Captain Munnerlyn is Harrison Smith's teammate, but he was acting Monday more like his agent.
Pro Football Focus ranks Smith, in his fourth season with the Vikings, the best safety in the NFL. Munnerlyn said he was talking in a defensive backs meeting about what that could mean.
"I was making jokes earlier, 'Pay the man,' " said the cornerback. "The man is one of the best in the business. I was telling the whole group, 'Pay the man because he's phenomenal.' "
Smith, who is still on his rookie contract, figures to get a lucrative contract extension when he becomes a free agent after next season.