It’s one of the tried-and-true axioms of football – defense wins championships.

And toward that ultimate end of winning a Super Bowl, several teams have used the NFL Draft and the free-agency signing period this offseason to shore up the defensive side of the ball. Perhaps foremost among them is the Minnesota Vikings.

The Vikings concluded the 2004 season with a loss to Philadelphia in the Divisional Playoffs and are hoping to advance two steps beyond that in 2005. To help them get there, the club has added several fresh faces on defense.

Among the new additions: linebackers SAM COWART (trade-NY Jets) and NAPOLEON HARRIS (trade-Oakland), defensive end ERASMUS JAMES (first-round draft choice-Wisconsin), defensive tackle PAT WILLIAMS (free agent-Buffalo), safety DARREN SHARPER (free agent-Green Bay) and cornerback FRED SMOOT (free agent-Washington).

"I’m overjoyed by what has happened in the offseason," says Vikings defensive coordinator TED COTTRELL. "I like to think that we have had two drafts -- the free-agency draft and the college draft. It’s a complete makeover on defense for us. We have quite a few new starters and new names being inputted into our defensive roster."

Among those is Sharper, a two-time All-Star in his eight seasons with the Packers. The safety will provide his experience and leadership to a defensive backfield filled with high hopes for the coming season. Fellow defensive back Smoot is considered among the NFL’s top young cornerbacks, posting 16 interceptions and starting 58 of 60 games in his four seasons with Washington.

"We can be a top-five defense, no question about it," says Sharper. "Coach Cottrell has had No. 1 defenses before, and now he has the players here that will allow him to do what he likes to do. We just have to get on the field and prove it."

Cottrell is eager for that time to begin.

"We’re a lot quicker than we were last year and we’ve added some great veterans and great leaders," he explains. "Darren has been to a couple of Pro Bowls and been in the playoffs. Pat Williams, one of the best defensive tackles in the game, joins KEVIN WILLIAMS to really shore up the middle. By adding Fred Smoot, along with ANTOINE WINFIELD on the opposite corner, we feel like we have one of the better cornerback combinations in the league. Sam Cowatt is another great addition and his enthusiasm is contagious. I’m just so excited about getting this thing started – July can’t come soon enough for me."

MC NABB GOES TO…WASHINGTON: DONOVAN MC NABB has gone to Washington. But not to worry, Eagles fans, your quarterback has since returned home. McNabb was recently on hand in the nation’s capital to take part in a Washington tradition almost as beloved as the Redskins – the annual White House Correspondents Association dinner.

President GEORGE W. BUSH and First Lady LAURA, nine Cabinet members, two Supreme Court justices, and McNabb and New England Patriots quarterback TOM BRADY were all present for the festivities. The dinner, one of the highlights of the Washington social calendar, was established in 1914 as a bridge between the press corps and the White House.

"My wife RAQUEL and I had a great time," said McNabb. "To be in the same room with the President and Vice President is an honor."

McNabb recently earned an honor of a different sort. His likeness will grace the cover of EA Sports’ MADDEN NFL ’06, the best-selling sports video game ever (43 million copies).