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The safety position in Minnesota was bolstered last year by the arrival of rookie Harrison Smith. Overlooked was the performance of fellow starter Jamarca Sanford.

The front office didn’t overlook it. Sanford, who started 13 games last year and 15 the year before, has returned to the team.

Benched for Mistral Raymond at the start of the 2012 season, Sanford seized the job after Raymond suffered an ankle injury in Week Three.

Per a league source, Raymond signed a two-year deal. He arrived via round seven of the 2009 draft.