Winfield released

[canadaviking08]

As much as I love Winfield, that kind of pay is not warranted for a guy like him just playing the nickel and his age. It was time to move on unless he was willing to come back at a much reduced rate which apparently he was not willing to to. Thank you for your services Antoine, you will be missed

[VikingPaul73]

I understood the Percy move but to me this is brutal.

Great player, great veteran, great locker room guy.

Rebuilding shouldn't just be cut everyone and hire some 22-23 year olds. These young guys need to LEARN how to be professionals.

This is a horrible move IMO

[S197]

Tom Pelissero on Twitter

That just about says it all. The Vikings must be over $20+ million under the cap now, right?

[dead_poet]

That just about says it all. The Vikings must be over $20+ million under the cap now, right?

Correct.

[PurpleMustReign]

IIRC, there was an uproar when Hutchinson was released last season, and if memory serves, our rushing game wasn't too bad this season.
The Vikings will be fine. I'm ok with the move.

dead_poet, step back from the ledge

[dead_poet]

So in a passing league the Vikings just got rid of their best WR and best CB. Shrewd

Sam Monson on Twitter

[MrPurplenGold]

That just about says it all. The Vikings must be over $20+ million under the cap now, right?

That is a pretty significant cap saving. With that said, this is a pretty deep free agent class for CBs. Sounds to me like they are going to do more than just go after a WR in free agency

[PurpleMustReign]

But they now have the resources to replace them, possiblyt with someone better (at least in Winfield's case).

[smoothoperator]

you really think we got rid of him without something planned? jeez...

[Mothman]

I don't think "cocky" is the right word. Like posted above ... 7.25 million cap hit for a 36-year old part time player. He simply doesn't fit the mold for that number.

Exactly, I don't think it's cocky. If anything, I think it just shows that Spielman hasn't let a surprising 10 win season cause him to lose sight of the rebuilding project he's engaged in. It stinks to lose a player like Winfield (one of my favorite Vikes of the past decade) but the goal is to build a stable, long term contender and Winfield wasn't going to be a part of the Vikings long term future.

I truly wish Winfield well! Thanks for some great memories, Antoine.

[dead_poet]

Antoine Winfield - DB - Free Agent

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports members of the Vikings' organization "aren't thrilled" with GM Rick Spielman's decision to cut Antoine Winfield.

One: "It's a move backwards." Winfield was a rock.

Winfield has been the best slot corner in football several seasons running. "It's a move backwards," is how one club official characterized the move. Despite his age -- 36 in June -- Winfield immediately becomes a top-ten cornerback available in free agency. We'd rank them like this: 1) Aqib Talib 2) Sean Smith 3) Brent Grimes 4) Winfield 5) Keenan Lewis 6) Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie 7) Derek Cox Chris Houston 9) Antoine Cason 10) DeAngelo Hall.
Source: Ian Rapoport on Twitter

[Mothman]

Antoine Winfield - DB - Free Agent

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports members of the Vikings' organization "aren't thrilled" with GM Rick Spielman's decision to cut Antoine Winfield.

One: "It's a move backwards." Winfield was a rock.

Winfield has been the best slot corner in football several seasons running. "It's a move backwards," is how one club official characterized the move. Despite his age -- 36 in June -- Winfield immediately becomes a top-ten cornerback available in free agency. We'd rank them like this: 1) Aqib Talib 2) Sean Smith 3) Brent Grimes 4) Winfield 5) Keenan Lewis 6) Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie 7) Derek Cox Chris Houston 9) Antoine Cason 10) DeAngelo Hall.
Source: Ian Rapoport on Twitter

It might very well be a move backwards but this could be one of those cases where the team needs to take a step back to take two steps forward.

[dead_poet]

It might very well be a move backwards but this could be one of those cases where the team needs to take a step back to take two steps forward.

Or it's two steps backwards and falling into a lava river filled with fire crocodiles.

[MrPurplenGold]

Or it's two steps backwards and falling into a lava river filled with fire crocodiles.

Maybe they are going to go after a top-tier free agency CB. I think the question now becomes what are they going to do with Kevin Williams?

[dead_poet]

As it relates...

Darrelle Revis - DB - Jets
Citing a source with knowledge of the situation, Profootballtalk.com reports the Buccaneers are Darrelle Revis' likely landing spot if the Jets agree to terms on draft-pick compensation.
Source: Profootballtalk on NBC Sports