The Sartell, Minn., native has followed the team from the time he was a kid.

Sauer, who played his entire NFL career with the Atlanta Falcons after starring at the University of Minnesota, will sign a three-year deal worth about $1.5 million.

One of the several ironies attached to Sauer's homecoming: For each of the past three summers, then-Vikings defensive coordinator Foge Fazio would call a friend in Atlanta to see if Sauer, a guy he coveted, was going to make the Falcons' roster. Fazio left the Vikings last month to join the Redskins, but his departure didn't affect Minnesota's ardor for Sauer.

It didn't hurt the Vikings that Sauer, 27, will move into the new home he built in Richmond, Minn., on Friday and that wife Shari is expecting the couple's first child next month. The pair wanted to be close to home to raise their child and the Vikings offered that opportunity.

"It might sound corny, but this is like a dream," Sauer said Thursday morning. "Every kid grows up wanting to play for his hometown team, I think. Not many get the chance, so I guess I'm one of the lucky ones. This allows me to be close to my family in an area I love."

Although some teams courting him viewed Sauer, 27, as a potential starter, he is expected to back up at all three linebacker positions for the Vikings and also play special teams. Known during his tenure in Atlanta as an intelligent and versatile performer, Sauer always seemed to be around the ball when the Falcons provided him playing time.

In four seasons, the former sixth-round draft pick (1996) played in 64 games with 11 starts. He started nine times the past two seasons and averaged 5.2 tackles in those games. In three starts at weakside linebacker in 1999, he totaled 18 tackles.

The Vikings also have reached agreement with unrestricted free agent wide receiver Chris Thomas. The journeyman played eight games for the Rams in 1999, primarily on special teams, where he had eight tackles. He will sign a two-year contract worth about $900,000.