For Alex Boone, regrets linger from first season with Vikings

MINNEAPOLIS -- The Minnesota Vikings' decision to sign Alex Boone, to a four-year $26.8 million contract in the opening hours of free agency last March, came as part of a multi-layered effort to revamp the offensive line. Boone, who got $10 million guaranteed to leave the 49ers for the Vikings, had followed coach Tony Sparano from San Francisco to Minnesota as coach Mike Zimmer sought to add some grit to a group he said had lacked it in 2015.

Nearly 10 months later, as Boone cleaned out his locker following an 8-8 season, the towering guard spoke more of regret than resurgence. The Vikings had used eight different offensive line combinations during a 16-game season, and some players in the…