After a year of forced retirement, the 34-year-old quarterback signed with the Minnesota Vikings in April. He has been brought in to serve as a backup to starter Brad Johnson.
``I need this,'' he said. ``It was tough in Philadelphia the last couple of years there. I feel comfortable coming back and not being the man that everybody's either looking to to succeed or fail.
``It's good to be in a situation like this. It's a year for me to use my maturity from 11 years of playing and relax and not have that pressure [of starting].''
Anyone who remembers the way Cunningham reacted to his benchings his last two seasons in Philadelphia might have some difficulty believing he can ever be content as a backup with the Vikings. But he insists this is a different situation and a different Randall.
``I know my role,'' he said. ``Brad Johnson is the starter. They didn't have to put their finger in my face and explain that to me. He's been here and has earned the starting job. They said they wanted me to back him up and be ready to play. That's my role. I've accepted that. I've adjusted to it.''
Cunningham, who earned $3.2 million in his final season with the Eagles in '95, signed a one-year deal with the Vikings that will pay him $425,000. The New Orleans Saints, who also were interested in Cunningham, offered him a little more money, as well as an opportunity to start. But he opted for the Vikings.
``Sometimes you just know when you're in the right situation,'' he said. ``I have that feeling here. I didn't want to become the starter down there and then have us not do well as a team. Then they'd bring somebody else in and dump me. I already went through that with the Eagles and it wasn't good.
``I wanted to go somewhere where I knew my role and would only have a chance to improve rather than go down.''
