Winfield released

[dead_poet]

Has Revis officially been traded?

Nope. Word is deal is close with TB but they don't want to give up a first-rounder. Haggling over price.

[sdranger]

Take the emotion out of it guys. If crocs can survive in a lava filled river then the Vikings will. 36 years old lost of money due it's a business.

[thor]

Understand the distraught state, I adore WInfield myself but I guess this just goes to show that there's no room for sentiment in football. The guy was requesting too much dough at such a late stage in his career. I fully expect him to make a return at a reduced rate, it won't be right to see Antoine elsewhere after such a brilliant tenure.

He wasn't requesting the money, it was what his contract said the vikings owed him. The one he earned when he signed, and I think restructered a couple years ago. Hopefully we bring him back, but probably won't happen.

[dead_poet]

Antoine Winfield - DB - Free Agent

Multiple league sources tell ESPN 1500 Twin Cities that the Vikings have had discussions with free agent Antoine Winfield about a reunion.

Coach Leslie Frazier also confirmed late Sunday that he's been in contact with Winfield since his March 12 release. "I'm hoping that we can figure out a way to get him back here," Frazier said. "So, I'm hoping that it's not goodbye yet." Per beat writer Tom Pelissero, Winfield "apparently is willing to listen." In the meantime, Winfield has set up "multiple visits" with other NFL teams.
Source: ESPN 1500 Twin Cities Mar 17 - 8:54 PM

[losperros]

Antoine Winfield - DB - Free Agent

Multiple league sources tell ESPN 1500 Twin Cities that the Vikings have had discussions with free agent Antoine Winfield about a reunion.

Coach Leslie Frazier also confirmed late Sunday that he's been in contact with Winfield since his March 12 release. "I'm hoping that we can figure out a way to get him back here," Frazier said. "So, I'm hoping that it's not goodbye yet." Per beat writer Tom Pelissero, Winfield "apparently is willing to listen." In the meantime, Winfield has set up "multiple visits" with other NFL teams.
Source: ESPN 1500 Twin Cities Mar 17 - 8:54 PM

Yes! Yeah, I know, I'm biased. But I love the way Winfield plays football. I hope they can get him back.

[Purple bruise]

Antoine Winfield - DB - Free Agent

Multiple league sources tell ESPN 1500 Twin Cities that the Vikings have had discussions with free agent Antoine Winfield about a reunion.

Coach Leslie Frazier also confirmed late Sunday that he's been in contact with Winfield since his March 12 release. "I'm hoping that we can figure out a way to get him back here," Frazier said. "So, I'm hoping that it's not goodbye yet." Per beat writer Tom Pelissero, Winfield "apparently is willing to listen." In the meantime, Winfield has set up "multiple visits" with other NFL teams.
Source: ESPN 1500 Twin Cities Mar 17 - 8:54 PM

HERE IS A REPORT: http://www.prosportsdaily.com/articles/ ... 39482.html

[The Breeze]

Hard to noodle out why the cut was handled with such deference. I would love to have him back, but wouldn't blame him for going elsewhere if the money was significantly better. I say Spielman could've been more humane in the way he went about this. But he could have been sending a message to other vets and setting a tone in general...."If you aren't open to renegotiating, there's the door". I applaud that to a degree.

Just seems like a weird business...you sign a guy to a multi-year contract and everyone in the room knows you won't be able to pay the final year or two.

Makes me wonder what will happen with Jared Allen and Williams. I guess they will get cut if they think they can get more from another team when the time comes.

[dkoby]

Ok, I like Winfield as much as the next guy, but paying him 7 mil for his performance is over the top. He is a tampa two system corner that is a great tackler. I don't see him worth 7 mil. They need to get younger and develop young talent. He needs to restructure or walk. I guess he walked. He is now currently still available. Any guy worth 7 mil would have been signed by now, so no one else thinks he is worth that kind of money either. I hope he comes back to play a role in our defense. He is not a starting caliber every down corner anymore. He's worth 2.5 to 3 mil per year and he needs to accept it.

[GoldenBear91]

Ok, I like Winfield as much as the next guy, but paying him 7 mil for his performance is over the top. He is a tampa two system corner that is a great tackler. I don't see him worth 7 mil. They need to get younger and develop young talent. He needs to restructure or walk. I guess he walked. He is now currently still available. Any guy worth 7 mil would have been signed by now, so no one else thinks he is worth that kind of money either. I hope he comes back to play a role in our defense. He is not a starting caliber every down corner anymore. He's worth 2.5 to 3 mil per year and he needs to accept it.

Basically Winfield is older and expensive, and that was why we said good bye. He is a wonderful player but it comes down to $$$

[dead_poet]

Frazier said reunion w Antoine Winfield will ultimately come down to making the numbers work. Winfield currently exploring other options...

Dan Wiederer on Twitter

[dead_poet]

Antoine Winfield - DB - Free Agent

Coach Leslie Frazier is under the impression free agent CB Antoine Winfield would like to re-sign with the Vikings, even though he'd be in for a reduced role.

"Now it's just a matter of, can we work things out financially to his liking as well as our team's liking," Frazier said. "He's very comfortable coming back in (a smaller role). 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." Winfield played 1,057 snaps last season, which was 12th amongst corners. He's yet to make any visits in free agency.
Source: ESPN 1500 Twin Cities

[losperros]

Antoine Winfield - DB - Free Agent

Coach Leslie Frazier is under the impression free agent CB Antoine Winfield would like to re-sign with the Vikings, even though he'd be in for a reduced role.

"Now it's just a matter of, can we work things out financially to his liking as well as our team's liking," Frazier said. "He's very comfortable coming back in (a smaller role). 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." Winfield played 1,057 snaps last season, which was 12th amongst corners. He's yet to make any visits in free agency.
Source: ESPN 1500 Twin Cities

Thanks for the update, DP. I hope the next one is: Winfield re-signs with the Vikings.

I freely admit that I don't know all the reasons behind the team cutting Winfield, but I really wish it never would have happened. The guy has enough fuel left in the tank to be a great help to the Vikings defense.

[Cliff]

I freely admit that I don't know all the reasons behind the team cutting Winfield, but I really wish it never would have happened. The guy has enough fuel left in the tank to be a great help to the Vikings defense.

It really all comes down to cap space, I believe. He was going to hit the cap for 7+ million this season, I believe.

[losperros]

It really all comes down to cap space, I believe. He was going to hit the cap for 7+ million this season, I believe.

Oh, I think money had a lot to do with it.

That said, I wish the negotiations going on now would have been settled sooner. Maybe there was no other way to go about it, but the present scenario is driving me crazy.

Admittedly, a lot of that is selfishness on my part simply because Winfield is one of my favorite players.

[Mothman]

Oh, I think money had a lot to do with it.

Undoubtedly...

I also got the impression from at least one report that cutting him wasn't necessarily in the plan but when negotiations with Loadholt took a turn toward the expensive (ie; more than the Vikes expected it to cost them) Winfield became a cap casualty because they didn't want Loadholt to hit the open market.

That said, I wish the negotiations going on now would have been settled sooner. Maybe there was no other way to go about it, but the present scenario is driving me crazy.

Admittedly, a lot of that is selfishness on my part simply because Winfield is one of my favorite players.

He's one of my favorites too and I'd love to see him playing for the Vikings again this season. I hope they can work something out.