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

[Bestbuck36]

Defensive Player of the Year.

Dude is flat out sick and shows up every single game. No games off even when the Vikings are sucking. He has single handedly tried to save Minnesota's season.

 

[3074326]

Defensive Player of the Year.

He'll certainly be up there for the honors.

I think James Harrison is the leader right now, best LBer on the best defensive team in the NFL. On pace for 20 sacks and 102 tackles if I'm not mistaken.

 

[Buckskin86]

Patrick Reusse: Inch for inch, Winfield the best corner out there
Antoine Winfield has been a Viking for a relatively short time, but he is already one of the best at his position in team history.

By PATRICK REUSSE, Star Tribune
Last update: November 20, 2008

Antoine Winfield has been around for 11 games involving the Vikings and the Green Bay Packers. He's impressed with the intensity of the competition, even if it doesn't compare with what he experienced in college.

"The Vikings-Packers rivalry is great, but it's not close to Michigan and Ohio State," Winfield said. "I'd say the emotions of everyone involved in a Wolverines-Buckeyes game are triple what you get from a normal Packers-Vikings game."

Winfield was on the Buckeyes' side of things from 1995 through 1998. "I was 1-3 against them, and twice they cost us a shot at the national championship," he said. "It takes a long time to get over losing to Michigan in that situation."

Patrick Reusse: Inch for inch, Winfield the best corner out there

 

[BB73]

Congrats to Antoine on being named a starter for the Pro Bowl!

It's about time.

nfl.com/probowl

 

[Buckskin86]

Vikings reward Cedric Griffin; Antoine Winfield could be next
Griffin gets new deal; Winfield may be next
By Sean Jensen
[email protected]
Updated: 03/20/2009

The question now is what do the Vikings do with cornerback Antoine Winfield, who is entering the final year of his six-year, $34.8 million contract. Winfield said he was "absolutely happy" for Griffin.

"The last three years, I've seen him improve," Winfield said of Griffin. "I'm definitely excited that the Vikings extended him, and he'll be here a few more years."

Asked about his own situation, Winfield said his agent Ashanti Webb has had discussions with the Vikings on a long-term deal. Winfield said he wants to be "proactive" rather than wait for free agency next offseason.
"I want to finish my career with the Vikings," said Winfield, who made his first Pro Bowl appearance in February. "The last five years, I've been in Minnesota, and I love my teammates. My kids like their friends and the school system.

"I definitely want to end my career in Minnesota, so hopefully we'll get something done sometime this year, so we can make that happen."

Because he already has experienced free agency, Winfield said that prospect isn't appealing to him.

Terms of Griffin's deal are unknown.

In three of his five seasons with the Vikings, Winfield has started and played in all 16 games. Winfield, though, understands what's working against him: his age.

"Everyone wants to talk about that age," said Winfield, who will turn 32 in June. "But it's about production. If I'm producing like a 23- or 24-year-old, I deserve to get paid like that.

"I feel great," he said. "Last year was one of my best years in the NFL. I made some really big plays, and I had a lot of fun doing it."

Besides, Winfield said, he could easily swing to safety toward the end of his career.

"Football is football," he said. "Once I get on the field, I'm going to make plays. I can easily make the transition to safety.

"You just got to come up and make tackles," he said. "That's my specialty."

Winfield said he is encouraged that players in their 30s, such as Ray Lewis and T.J. Houshmandzadeh, signed rich new deals. Lewis, who turns 34 in May, signed what amounts to a three-year, $22 million contract earlier this month that includes $12.25 million in guarantees. Houshmandzadeh got a five-year, $40 million contract that included $15 million in guarantees.

Winfield, though, doesn't anticipate skipping any voluntary workouts to make a point.

"I had a great season and I'm definitely planning to do everything I did last year, like all the (organized team activities) and minicamps," he said. "Hopefully, I can duplicate the things I did last year."

As for Griffin, he wants to take his game to the next level.

Winfield invited all of the coaches and players in the secondary to accompany him to Hawaii, for the Pro Bowl. Griffin declined.

"I wasn't trying to go out there," he said. "I want to go there and be invited to play, not invited to be on vacation. I want to earn my trip."

He said his primary goal for next season will be to improve his focus and concentration.

"It may seem simple, but that's definitely a challenge for me. But I'm going to keep working hard.

"Now, there is going to be more scrutiny, because I got the contract," Griffin said. "Those questions will arise, but I'll continue to be Cedric, and I'll continue to please my coaches."

Vikings reward Cedric Griffin; Antoine Winfield could be next - TwinCities.com

 

[Buckskin86]

Coach optimistic on Winfield contract
By CHIP SCOGGINS, Star Tribune
Last update: March 26, 2009

Vikings coach Brad Childress said the team has had "pretty good dialogue" with the agent for Pro Bowl cornerback Antoine Winfield, who is entering the final season of his six-year, $35 million contract.

Speaking Wednesday at the NFL owners meeting in Dana Point, Calif., Childress said the team hopes to sign Winfield to a new contract before he's allowed to test the free-agent market next winter.

"It's ongoing and we'd like to get him done," Childress said. "With the uncertain future and the [collective bargaining agreement] the way it is, I'd like to have it done. It could be one year, it could be two, it could be three. But again, we have a real good dialogue with [agent] Ashanti Webb right now."

Winfield, who turns 32 in June, earned his first Pro Bowl trip in his 10th season. Winfield remains one of the league's best tackling cornerbacks.

Coach optimistic on Winfield contract

 

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ProFootballTalk.com - Still No Deal For Vikings? Winfield

Still No Deal For Vikings? Winfield
Posted by Aaron Wilson on April 4, 2009, 10:58 p.m. EDT

Veteran cornerback Antoine Winfield is still hopeful of striking a new deal with the Vikings as negotiations continue toward a potential contract extension that would allow him to retire in Minnesota, according to Sean Jensen of the St. Paul Pioneer-Press.

At this point, though, no deal is imminent, per Winfield?s agent, Ashanti Webb.

?We have a lot of dialogue,? Webb told the Pioneer-Press.?But things aren?t as far along as I would like. We still have a lot of ground to cover, to get this thing done. But I do think this can get done, and Antoine definitely wants to get it done, sooner rather than later. I take my directions from Antoine, and he?s basically told me to make sure that happens.

?No bones about it; he wants to be a Viking and retire a Viking. But we want to get this done sooner rather than later, so he can go into the regular season with business taken care of. Brad Childress has said he wants Antoine there, and Antoine has said that he wants to be there. So, let?s get the deal done.?

Winfield is entering the final year of a six-year, $34.8 million contract.

 

[Buckskin86]

Vikings, Winfield set to resume talks this week
By JUDD ZULGAD, Star Tribune
Last update: April 6, 2009

The Vikings and the agent for Antoine Winfield continue to discuss a contract extension for the Pro Bowl cornerback, and negotations are expected to heat up again Monday. Ashanti Webb, who serves as Winfield's agent, termed the dealings as "intense negotiations" in a text message on Saturday evening but declined to say if a deal might be reached this week.

"We have talked very frequently and are both working very hard at it," Webb said in a subsequent phone interview. "We still have some ground we have to cover. ... I would like to get this thing done. I know Antoine would like to get it done. But I can't say at this point there is any frustration or I think it's taken longer than I expected."

Vikings, Winfield set to resume talks this week

 

[Buckskin86]

Winfeld contract talks ongoing
April 27th, 2009
by Judd Zulgad

Vikings vice president of player personnel Rick Spielman said during a conference call with season-ticket holders today that the team is having ongoing contact with cornerback Antoine Winfield regarding a new contract. Winfield?s contract expires after the 2009 season and the Vikings and Winfield?s agent have been engaged in discussions for several weeks. It appeared something might be close a few weeks ago but nothing was finalized.

?[There is] not a specific deadline,? Spielman said. ?We love Antoine and we?ve always tried to keep all our core guys together as long as we can keep them together.?

Access Vikings: ? Blog Archive ? Winfeld contract talks ongoing

 

[Buckskin86]

Minnesota Vikings, cornerback Antoine Winfield reach an impasse
No contract talk for team, cornerback
By Sean Jensen
[email protected]
Updated: 05/11/2009

An unhappy Antoine Winfield leaves the field after The Indianapolis Colts beat the Vikings 18-15 Sunday afternoon September 14, 2008 at the Metro dome. PIONEER PRESS:JOHN DOMAN

The agent for Pro Bowl cornerback Antoine Winfield said in a text message Sunday night that talks of an extension with the Vikings have broken down.

"There are no active negotiations and there are no further talks planned," Ashanti Webb said in a text message.

Asked how he feels about that, Webb said, "Disappointed. Very disappointed."

Webb did not return follow-up messages asking whether he or the Vikings cut off talks and whether Winfield would attend the team's mandatory mini-camp later this month.

Fresh off his first trip to the Pro Bowl, Winfield enters the final year of a six-year, $34.8 million contract. Due to make $6 million in 2009, Winfield told the Pioneer Press in an interview in March that he wanted to finish his career as a Viking and that he wanted to be "proactive" about his contract rather than wait.

"I definitely want to end my career in Minnesota, so hopefully we'll get something done sometime this year," Winfield told the Pioneer Press on March 20.

Respected by teammates for his leadership and toughness, Winfield has started all 16 games in three of his five seasons with the Vikings. Despite his 5-foot-9 frame, Winfield is one of the sixth-rated defense's top players, joining defensive linemen Jared Allen, Kevin Williams and Pat Williams at the Pro Bowl in February.

Winfield is one of the league's most well-rounded cornerbacks, developing a reputation for his sure and strong tackling, as well as his penchant for making big plays. Last season, he had two key sacks, and he also has scored two touchdowns during his Vikings tenure.

http://www.twincities.com/sports/ci_12341186

 

[Buckskin86]

What happened with Winfield talks?
May 11th, 2009
Judd Zulgad

In a week sure to be filled with blog items involving a certain soon-to-be 40-year-old quarterback who resides in Mississippi and just can?t seem to call it quits (hey, I think that was my summer vacation that just went out the door), we bring you at least one post that hits on a totally different subject. Thankfully.

Namely, what happened in the contract talks between the Vikings and veteran cornerback Antoine Winfield? When the Vikings made the surprise announcement in March that they had quietly negotiated a five-year extension worth more than $25 million with corner Cedric Griffin, it also got out that Minnesota was in talks with Winfield?s agent, Ashanti Webb, about an extension.

The difference is that the 26-year-old Griffin has played only three NFL seasons and, obviously, the Vikings feel he has yet to reach his potential. Griffin?s play appeared to take a big step forward in the second half of 2008 and the Vikings got a deal that many will consider more than fair as long as he continues to show progress.

Winfield, meanwhile, is going to turn 32 in June and will be entering his 11th NFL season. This is in no way to say Winfield?s play has declined. In fact, he made the Pro Bowl for the first time in his career last season and tied for the team lead with two interceptions. An incredibly hard hitter ? especially for being only 5-9, 180 pounds ? Winfield?s most memorable game of 2008 came in a Monday night victory at New Orleans. He returned a blocked field goal for a touchdown, taking the ball 59 yards, and also sacked Saints quarterback Drew Brees at one point, forcing a fumble. Winfield recovered the ball and returned it 9 yards.

Given Winfield?s production, it made sense that the Vikings would want to talk to him as he got set to enter the final season of a six-year, $35 million in 2009. As recently as April 4, Webb termed his dealings with the Vikings as ?intense negotiations.? But on Monday, Webb admitted that talks had broken off, adding ?no further negotiations are planned.?

Webb refused to go into any detail but it isn?t too hard to figure out what happened here. Either the sides aren?t close on years or the money and usually the years can be worked out ? especially in the NFL were contracts aren?t guaranteed. Top-notch cornerbacks don?t come cheap in the NFL and the Vikings might have concerns about paying too much for a player who has been in the league as many years as Winfield.

Some have speculated Winfield could be moved to safety at some point but if that happens is he still worth the money that a team would pay a top-notch corner? Probably not. The Vikings also might feel a bit more emboldened since they added Georgia corner Asher Allen with their third-round pick in last month?s draft. The Vikings could try to use the leverage that Allen will be set to replace Winfield in 2010.

I heard speculation at one point that if the Vikings fail to reach a deal with Winfield after next season they could put the franchise tag on him. But his age would make that an unlikely scenario. (The franchise tag for a cornerback for 2009, by the way, is $9.957 million, the average of the NFL?s five highest-paid corners.)

Access Vikings: ? Blog Archive ? What happened with Winfield talks?

 

[Buckskin86]

Why the Vikings haven't signed cornerback Antoine Winfield, 31, who can become an unrestricted free agent after next season, is a mystery to Darrell Thompson, the former Green Bay Packer who is the Gophers' football radio analyst.

"They've got to sign him," Thompson said. "I don't know the guy from Adam, but I broadcast the games when he played at Ohio State, and I watched him at Buffalo and when he came here, and there's not a better tackling-cover corner maybe in the NFL. I don't know if he wants $40 million or what, but he's probably worth whatever it takes to get him for two years. Sometimes you've just got to pay people.

"I know sometimes guys get full of themselves and teams get full of themselves, and it's 'Well, we can just go get four guys (for what Winfield would cost).' Well, you're not going to get four Antoine Winfields. He's a true football player, like Howie Long and Walter Payton. He might even be a hall of fame football player if they win a Super Bowl."

The timing of the impasse of the Vikings' contract extension talks with Winfield is becoming curious.

It could be that the Vikings are waiting to see whether they can sign quarterback Brett Favre, who could cost them $10 million this year, before deciding whether to sign Winfield, who can become an unrestricted free agent next year and could cost nearly $14 million over two years.

http://www.twincities.com/sports/ci_12386926

 

[Buckskin86]

Childress says Vikings still want to work out contract extension with Antoine Winfield
Associated Press
Last update: May 21, 2009

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. - The Vikings are still interested in signing cornerback Antoine Winfield to a contract extension.

Coach Brad Childress said Thursday he would have liked to "have that deal done yesterday" but acknowledged the back-and-forth nature of such negotiations. Winfield's agent, Ashanti Webb, said earlier this month that talks were at an impasse.

Winfield is coming off his first Pro Bowl appearance. He has entered the final year of his contract. Childress said he wasn't concerned that a deal wasn't done yet.

Childress says Vikings still want to work out contract extension with Antoine Winfield

 

[Buckskin86]

Cornerback rankings: Asomugha is the best and still getting better
Posted: May 26, 2009

The cornerback position will always feature some of the NFL's top athletes, but the position is evolving. Speed will continue to be the calling card, but teams are looking for that same speed in bigger corners who can compete with the size and quickness of today's wideouts and support the run.

RealScouts, Sporting News' team of former NFL scouts, rank their top 20 cornerbacks for '09:

9. Antoine Winfield, Vikings. Winfield is an aggressive, physical corner who loves to mix it up at the line of scrimmage and knock receivers off their routes. He is also an excellent tackler and run-support player.

SportingNews.com - Your expert source for NFL Football stats, scores, standings, blogs and fantasy news from NFL Football columnists

 

[Buckskin86]

Winfield plans to attend minicamp
May 27th, 2009
by Judd Zulgad

Cornerback Antoine Winfield, whose contract negotiations with the Vikings broke down this month, plans to attend the team?s three-day minicamp this weekend, according to linebacker Erin Henderson.

Henderson told Paul Allen of KFAN Radio (1130 AM) this morning that Winfield said he plans to be in attendance at Winter Park for the only mandatory camp of the offseason for veteran players. It?s unknown how much of the Vikings? offseason conditioning program Winfield has participated in since it began in April, although coach Brad Childress said early on the cornerback was in attendance.

Henderson said that he knows ?Winfield is taking care of his body on his own, but [isn?t] necessarily going into Winter Park.?

The Vikings began Organized Team Activities last week but coach Brad Childress only invited rookies, some newcomers and selected veterans. Thus, many veterans, including Winfield, were not in attendance. The OTA are not mandatory.

Winfield, who will be entering his 11th season and was elected to the Pro Bowl for the first time in his career in 2008, is entering the final season of a six-year contract. Winfield will turn 32 on June 24 and will make $6 million in 2009. Winfield?s agent, Ashanti Webb, said this month that negotiations on an extension had reached an impasse.

Access Vikings: ? Blog Archive ? Winfield plans to attend minicamp