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

[Buckskin86]

Winfield coming around?

When the price rose on Loadholt, the Vikings made the decision to cut loose veteran cornerback Antoine Winfield, who had been due $7.25 million in base salary.

Discussions about a possible reunion are ongoing, though, and Frazier strongly indicated on Wednesday that Winfield is amenable to a return -- for the right price.

"I do know that there are other teams calling him and seeing what his interest is in continuing to play, and he does want to continue to play," Frazier said. "But he gave me the impression that he'd like to be able to be back here in Minnesota. Now it's just a matter of, can we work things out financially to his liking as well as our team's liking?"

The Vikings were $5.307 million under their adjusted salary cap as of $130.297 million as of Wednesday morning, prior to the filing of guard Seth Olsen's deal, according to a source.

Depending what Winfield finds on the open market, the Vikings could try to lure him back with a modest one-year offer, perhaps in the neighborhood of $3 million, and worry about clearing space to sign their rookies later.

That'd be a more team-friendly price for a 35-year-old cornerback Frazier reiterated on Wednesday would return in a reduced role if he returns at all.

"He's very comfortable coming back in that role only," Frazier said. "That's the best thing for the team and the best thing for him, to be able to keep him on the field this entire season. So, he had no qualms with that. He understands why. ... He's still going to play a lot of snaps."

http://www.1500espn.com/sportswire/...ikings_to_sign_Phil_Loadholt_coach_says032013

 

[Buckskin86]

The Redskins will host CB Antoine Winfield for a free-agent visit Wednesday.
The Vikings still want Winfield back in a reduced role, but he could be an every-down player again with cornerback-needy Washington. The Redskins are also a more viable 2013 Super Bowl contender than Minnesota. Winfield, who turns 36 in June, graded out as the NFL's No. 1 cornerback in Pro Football Focus' 2012 ratings. He's a natural left corner who does his best work in slot coverage. Mar 25

http://www.rotoworld.com/player/nfl/1165/antoine-winfield

 

[Buckskin86]

Antoine Winfield considering other offers in advance of visit with Redskins
Posted by Mike Jones on March 26, 2013

Although he is scheduled to pay the Redskins a visit Wednesday, free agent cornerback Antoine Winfield is also considering offers from at least two other teams, according to a person with knowledge of the situation.

One of the teams interested in the services of the three-time Pro Bowl player is the Minnesota Vikings, Winfield?s employer for the last nine seasons. The Vikings released Winfield earlier this month because he was owed a salary of $7.25 million.

A person familiar with Winfield?s thinking said the 36-year-old defensive back has received ?other offers.? Winfield is intrigued by the prospect of playing for the Redskins, but he might accept another offer and cancel his visit to Redskins Park, the person said. It wasn?t clear whether Winfield has scheduled visits with other teams.

As of Tuesday afternoon, however, it was expected that Winfield would go through with his planned visit to Washington?s headquarters.

Winfield, regarded as one of the top nickel corners in the league, has taken a judicious approach to free agency and is said to be placing the highest priority on finding the perfect fit rather than deciding solely on financial terms.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs...her-offers-in-advance-of-visit-with-redskins/

 

[Buckskin86]

Updated: March 28th, 2013
Antoine Winfield's future remains unclear after visit with Redskins
by Tom Pelissero
1500ESPN.com

Antoine Winfield's future was no clearer on Thursday night after a day of being wooed, wined and dined by the Washington Redskins didn't immediately yield a deal.

Winfield, 35, has been a free agent since the Minnesota Vikings released him on March 12, stunning the veteran cornerback just hours before free agency opened.

Vikings coach Leslie Frazier has made clear he'd like Winfield to return, and members of the organization have been in daily contact with his representatives, according to NFL sources.

But there has been strong interest from several teams, including the Redskins, whose contingent at dinner with Winfield on Thursday night featured owner Dan Snyder, coach Mike Shanahan, members of the defensive staff and quarterback Robert Griffin III, NFL Network reported.

The problem with Washington, among other suitors, is a shortage of cap space. Washington was only about $3.3 million under its adjusted (and heavily penalized) cap as of Thursday night.

Other potential options among contenders, including Denver ($8.8 million in cap space) and Seattle ($6.8 million), aren't exactly working with a lot either, though that hurdle could be mitigated by doing a two-year deal that ties up much of the compensation in a signing bonus.

cont...

http://www.1500espn.com/sportswire/...mains_unclear_after_visit_with_Redskins032813

 

[Buckskin86]

Winfield, Redskins share ?high mutual interest?
Posted by Mike Jones on April 2, 2013

The Washington Redskins remain interested in signing veteran cornerback Antoine Winfield despite bringing back DeAngelo Hall at a reduced salary, a person with knowledge of the situation said. Two others, however, questioned whether the salary cap-strapped Redskins had a realistic shot at landing Winfield.

?There is high mutual interest,? said one person, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he wasn?t authorized to speak on behalf of the Redskins. ?Re-signing Hall didn?t change that.?

The re-signing of Hall ? who, after being released in March to save $8 million, on Monday agreed to a one-year deal that is believed to be worth just more than $2 million ? didn?t come as a surprise to Winfield and his camp. The person said that if anything, the move made Washington more attractive to Winfield, who is entering his 15th NFL season.

?At this point in his career, [Winfield] wants to win, and [Washington] has made moves to further solidify the roster, and re-signing Hall only helps. Their games complement each other,? the source said.

cont...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs...winfield-redskins-share-high-mutual-interest/

 

[Buckskin86]

Vikings still want Winfield back
Posted by Mike Florio on April 3, 2013

At a time when the Redskins and cornerback Antoine Winfield reportedly have ?high mutual interest,? the Vikings remain interested in a reunion.

Minnesota cut Winfield last month, avoiding his way-above-market $7.25 million base salary. Coach Leslie Frazier has said that he wants the team to bring back the hard-nosed tackler whom the Vikings signed as a free agent in 2004.

The Vikings, we?re told, are actively trying to re-sign Winfield. And the Vikings have more to work with; they have $4.4 million in cap space while the Redskins have only $669,000.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/04/03/vikings-still-want-winfield-back/

 

[Buckskin86]

Updated: April 6th, 2013
Sources: Antoine Winfield scheduled to meet with Seahawks next week
by Tom Pelissero
1500ESPN.com

Antoine Winfield isn't done weighing his options.

The free agent cornerback is scheduled to visit the Seattle Seahawks on Wednesday, according to NFL sources.

Winfield, 35, was released by the Minnesota Vikings on March 12. He visited last week with a Washington Redskins contingent that included owner Dan Snyder, coach Mike Shanahan, quarterback Robert Griffin III and other members of the staff, but no deal has come about to this point.

Winfield's representatives have been in regular contact with the Vikings, but it remains unclear if a reunion will happen. His decision was on hold last week because he was on vacation.

http://www.1500espn.com/sportswire/...to_meet_with_Seattle_Seahawks_next_week040613

 

[Buckskin86]

Minnesota Vikings' Frazier remains hopeful that Antoine Winfield will come back
By Ben Goessling
[email protected]
Posted: 04/07/2013

Vikings coach Leslie Frazier said Sunday, April 7, he has remained in contact with Antoine Winfield as the cornerback visits other teams, and he continues to hope Winfield will return to the Vikings in 2013.

Winfield was on a family vacation last week, Frazier said, and is reportedly set to visit the Seattle Seahawks this week after making a free agent visit to the Washington Redskins last month. With nearly $9 million in cap space, the Seahawks currently could afford to offer Winfield more than either the Vikings or the Redskins, and while all three teams reached the playoffs last season, the Seahawks could have the best Super Bowl prospects after adding Percy Harvin and Cliff Avril to a team that narrowly missed reaching the NFC Championship Game last year.

Frazier said he last talked to Winfield just before the cornerback left on vacation, and has called or texted "periodically" since the Vikings released Winfield on March 12 in an effort to clear cap room just before the free agent market opened.

"We're all human," Frazier said after the Minneapolis Sports Collectible and Autograph Show on Sunday. "We all like to know we're wanted. I've tried to make that clear to him. I'll let him know, 'If you've got any questions, you know how to reach me.' "

cont...

http://www.twincities.com/sports/ci...azier-keeps-touch-antoine-winfield?source=pkg

 

[buckeyesin07]

Antoine Winfield close with Seattle
By Ed Werder
ESPN

Free-agent cornerback Antoine Winfield is close to agreeing to contract terms with the Seattle Seahawks, according to league sources.

...

http://espn.go.com/espn/print?id=9157628&type=story

 

[Buckskin86]

Antoine Winfield to join Seahawks
Updated: April 12, 2013
ESPN.com news services

Antoine Winfield has agreed in principle to a one-year deal with the Seattle Seahawks, the veteran cornerback told ESPN's Josina Anderson on Friday.

"It was a very tough decision for me because of the relationships that I have in Minnesota," Winfield told Anderson. "I've been there nine years. I've had some really great coaches, teammates and fans there. I'm very grateful to the Vikings organization for my experience.

"I'm definitely excited about the opportunity to play in Seattle. They're a great football team. Those guys did an excellent job last season. They're young, athletic and energetic. I'm excited to play with Richard (Sherman), Brandon (Browner), Kam (Chancellor) and Earl (Thomas) because they're some of the most talented players on defense in the NFL right now."

Winfield, who will turn 36 this season, was released by the Minnesota Vikings last month, making him an unrestricted free agent.

He visited the Seahawks on Tuesday after meeting with the Washington Redskins last week.

Winfield could be the slot corner for the Seahawks with starters Sherman and Browner playing outside. Sherman and Browner combined for 11 interceptions last season, but no other Seattle cornerback contributed any to the team total.

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/9165742/antoine-winfield-agrees-one-year-deal-seattle-seahawks

 

[Bestbuck36]

Wow. Seattle secondary is seriously good. If Avril does anything at all Seattle's defense is going to be top notch.

Good for Antoine

 

[billmac91]

Wow. Seattle secondary is seriously good. If Avril does anything at all Seattle's defense is going to be top notch.

Good for Antoine

Even at 35 years old, Antoine graded out as the best nickel CB in the league last year. His ability to tackle, even at 35, is almost unparrelled in the NFL. Guys his size just aren't supposed to be able to bring down RB's the way he does.

Adding a guy of Antoine's calibre to that secondary, is indeed sick. Seattle and San Fran will be fun to watch next year.

 

[Buckskin86]

More on Antoine Winfield?s decision to leave the Vikings for the Seahawks

Antoine Winfield finally decided on Friday night that he would sign with the Seattle Seahawks, ending a complex and bizarre stretch of his career exactly a month after the Vikings surprised and stung the 35-year-old by calling him upstairs after he?d finished a workout at the team facility and telling him they?d release him.

The decision saved the Vikings $7.25 million for next season, which they put to use by re-signing Phil Loadholt and giving free agent receiver Greg Jennings a five-year contract, among other things. But it also started an odd courtship in which the Vikings were telling Winfield how badly they wanted him back, just after they?d set him onto the open market.

In the end, the Vikings? efforts to woo Winfield came up just short, to a team that went a round further in the playoffs than they did and could offer Winfield more familiarity than any of the Vikings? other competitors for his services. In Seattle, Winfield would be reunited with two compatriots from his Vikings days ? offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell and receiver Sidney Rice ? not to mention Percy Harvin, the wideout the Vikings traded to Seattle the day before they cut Winfield.

So after taking a month to sort through things, Winfield agreed to terms on a one-year deal with the Seahawks on Friday night. He will reportedly get $3 million next year ? though only $1 million of that is guaranteed ? and could have reportedly gotten a similar deal from the Vikings that was fully guaranteed.

cont...

http://blogs.twincities.com/vikings...cision-to-leave-the-vikings-for-the-seahawks/

 

[Buckskin86]

Antoine Winfield deal official
Updated: April 17, 2013
Associated Press

RENTON, Wash. -- Once he was cut in Minnesota for cap reasons, veteran cornerback Antoine Winfield made it a point to have his representatives reach out to the Seattle Seahawks to see if he could fit with one of the more talented defensive back units in the NFL.

Seattle was plenty interested in adding a former All-Pro to its already stacked secondary, another chapter in an offseason where the Seahawks have made one impressive move after another.

"This year we feel blessed. I think it's a testament to coach (Pete) Carroll's staff and the way they treat the players as men," Seattle general manager John Schneider said Wednesday. "I think that's kind of gotten around the league and the competition thing is real here. I think players also feel they're going to be put into a position to accentuate their strengths."

Winfield officially became the latest free agent to sign with the Seahawks when his one-year contract with the club was announced on Wednesday. Winfield joins an impressive list of offseason acquisitions by the Seahawks, along with the signings of defensive linemen Cliff Avril, Tony McDaniel and Michael Bennett, and the trade that brought wide receiver Percy Harvin to Seattle from Minnesota.

Seattle's secondary features two All-Pros in cornerback Richard Sherman and safety Earl Thomas and past Pro Bowl selections Brandon Browner and Kam Chancellor. Now Winfield is added to the mix, likely to be the Seahawks' fifth defensive back playing in the slot.

"While he doesn't necessarily fit our size requirements for the position, he's always been a player that compensated for that deficiency with his intensity, his instincts and his tackling skills," Schneider said. "He's always been a phenomenal run support player. ... He's very instinctive inside and he had a very nice season last season. You could see him playing inside against bigger guys like Brandon Marshall and Calvin Johnson and disrupting them."

cont...

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/9183949/seattle-seahawks-announce-deal-antoine-winfield

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VMgWG_PgG_w"]Antoine Winfield Highlights[HD] - YouTube[/ame]

 

[Buckskin86]

May 29, 2013
Antoine Winfield adds to Seahawks 'Legion of Boom' defense
Winfield signed a one-year deal with the Seahawks in the offseason. He wanted to join Seattle because he wants to win the Super Bowl and likes his chances here.
By Jayson Jenks
Seattle Times staff reporter

TED S. WARREN / AP
Cornerback Antoine Winfield (21) covers wide receiver Golden Tate during Seahawks practice this week in Renton. Winfield recorded a remarkable 101 tackles and was on the field for 1,057 snaps last season.

Winfield file

Position: cornerback

Age: 35 (36 on June 24)

Height, weight: 5-9, 180

Drafted: No. 23 overall in 1999, by Buffalo Bills

College: Ohio State

RENTON ? Antoine Winfield is not big, which is something he has heard all his life. But there's another part to Winfield you need to see, and the best way to do so is by pulling up YouTube highlights of him playing.

In one, he delivers a hit along the sideline that knocks off a receiver's helmet and rips his chinstrap off. In another, he sticks a return man on special teams with a helmet-to-chest tackle. "That is playing football," Cris Collinsworth gushed on the broadcast in 2006. "That kid is a stud. Perfect."

Watch enough of these pieced-together clips, however grainy, and one truth becomes apparent: Antoine Winfield, all 5 feet 9 and 180 pounds, can hit.

"You gotta want to tackle, and that's what Antoine Winfield wants to do," said Seahawks safety Kam Chancellor. "It's an attitude you have to have."

Winfield enters his first year in Seattle with a lofty pedigree. He has been selected to three Pro Bowls and has for years been considered one of the best tackling cornerbacks in the league.

But he will also be 36 in June, and he will be playing in his 15th season. Winfield played in all 16 games for the Minnesota Vikings last year after playing in just five games the season before.

cont...

http://seattletimes.com/html/seahawks/2021083056_seahawks30.html

Published: Thursday, May 30, 2013
Older and wiser, Seahawks' Winfield can still play
By John Boyle, Herald Writer

RENTON -- Antoine Winfield, who is the Seahawks' oldest player by more than four years, isn't afraid to admit he's lost a step or two after 14 seasons in the NFL.

"Oh no," Winfield said with a grin when asked if he's as fast now as he was early in his career. "Not at all. Playing in this league (14) years, a lot of bumps, a lot of bruises, you kind of slow down, but I'm still quick, I can still play."

The way Winfield sees it, what he's lost in quickness has been replaced by tons of experience. And after just a couple of weeks with his new team, Winfield already is showing a knack for getting himself in the right place at the right time, a step slow or not.

"He's very crafty out there," safety Kam Chancellor said. "Sometimes we see him break on routes and it's like he knew the route was coming. He's very experienced back there, and that comes with all of the years he's played."

cont...

http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20130530/SPORTS/705309907

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mPuMt5gEDAU"]Antoine Winfield speaks after Seahawks OTA -- 5-28-2013 - YouTube[/ame]