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

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Viking OTA's-Wednesday-Winfield Update; Greenway Health Update; Udeze Employs Yoga (May 23)

Winfield's Agent Stirs The Pot

The Antoine Winfield story is gathering steam. Richard Katz, Winfield's agent, (who hasn't returned our calls over the past two weeks) told NFL.com that Winfield will attend the Vikings mandatory June 1st minicamp. However, Katz raised some eyebrows by not ruling out a July training camp holdout. Katz refused to answer that question and wouldn't address Winfield's reasons for skipping all of the Vikings OTA's (Organized Team Activities) this year.

It's obvious that Winfield is unhappy with something. Katz wouldn't say if it's money-related. Winfield has 3 years left on a 6-year deal worth $35 million dollars. The more obvious answer dates back to last year. Winfield wants to win, and publicly expressed some dismay over Brad Childress' offense last November, calling it "predictable," and "unacceptable." Things appeared to smooth over between Winfield and Childress last year, but Winfield's absence from Winter Park and his silence throughout the offseason indicate he's not thrilled with the direction of this team right now. Money might be the primary culprit in this, but the issue appears to be somewhat convoluted.

Brad Childress said Winfield hasn't asked for a trade (yet) and deferred to Winfield when asked what irks the Vikings star cornerback. Childress said to ask Winfield. That will happen on June 1st when Winfield returns to Winter Park and faces a media throng ready for answers. Let's hope Winfield sheds some light on a growing off-season distraction.
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http://www.kstp.com/article/stories/S93585.shtml?cat=7
 
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Winfield set to go

All signs suggest that cornerback Antoine Winfield will report to minicamp as scheduled June 1. Winfield skipped this week's voluntary practices, but he told teammates he would participate in minicamp, an intention confirmed this week by agent Richard Katz.

Players can be fined for missing minicamp, but Childress indicated Friday that it shouldn't be an issue with Winfield.

"It's a mandatory minicamp," Childress said. "So yeah, I expect him [here]."

The full nature of Winfield's displeasure remains unclear. Some in the Vikings organization believe he is frustrated by missing the playoffs in two of his three seasons with the team.

Others assume Winfield is ultimately seeking a new contract. The Vikings have nearly $28 million in available salary cap money. Winfield is midway through a six-year, $35 million deal.
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http://www.startribune.com/vikings/story/1207811.html
 
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Winfield has seen enough
Cornerback to skip this week's workouts
BY SEAN JENSEN
Pioneer Press
Article Last Updated: 06/03/2007 10:14:05 PM CDT

Winfield has been mum about what perturbs him, but he shed some light on at least two concerns: the lack of moves to address the offense this offseason and the inexperience of skill-position players.

"Pretty much, I'm going to do this thing on my own," Winfield said. "I don't feel like I really need to be around here. I pretty much know the defense now. I know what I need to work on when I'm away from here.

"I don't think anything is going to change," added Winfield, who made clear he will not attend this week's organized team activities. "They're not going to bring in Peyton Manning or anything like that."
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http://www.twincities.com/vikings/ci_6054115

Winfield won't be back until training camp
After completing the mandatory portion of the Vikings' offseason program, cornerback Antoine Winfield will not rejoin the team until training camp.
By Kevin Seifert, Star Tribune
Last update: June 03, 2007 ? 7:14 PM

"I'm probably going to take my time and probably do my own thing," Winfield said Sunday at the conclusion of minicamp. "I came in, got these three days in, learned what I needed to learn. I know what I need to do on my own to get better. So I'll just work on those things.

"I'm pretty much going to do this thing on my own," he added. "I don't feel like I really need to be around. I pretty much know the defense. I know what I need to work on when I'm away from here."
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Winfield won't be back until training camp
 
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Winfield decides to rejoin Vikings for summer workouts

Published: June 17. 2007 12:30AM
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) ? Minnesota Vikings cornerback Antoine Winfield has decided to join the team for the last two offseason practices.

All it took, apparently, was a few quality conversations with coach Brad Childress.

Winfield showed up for Minnesota?s mandatory minicamp two weeks ago, but until now has declined to participate in the series of late-spring noncontact workouts known around the league as organized team activities ? or OTAs. The Vikings have two more scheduled for next week, and Winfield told Childress that he?ll be there.
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St. Cloud Times | Sports
 
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Sid Hartman: All is well now with Vikings, Winfield
The cornerback and coach Brad Childress had some communication problems last season but say they ironed things out and are on the same page now.

By Sid Hartman, Star Tribune
Last update: July 19, 2007 ? 12:10 AM

Antoine Winfield, who skipped some of the Vikings' early minicamps, had another good face-to-face meeting Wednesday with coach Brad Childress and said he is excited about starting training camp.
Childress admits he could have had better communication with his players during his first season, and that includes Winfield.

This isn't anything unusual. Players and coaches routinely have problems communicating, but the press made it into a big deal.

"We all do," Winfield said about the player-coach communication problems. "It was his [Childress] first year as a head coach, our first year under him. So, there were some things that we all needed to iron out.

"I think we've done that. He seems more laid-back now. You know when you first come in, you want to be that dictator and put your foot down, put your stamp on your legacy, and I think he's done that. So we've all got a year under our belt. Hopefully we'll improve this year."

Winfield said he didn't miss the minicamps because of any communication issues.

"Oh, no, it was nothing like that," he said. "It was just, I'm going through my ninth year, you know everyone made a big deal of me not being here, and working out with the team and stuff like that. But it wasn't about me being selfish or anything like that. I kind of know my body. I know what I need to do to get ready and I'm definitely ready."

There was speculation Winfield wasn't happy with his contract, especially after former Patriots cornerback Nate Clements signed a huge contract with the 49ers.

"Everyone wanted to make a big deal like I was upset about my contract, or it had something to do with me and coach Childress getting along. It was nothing like that. I just had to get away and just take care of the things at home."

Winfield does realize the market price for cornerbacks has gone up since he signed his contract.

"Oh, of course. I mean when I signed it, it was a great deal," he said. "But, of course, you know the money's going to go up every year. Who knows, in another three years Nate's contract might not look like that. Now you have DeAngelo Hall, Asante Samuel, a few guys coming up. So, it's not about the money. I love playing this game. I played it for free for a long time."

Asked if the Vikings can contend for the division title, Winfield said, "I think so. You know if we improve on a lot of things we didn't do last year. Get a lot more turnovers, not give up big plays on the back end, create turnovers to put our offense in a lot better positions."
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Sid Hartman: All is well now with Vikings, Winfield
 
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Winfield's goals even higher
Cornerback wants trip to Pro Bowl, Super Bowl win
BY SEAN JENSEN
Pioneer Press
Article Last Updated: 08/14/2007 12:58:02 AM CDT


MANKATO, Minn. - This is his year.

Veteran cornerback Antoine Winfield can literally feel his game rising to another level, one that most certainly will be validated by a long overdue trip to the Pro Bowl.

Although he enters his ninth NFL season, Winfield never has felt better after two weeks of training camp, and he settled the uncharacteristic drama he endured this offseason.

"I worked hard this offseason," Winfield said, "and I want to win the Super Bowl, and I want to make it to the Pro Bowl. In order to accomplish those goals, I have to play better and make more plays."

To be fair, though, Winfield will be hard-pressed to top his 2006 performance.

He set a career-high with 20 pass deflections, he tied a career-high with four interceptions, including one he returned for a touchdown against the Chicago Bears, and he finished fifth on the team with 88 tackles.

Five-time Pro Bowl receiver Torry Holt didn't want to speculate on why Winfield hasn't joined him in Hawaii. But the St. Louis Rams receiver certainly didn't hold back his praise for the Vikings veteran.

"When I watch Antoine Winfield on film, the first thing that I notice is the way he tackles as a corner," said Holt, who has topped 1,100 yards receiving in each season since 2000. "Definitely one of the better finishers on the end as far as tackling.

"He also does a good job in one-on-one," Holt said. "I don't think he gets enough credit for his cover ability. He has tremendous quickness, good hips, good recognition of routes. Those are the things that I am conscious of when I go up against a guy like Winfield."

Vikings safety Dwight Smith said Winfield is a better "cover corner" than four-time Pro Bowl cornerback Ronde Barber of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

"You rarely find a guy who can hit and cover in this league," said Smith, who played with Barber in Tampa from 2001-04. "It's hard to find safeties that can do that. So (Winfield is) a rare athlete."

In fact, Smith said Winfield is the key to the Vikings' secondary, a point new defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier reinforced.

"I like his leadership ability. I like the way he practices. I like his work ethic. I like the way he interacts with his teammates," Frazier said. "All those things are necessary when you're the top guy, and he is the top guy in our secondary.

"If he plays like I think he's going to play this year, he'll be a Pro Bowl corner," said Frazier, who played six seasons at cornerback for the Chicago Bears. "He's got the ingredients."

Winfield possesses above-average speed. But his primary asset is his unique ability to hit harder than most 183-pound men.

"I don't know what it is about him," said Smith, a 200-pound safety who also has a reputation as a hitter. "But somehow, he just knows how to put that hat on people."

Defensive tackle Pat Williams played with Winfield for five seasons in Buffalo, and he marveled at how some opponents got up after one of the cornerback's jarring blows.

"That (expletive) is small, but he be hitting them hard," Williams said. "When we played with the Bills, he would hit people and I'd be like, 'How are they getting up?' "
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http://www.twincities.com/ci_6616443?source=most_viewed
 
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Winfield wants Driver matchup
September 24th, 2007 ? 11:45 AM by Judd Zulgad

Vikings cornerback Antoine Winfield had an interesting comment during his weekly appearance on KFAN Radio this morning. Winfield discussed the fact that teams are largely staying away from throwing the ball to his side; he didn?t come out and say it but the reason is because quarterbacks would much rather go after second-year corner Cedric Griffin.

This is what happened in the fourth quarter Sunday when Dwayne Bowe caught a 16-yard touchdown pass that proved to be the difference in Kansas City?s 13-10 victory. Toward the end of the interview, Winfield was asked about playing against Green Bay and receiver Donald Driver on Sunday at the Metrodome.

?If I?m not matched up on Donald Driver one-on-one something is wrong,? Winfield said.

Driver is the Packers? leading receiver and is tied for eighth in the NFL with 20 receptions for 265 yards and two touchdowns. What does his comment mean?

Ordinarily, Winfield lines up at the left corner and Griffin is on the right side. But some times what teams will do is scrap the specific designation and put their top cover corner on the opposing team?s best receiver. The Vikings tried this back in 2005 when Carolina?s Steve Smith absolutely destroyed Fred Smoot. In that case, Winfield rarely if ever got to cover the Panthers? top threat.

Griffin has struggled this season with his tackling ? something that is a strength of Winfield?s game ? and it?s obvious Winfield wants to see more action come his way. Having him on Driver would accomplish that.
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Access Vikings: ? Blog Archive ? Winfield wants Driver matchup
 
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Winfield thinks Driver's seeing double
Vikings cornerback can't wait for rematch
BY SEAN JENSEN and DON SEEHOLZER
Pioneer Press
Article Last Updated: 10/02/2007 10:23:10 PM CDT


Cornerback Antoine Winfield has yet another reason to circle Nov. 11, the date the Vikings play the Packers in Green Bay.

In addition to the Packers defeating the Vikings 23-16 Sunday at the Metrodome, Packers Pro Bowl receiver Donald Driver insisted afterward that Winfield - who last week said he wanted to defend Driver the entire game - needed help.

"I talked to (Winfield)," Driver told the Wisconsin State Journal. "I said, 'You're going to make a statement that you're going to play me man to man? C'mon.'

"He's like, 'You know I love you; you know I love playing you.' But (I said), 'You didn't play me man to man; you doubled. You needed safety help.' And when he did play me man to man, I caught seven balls."

Informed of Driver's comments, Winfield laughed and insisted Driver didn't make those comments.

"Wow. That is funny," Winfield said. "What film is he watching? He caught three balls on me."

Driver led the Packers with seven catches, and he was targeted on nine passes. And although Winfield didn't cover Driver exclusively, Winfield was one of the key reasons Driver gained just 58 yards. Winfield's only mistake was missing an ankle tackle on Driver in the third quarter when Driver slipped past him for a 14-yard gain. The Packers punted four plays later.

Four of Winfield's game-high 10 tackles came on Driver. Besides, Winfield said doubling up a receiver isn't in the Vikings' game plan.

"We don't have one coverage in our whole scheme that doubles anyone," Winfield said. "When I play him in the slot, I play him man to man. He made a few plays. But it was nothing like that."

Winfield said he welcomed a chance to defend Driver solo because the receiver produced for 191 yards, including an 82-yard touchdown, on six catches in a Packers' victory at the Metrodome last season.

"I wanted to play against him because he's gone off before," Winfield said, "and the thing this defense has to do is take away other teams' strengths. Make them beat us with a secondary player."

Despite Driver's comments, Winfield said he harbors no ill will toward him.

"I respect his game," Winfield said. "He's going to get that ball. What he's great at is that run after the catch. I love playing against him, because it elevates my game."

Asked how the Vikings will defend Driver in November at Lambeau Field, Winfield said, "I guess we'll double him next game, too."
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http://www.twincities.com/ci_7066646?source=most_viewed
 
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CNNSI

NFL's Best Small Hitters - #1 Antoine Winfield
While it may be true that you can't teach size, bigger does not always translate to better in the NFL, where technique, smarts and a willingness to use one's body as a weapon can fell the most imposing of Goliaths. Herewith, the most ferocious undersized players in the NFL.

A press-coverage connoisseur, the ninth-year veteran is perhaps the most physical cover corner in the league. Winfield's run support is unequaled at his position, which is why he has amassed more than 95 tackles in three of the last four seasons and had eight tackles for loss in 2006.
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winfield%282%29.jpg
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Minnesota Vikings' Antoine Winfield displeased with play of cornerbacks, including himself
From staff reports

Article Last Updated: 10/28/2007 11:04:49 PM CDT


Cornerback Antoine Winfield led the Vikings with 11 tackles, and he defended three passes, including a potential touchdown to Philadelphia Eagles receiver Greg Lewis in the fourth quarter.

But Winfield said the Vikings' cornerbacks are not playing well enough, and he included himself as one of the culprits.

"At the corner position, we're just giving up too many balls. I take the blame for that," Winfield said. "I need to play better. I definitely need to play better to give us a chance to win."
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http://www.twincities.com/ci_7308157?source=most_viewed
 
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Minnesota Vikings' defense has missed cornerback Antoine Winfield
Cornerback expected to play against Raiders
BY SEAN JENSEN
Pioneer Press
Article Launched: 11/17/2007 12:01:00 AM CST


Football is marketed as the ultimate team sport, but the Vikings showed last Sunday how important one player can be.

In Green Bay, facing one of the best quarterbacks ever without one of their top defenders, the Vikings' defense was undressed in a 34-0 shutout. The Vikings sorely missed cornerback Antoine Winfield, who is expected to play Sunday after sitting out the past two games because of a hamstring injury.

Facing Brett Favre instead of San Diego's Philip Rivers, Vikings defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier said he was less inclined to attack the quarterback last Sunday at Lambeau Field.

"It makes a difference, when you're playing that style of offense, when you don't have your best guy," Frazier said. "It's different if the receivers are just mediocre guys. But Donald Driver is a good receiver, and so is (Greg) Jennings. So you have to pick your spots. ... You have to be a little bit smarter.

"If you don't have your best guy, you're thinking, 'Can I (blitz), can't I (blitz)?' So yeah, it does make a difference."

Favre still might have passed for 351 yards with Winfield on the field. But the Vikings are confident Winfield could have helped contain unheralded running back Ryan Grant, who paced the Packers' offense with 119 rushing yards. His two longest runs were to the right, including a 30-yard touchdown on a toss.

That is Winfield's territory.

Asked about the veteran cornerback's impact on the defense, Vikings safety Darren Sharper said,

"He's huge.
"You basically eliminate one side of the ball, because he's going to always come up and make the tackle," Sharper said.
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http://www.twincities.com/ci_7487539?source=most_viewed
 
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Viking notes: Winfield ready to return to field
By Judd Zulgad, Star Tribune
Last update: December 5, 2007

Cornerback Antoine Winfield went through the majority of drills in practice Wednesday and appears set to return from a hamstring injury Sunday when the Vikings play at San Francisco. "I'll definitely be out there," he said. "I can't wait."

Winfield, who has missed four of the past five games, said he "didn't miss a snap" Wednesday, but the injury report listed him as having limited participation. Nonetheless, Winfield's optimism is good news for the Vikings.

Winfield originally strained his hamstring Oct. 28 against Philadelphia and then had a significant setback in practice the following Wednesday. He missed two games before returning to start Nov. 18 against Oakland. Winfield aggravated the injury early in that victory and sat out the second half and the past two games.

"It was tough for me," said Winfield, who has mostly been a spectator for the Vikings' three-game winning streak. "I like to compete. Definitely like to get out there with my teammates and have a little fun. But it worked out for the best. We won three in a row. Hopefully we go on a stretch the next four games and get in the hunt."

Winfield likely could have played in the Vikings' 42-10 victory over Detroit on Sunday -- coach Brad Childress said Winfield was at "about 95 percent" -- but the Vikings medical staff did not want to take any chances and rookie Marcus McCauley played instead.

Before this season, Winfield had not missed a game since his first year with the Vikings in 2004. He admits the time off has left him feeling good.

"This is as healthy as I have ever been," he said. "I have no nagging anything. Just ran out here today. The only thing is probably my wind. I haven't been really running for like the last month so I get a little tired. But I'll be cool once the adrenaline starts running."
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Viking notes: Winfield ready to return to field
 
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