THE SIDELINES : Doleman Has Option Year Left

Minnesota Vikings defensive end Chris Doleman has been told that he has an option year left on his contract that binds him to the Vikings through next season.

The All-Pro lineman, who has talked often of testing the free-agent market this winter, got the news Wednesday from Vikings General Manager Mike Lynn.

It was only in the last month that Lynn realized that Doleman had an option year left; he traditionally does not review contracts until late in the season and did not check Doleman’s until he received notification from the NFL Management Council that the player had an option year remaining.

Doleman, who led the NFL in sacks with 21 and was a Pro Bowl selection, has believed all season that the three-year contract he signed before the 1987 season would expire Jan. 31.

Lynn said his “objective is to do everything we can to sign Chris to a new contract for 1990.”