiring.

Zimmer even said he saw no rush to address it, but appreciated the confidence from ownership as he enters his third season on the job.

“We have so much excitement building up with the new facility, the new practice facility, and I know how strongly we feel about coach Zimmer in leading this football team in the future.” Spielman said.

Rams

Veterans officially began arriving in Orange County for their first public practice Saturday. HBO cameras will film their every move for the “Hard Knocks” documentary series. They’ve begun roughly five weeks of camp in Irvine while their training complex is finished in Thousand Oaks.

49ers

San Francisco 49ers defensive tackle Kaleb Ramsey is retiring after just two seasons. Ramsey was drafted in the seventh round out of Boston College in 2014. He spent his first season on the physically unable to perform list and spent most of last season on the practice squad.

Elsewhere

Developers who want to build a domed stadium for the Oakland Raiders in Las Vegas vowed to zero in on two potential sites within the next month as they face a tight timeline to lock in a real estate deal, government approvals and the NFL’s blessing. Representatives from Majestic Realty and the Las Vegas Sands casino company told an oversight committee that they want to get their plan in order by January. “I think the hardest part will be getting to the finish line on the land,” said Sands president Rob Goldstein.