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CB Antoine Winfield (All B1G, All-American, Thorpe Award, Pro Bowl, All Pro)

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Winfield wants to play final two years at corner
Brian Hall
January 12, 2012

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Antoine Winfield said he is staying in Minnesota and is eager to return after being limited to five games in 2011. (Brace Hemmelgarn-US PRESSWIRE)

Antoine Winfield knew what his Minnesota Vikings' teammates needed last week after finishing the season with a disappointing 3-13 record.

Winfield, after all, had been through a 3-13 season with the Buffalo Bills in 2001, his third year in the league.

"What we need to do now is get away from the game, relax, train and be ready for next year," he said.

While many of the Vikings do have plans to get away for a while, Winfield isn't one of them. He received his unexpected rest when he was lost for the season on Nov. 14 with a broken collarbone. Finally recovered, Winfield planned to start lifting weights last week for the first time since his injury.

"I feel great, 100 percent," Winfield said as the rest of his teammates were clearing out their lockers and making offseason plans. "It's been, what, six weeks since I had the surgery. I'll be back in here early tomorrow starting rehab, so I'll be good."

Winfield, 34, is staying in Minnesota and is eager to return after being limited to five games in 2011, the fewest games he's played in a season during his 13-year career. The diminutive cornerback ? listed at 5-foot-9, 180 pounds ? first suffered a neck injury causing him to miss four games and then broke his collarbone in his first game back.

More than just proving he can come back from his latest injuries, Winfield wants to finish the two years remaining on the five-year, $36 million contract he signed in 2009. He said he will likely retire at the end of his current deal, proud to play 15 seasons in the NFL, all at cornerback.

"Oh yeah, that will get me to year 15," said Winfield, a Pro Bowl selection from 2008-10. "I expect to hang them up after that. Fifteen, that's it."

Some have wondered in recent seasons if Winfield might be best suited to move inside to safety. A starter on the outside, he already moves inside to cover the slot receiver in nickel packages, but he has no desire to change positions at this point in his career.

"Safety's not my position," Winfield said. "I like to be in the action at the corner."

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http://www.foxsportsnorth.com/01/12...ing_mnvikings.html?blockID=644680&feedID=3697
 
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Antoine Winfield (C+): Coming off a bounce-back season, Winfield once again succumbed to injuries at age 34. Played only 322 snaps (30.4%). Missed four games with a somewhat mysterious neck strain. Returned at Green Bay, where he suffered the broken clavicle that ended his season. Allowed 27 completions in 36 targets (75.0%) for 240 yards and an 80.8 rating. Caught a tipped interception at San Diego. Had another bounce off his hands at Kansas City. Made 42 tackles (34 solo) and missed two, although there were several others he didn't make as he has in the past. Didn't play in the base defense initially against the Packers, only to get forced into action and break the collarbone while running down TE Jermichael Finley on a slant that went for 31 yards. Winfield's reduced snap count triggered a clause in his contract that lowered his base salary, so he figures to return next season. The extent of his role will depend on who else is in the secondary.
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http://www.1500espn.com/sportswire/...d_Allen_line_earn_high_marks_on_defense020312
 
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Winfield ahead of schedule
16 February, 2012

A few news and notes for you?

Winfield healed: Last year, cornerback Antoine Winfield predicted he?d be fully recovered from a broken collarbone by April. Turns out he?s ahead of schedule. I?ve been told Winfield is far enough along that he feels he could play today if necessary, and he?s feeling no side effects from the surgery. He?s still rehabbing at Winter Park, but mostly for stretching exercises during the last stages of recovery.

Winfield broke his collarbone on Nov. 14 at Green Bay, finishing the year with a career-low five games played. Winfield never had played less than 10 games in a season from 1999-2010.

The 34-year-old corner has two years left on a five-year, $36-million deal that can play him as low as $3 million in 2012, depending on playing time. The Vikings have several veteran players who could be released, but I don?t expect Winfield to be one of them, especially because of the lack of depth at corner.
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http://blogs.twincities.com/vikings...-vikings-to-address-erin-henderson-next-week/
 
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Frazier won't move Winfield to safety
February, 25, 2012
By Kevin Seifert

INDIANAPOLIS -- On Thursday, we noted that the Minnesota Vikings have had some internal discussions about moving veteran cornerback Antoine Winfield to safety. General manager Rick Spielman said the decision ultimately lies with the coaching staff, and so it's worth noting that coach Leslie Frazier put the kibosh on that idea during a discussion with reporters here at the NFL combine.

Frazier stopped short of saying that Winfield will be a starting cornerback for him in 2012, but he did say: "I still see him playing the nickel corner, maybe some outside. I know I've been asked before about maybe safety. I don't really see him at that position but still playing the nickel corner, playing the corner position."
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http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcnorth/post/_/id/38888/frazier-wont-move-antoine-winfield-to-s
 
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Then you have cornerback Antoine Winfield, who has spent eight of his 13 years in the NFL with the Vikings and who is signed for two more seasons.

Winfield's contract calls for $6 million in base pay for those two years. The big question is whether the Vikings will stay with that contract because one of the real weak spots on the roster is the defensive backfield. When healthy, something he hasn't been for the past two seasons, Winfield is one of the best cover cornerbacks and tacklers in the league.

Winfield suffered a collarbone injury against the Packers on Oct. 23 and didn't play the rest of the season, causing a real problem for a secondary that, even with Winfield in the lineup, was average.

Winfield stayed in town during the offseason to rehab his injury and has been treated by Vikings trainer Eric Sugarman most every day. Winfield says the collarbone injury has healed and now the goal is to get the collarbone as strong as or even stronger than before he suffered the injury.

"It's good, the collarbone feels fine," Winfield said the other day. "I'm just over here rehabbing every day, trying to get my strength back. I'm getting stronger every day. You can't put a timetable on it."

Winfield said he hasn't heard whether the Vikings are planning to renegotiate his contract.

"I hope so," said Winfield when asked if he is looking forward to another season with the Vikings. "That's why I'm over here working out every day, trying to get my body to be able to go through a long season."
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http://www.startribune.com/sports/vikings/142014203.html
 
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Antoine Winfield, WR Bryan Walters Impress During OTA #1; Other Observations
Posted by Mike Wobschall on May 29, 2012

The Vikings held their first Organized Team Activity (OTA) of the 2012 offseason program on Tuesday, working for roughly 90 minutes on the outdoor practice fields at Winter Park under mostly cloudy skies and windy conditions. The energy level is ramped up around the facility as the team begins Phase 3 of the offseason program.

Now is not the time to put much stock into depth charts and tracking which players are working with the first-stringers and which players are working with the second-stringers. Coaches experiment with several different combinations for a variety of reasons at this point in the offseason, so we?ll let others worry about all of those projections.

There were plenty of other observations to make, however. Here are a few notes I scribbled out while watching Tuesday?s practice?

? One of the first players to stand out in my eyes was CB Antoine Winfield. It was great to see him back on the field after he played in just 5 games last season. Winfield showed no signs of being slowed now, though, as he looked spry during individual drills and very sound during team offense vs. team defense. Winfield had a bounce in his step around the facility and before practice, and it?s clear he still has explosion in his legs while on the field.
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http://blog.vikings.com/2012/05/29/...ters-impress-during-ota-1-other-observations/
 
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May 31, 2012 - by Joe Oberle

As tough-tackling CB Antoine Winfield has gotten older (35 next month) and started to miss games due to injury, he is often asked if he has been approached by the coaches to switch to safety. "No, not at all," Winfield said. "Safety is a different animal. I have never played safety, so I'd have to learn everything. So I will either be (playing) outside or at the nickel."
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http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/rapid-reports/post/19215945
 
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Antoine-Winfield-Vikings-NFL1-200x300.jpg

Antoine Winfield (5-9, 180): Slot specialist, but still needs to play some on the outside because of Vikings? lack of bona fide options there. Despite age (34), body should be fresh after missing 11 games last year with neck/clavicle issues. Salary reduction in 2012 (from $7 million to $3 million) makes him no-brainer to return. Still arguably team?s best open-field tackler. Still appears motivated.
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http://blogs.twincities.com/vikings/2012/06/01/vikings-cornerback-depth-without-asher-allen/

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zTi5_BZ3Cn8"]Minnesota Vikings Legend : Antoine Winfield (2004-Present) - YouTube[/ame]
 
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Winfield returns to boost Vikings secondary
Brian Hall
June 4, 2012

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Veteran corner Antoine Winfield missed four games last year with a neck injury, only to break his collarbone in his first game back and miss the final seven weeks. (Brace Hemmelgarn-US PRESSWIRE)

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. ? Antoine Winfield flashed his typical smile while walking off the Minnesota Vikings' practice field at Winter Park last week, seemingly happy to be back on the field after missing the end of last year due to a broken collarbone.

Winfield's return to the field for Minnesota is a bit earlier this season, but not because of any injury. The 5-foot-9 cornerback, who turns 35 this month, admittedly has often passed on the voluntary portion of the Vikings' offseason. Like many other veteran players, Winfield would do much of his offseason training at home, before coming north for mandatory minicamp and training camp.

Minnesota has entered recent seasons feeling good about the strength of their secondary only to change on the fly due to injuries. Winfield missed four games last year with a neck injury, only to break his collarbone in his first game back and miss the final seven weeks.

Things have changed though. Winfield and other veterans are in town, making the most of the offseason and trying to change the direction of a team that has faded from the NFL spotlight.

Winfield also had other reasons to come to Minnesota early.

"This is Year 14 for me; I need the work, too," Winfield said. "It's hard to stay away and stay in shape and go against receivers. But when you're up here with your teammates, getting that team chemistry, I think that's what we need."

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http://www.foxsportsnorth.com/06/04...ing_mnvikings.html?blockID=740636&feedID=3697
 
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Minnesota Vikings' Antoine Winfield: 'His best football' not behind him, coach says
By Jeremy Fowler
[email protected]

Despite the Vikings' efforts to get younger at several positions, they're asking a 34-year-old cornerback to cover slot receivers.

Antoine Winfield is the only current Viking who was in the NFL in the 1990s. He's also the team's only cornerback with more than 27 NFL starts -- which might amplify his importance to Minnesota as a veteran with a Pro Bowl pedigree.

"Everybody's looking for bigger, younger cornerbacks," said Winfield, entering his 14th season. "But I still love to compete, I love to play football, I love being around the guys, and wherever I'm needed, I'm going to give it my all."

Coach Leslie Frazier can assure Winfield is needed. In fact, the Vikings coach has told Winfield how much he appreciates his

Frazier wants Winfield to help mold this year's group of cornerbacks, which includes a talented starter marred by legal problems (Chris Cook), a third-round pick in April's draft (Josh Robinson) and two free-agent signees coming off down 2011 seasons (Baltimore's Chris Carr, Chicago's Zack Bowman). Marcus Sherels and Brandon Burton also are competing for spots.

Frazier calls the team's cornerback depth "10 times better" than a year ago, when the Vikings were too reliant on oft-injured Cedric Griffin and played Winfield outside out of necessity.

"We need his leadership, we need his playmaking ability," Frazier said. "We don't think his best football is behind
him."

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http://www.twincities.com/vikings/c...ikings-antoine-winfield-his-best-football-not
 
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Vikings' Antoine Winfield: 'I'm 100 percent' healthy
Pioneer Press
Posted: 06/22/2012

Vikings cornerback Antoine Winfield played in only five games last season, spending most of the time away from the field mending a broken collarbone. There were other issues in the secondary, but it was far worse than it would have been if he'd played. When Winfield is healthy, he has been one of the league's top cornerbacks for more than a decade.

I talked to Winfield about his health and what he expects as a 14-year NFL veteran.

BS: You're not asking for a trade, too, are you?

AW: (Laughs.) Not at all. I think I'll be here.

BS: Are you 100 percent healthy or close to it?

AW: I'm 100 percent. I think I was cleared the end of March. The last couple of months I'm running around, getting into shape and getting ready for training camp.

BS: Are you knocking the rust off?

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http://www.twincities.com/vikings/ci_20918491/vikings-antoine-winfield-im-100-percent-healthy
 
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July 25, 2012
'Clock ticking' for Vikings' Winfield

By Jim Rueda Free Press Sports Editor

MANKATO ? Minnesota Vikings defensive back Antoine Winfield doesn?t need to be reminded of the numbers.

He?s well aware this is his 14th season, that?s he 35 years old and that he played in only five of the team?s 16 games last year. He realizes the end of his career is closing in but he also thinks he has something left to offer the rebuilding Minnesota franchise.

?I can hear the clock ticking,? he said. ?I don?t know if I?ll be out there for 60-70 snaps for 16 games like I used to but I still believe I can contribute to this team.

?There are a lot of cornerbacks who don?t last 14 years in this league but I still love the game; I still love to go out there and compete.?

The ideal plan right now is to use Winfield mostly as a slot/nickel back in 2012. That would keep him fairly well rested and provide the club with a quality player in pass defense.

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http://mankatofreepress.com/sports/x228011061/Clock-ticking-for-Vikings-Winfield
 
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Vikings? Antoine Winfield: $4 million paycut saved my job

27 July, 2012

Antoine-Winfield-Vikings-NFL-200x300.jpg

Antoine Winfield, practicing addition by subtraction

MANKATO, Minn. ? Cornerback Antoine Winfield is reveling in his job security during this year?s training camp due to a playing time contractual clause that drops his salary from $7 million to $3 million.

Without it, he?s not sure he?d be in Mankato.

When Winfield signed his five-year, $36-million deal in 2009, he wanted protection from getting old. The 35-year-old now has that after last season?s injuries limited him to five games. The reduced snaps triggered the clause. The rebuilding Vikings would have been reluctant to pay Winfield?s full $7 million.

?It worked out the way we planned it to,? Winfield said. ?In year 14 at the cornerback position, if you?re making a lot of money, you have to be playing at a top level. Last season I got hurt, and I might not be here if my contact was like that.?

Considering the Vikings? outlook at cornerback, Winfield might retain most or all of the money if healthy. Playing 90 percent of the team?s snaps in 2012 would recoup the full $7 million, he said. The incentive package begins at $1 million and escalates per million based on his snap percentage, he says.

Winfield is still arguably the Vikings? best cornerback and the unquestioned starter alongside Chris Cook. To avoid the incentives, the Vikings could eventually reduce his snaps in favor of veteran Chris Carr and third-round pick Josh Robinson.

?That could happen,? said Winfield about the team limiting his role. ?But the Vikings have been very good to me. So I can?t complain either way. I?m just excited to be back out here and playing football.?

Winfield isn?t sure what his total earnings will be by season?s end, but he?s sure the Vikings secondary will improve.

?Everyone says we?re in a rebuilding year,? Winfield said. ?We don?t see that. Guys are going to compete and definitely improve on last season.?
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http://blogs.twincities.com/vikings...ine-winfield-im-happy-about-4-million-paycut/
 
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