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

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Vikings CB Antoine Winfield leaves game with shoulder injury

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) ? Vikings cornerback Antoine Winfield left Monday night's game against Chicago at halftime with a shoulder injury.
It was not immediately clear on what play Winfield was injured in the second quarter, but the loss took away one of the game's best tackling cornerbacks from the Minnesota secondary.

Winfield was stellar in the first half, especially on a play early in the first quarter against Devin Hester.

On third down, the super-quick Hester took a reverse and looked to have plenty of wide open space in front of him as he turned the corner. However, Winfield sprinted from across the formation, knifed through a hole at the line of scrimmage, and made an ankle tackle on Hester to force a punt.
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Vikings CB Antoine Winfield leaves game with shoulder injury - USATODAY.com
 
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Injured say they will try to lend hand vs. Broncos
Antoine Winfield, Sidney Rice and other Vikings aren't 100 percent but want to play with a playoff berth hanging in the balance.

By KEVIN SEIFERT, Star Tribune
Last update: December 27, 2007 -

If today were Sept. 27 instead of Dec. 27, Antoine Winfield probably wouldn't have faced the questions he fielded Wednesday. Nine days after partially tearing his left pectoral muscle, Winfield was on the practice field in hopes of playing in the Vikings' regular-season finale Sunday at Denver.

A victory against the Broncos, combined with a Washington loss to Dallas, would send the Vikings to the playoffs for the first time in three years. A loss would end their season.

Wearing a harness to protect the injury, Winfield is one of several players who are hoping to play in some capacity Sunday despite ailments that might have sidelined them earlier in the season. Winfield, receiver Sidney Rice, linebacker Dontarrious Thomas (groin) and others spent much of Christmas Day in the Vikings' training room to rehabilitate their injuries.

"This is a tough one," said Winfield, who missed most of five games earlier this season because of a strained hamstring. "It's definitely a must-win for us. We want to get that chance for us to get into the postseason. But right now I'm just taking it day-to-day and I'll see how it feels at the end of the week."
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Injured say they will try to lend hand vs. Broncos
 
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Refreshed Winfield is on the mend, in both body and psyche
Concerns off the field and injuries on it derailed the cornerback's 2007 season. But now he's healthy and happy to be a Viking.

By JUDD ZULGAD, Star Tribune
Last update: May 22, 2008

Antoine Winfield's easygoing demeanor and even delivery make it difficult to sense the amount of frustration he experienced in 2007. But that doesn't mean the year wasn't one of the toughest he's had in his nine NFL seasons.

Clearly not pleased by his situation with the Vikings, Winfield caused a stir by staying away from the team's voluntary workouts and organized team activities (OTAs). Those issues were resolved in June, but things didn't get any easier as he missed a career-high six games because of injuries.

But as the cornerback left the field Thursday after the Vikings wrapped up their first week of OTAs, Winfield said he not only finally feels healthy but also is very happy and would like to finish his career in Minnesota. "Of course, I would," he said. "Anytime you start with a team and you've been there a few years, you want to end there. But that's not the nature of the business. Guys usually move around. We'll see what happens. I still have two years on my contract."
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Refreshed Winfield is on the mend, in both body and psyche
 
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Minnesota Vikings' Antoine Winfield kept coach Brad Childress amused and informed in offseason
Defensive back kept Childress amused and informed in offseason
By Rick Alonzo
[email protected]
Article Last Updated: 06/08/2008

Antoine Winfield joked that he had a new role this offseason when free agency came around: general manager.

He called and gave Vikings coach Brad Childress his opinion about players available on the market.

"I was the makeshift GM," Winfield said, grinning. "I'd call him, 'Hey, so-and-so is out there. I know we got the money. We can grab him.' It was all in fun. We were trying to get the best players we can in here to try to win a championship."

Actually, Winfield said he had some fairly serious talks with Childress about free agents. And after a three-day minicamp ended Sunday, Winfield liked what he saw from the new class.

"I give it an A-plus," Winfield said. "At every position they brought in some players that are going to help us this year ? safety, wide receiver, D-end. We're expecting big things this year."

Childress described the back-and-forth with his veteran cornerback regarding free agents as "amusing."

"I get free advice all the time," Childress said, "with the emphasis on free, from lots of different pundits and fans and players. You sort through it, and you have fun with it."

Winfield didn't wind up having as much success in free agency as he would have liked. His pitches involved other players ? "we'll leave them out of the discussion" ? so he can't brag too much. But he enjoyed the communication with Childress.

"There were some players out there, and I thought they would be a great addition to our team, and they would definitely help us out this year," Winfield said. "He had an open line. I would call him a few times. We would talk, and we would try to make some things happen, and we did."
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http://www.twincities.com/ci_9524375
 
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Ranking the top 25 NFL defensive backs
Posted: July 22, 2008
War Room scouts

9. Antoine Winfield, CB, Minnesota Vikings. Although the Vikes were terrible against the pass last season, it didn't have a whole lot to do with Winfield. Teams tended to throw away from him given his aggressive style of coverage. He's one of the best tackling corners in the game, and is a top run support corner. Winfield is tough with his jam and some receivers never even get into their routes against him. He occasionally gets beat deep, but the rest of his work earns him a spot high on this list.
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SportingNews.com - Your expert source for NFL Football stats, scores, standings, blogs and fantasy news from NFL Football columnists
 
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Winfield a Favre fan
July 23rd, 2008 ? 7:02 PM by Judd Zulgad

MANKATO ? Vikings cornerback Antoine Winfield isn?t afraid to offer an honest opinion and he did just that as he signed autographs for fans outside of Gage Center this evening. Asked about Packers quarterback Brett Favre playing for the Vikings, Winfield said: ?I think it would be a great move for us, but I don?t know if Green Bay would trade him to a division rival.?

The Packers, in fact, have no interest in trading Favre within the NFC North and also have refused to grant him his release because they don?t want him signing with the Vikings ? the team that apparently is his top choice. The Packers have filed a tampering charge against the Vikings for dealings with Favre. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported Tuesday that cell phone records showed discussions between Vikings offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell and Favre as well Vikings coach Brad Childress and the quarterback.

Officials from the NFL were at Winter Park on Tuesday to question Vikings personnel on the matter. While many Vikings players have simply said that Tarvaris Jackson is their guy, Winfield admits the thought of adding Favre is tempting.

Winfield has played twice a season against Favre since joining the Vikings in 2004. ?Favre is still a great player,? Winfield said. ?That?s what you want to do in this league is add as many great players as you can. I think Tarvaris will do a great job for us if it doesn?t happen.?
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Access Vikings: ? Blog Archive ? Winfield a Favre fan
 
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Minnesota Vikings' Antoine Winfield prefers being positioned inside in slot
Cornerback Winfield prefers being positioned on inside
By Don Seeholzer
[email protected]
Article Last Updated: 07/28/2008

MANKATO, Minn. ? Defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier says the Vikings' nickel-back decision could come down to whether they believe they're better with starting cornerback Antoine Winfield playing outside or inside in the slot.

Winfield, asked Sunday if he has a preference, didn't hesitate.

"I love the slot," he said. "You get more action, the chance to make more plays. A lot of teams throw the ball to the slot receiver on third down, so there's just more opportunity out there."

Whether Winfield remains there could depend in part on who wins the third cornerback job ? Charles Gordon or Marcus McCauley, who is better suited to an outside spot.

Newcomer Benny Sapp also is in the hunt, but if the decision were up to Winfield, the slot is where he would stay.

"Definitely," he said. "You get to blitz in there and everything. If you want to make more plays, you definitely want to play inside."
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Minnesota Vikings' Antoine Winfield prefers being positioned inside in slot - TwinCities.com
 
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With Gordon at left corner, Winfield looms as an insider
By JUDD ZULGAD and CHIP SCOGGINS, Star Tribune staff writers
Last update: September 8, 2008

Cornerback Antoine Winfield said early in training camp that his preference was to play inside against the slot receiver when the Vikings used five defensive backs.

It appears he will get his wish in tonight's season opener at Green Bay.

Cornerback Charles Gordon said Saturday he expects to play left corner when he's brought into the game to replace a linebacker in passing situations. "It all depends on the situation, but I'll probably be outside," he said.

That will mean Winfield can slide inside.

Winfield likes going against the slot receiver because that's where much of the action happens. Gordon said there also is a bit more freedom at the spot.

"[This defense] allows the nickel to be free and be an instinctive player and just go out and make plays and kind of cowboy certain looks or whatever," Gordon said.

Gordon replaced then-rookie Marcus McCauley in nickel situations about halfway through last season. At the time, Gordon was used mainly on the inside, but that was partly because Winfield was injured.

Gordon said he's comfortable playing either spot but admitted the two positions are not similar. "It's totally different," he said. "When you're on the inside, you have so many things happening around you. So when you're on the outside, you just have pretty much ... you are able to focus in more on your man."

Winfield expects to spend much of tonight's game matched up against Packers receiver Donald Driver. Driver plays in the slot and also will line up often against Winfield when the Vikings veteran is at his normal left corner position.
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With Gordon at left corner, Winfield looms as an insider
 
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Is Winfield the Smith stopper?

By JUDD ZULGAD and CHIP SCOGGINS, Star Tribune staff writers
Last update: September 19, 2008 - 8:10 AM

Defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier said Thursday the coaching staff has discussed matching veteran cornerback Antoine Winfield against Carolina receiver Steve Smith in Sunday's game.
Winfield ordinarily plays the left corner but because Smith lines up on the left side for the Panthers, he would spend much of his time going against right corner Cedric Griffin.
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Winfield said the coaches have yet to approach him but the veteran would welcome the opportunity.
"He's a good player," Winfield said of Smith. "He's a short guy like myself but very strong, very explosive and he goes up and gets that ball. So it would be a challenge."
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Winfield comes to the Vikings' rescue

9/22/2008 10:40:01 AM

By Guy Limbeck
Post-Bulletin, Ausitn MN
MINNEAPOLIS -- With one backside blitz, Antoine Winfield changed the complexion of Sunday's game and perhaps the Vikings' season.
The Vikings trailed the Carolina Panthers 10-3 late in the first half. On a third-and-8 play from their 29, the Panthers looked to move the football and extend their lead. But Winfield, a cornerback, blitzed and blind-sided quarterback Jake Delhomme. Winfield recorded a sack, forced a fumble and proceeded to scoop up the ball and race 19 yards for a touchdown.
The one-man play with 1:13 left in the half tied the game 10-10 and jump-started the Vikings' 20-10 victory, their first win in three games this season.

Continued......
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"I cheated a little before the play," Winfield said. "I came strong and he (Delhomme) didn't see me coming."
The Vikings have 14 defensive touchdowns since 2006, the most in the NFL. Nine of those TDs have come on interception returns and five on fumbles. Winfield has three of those touchdowns.
"All 11 players on the field, we know we can make the play," Winfield said.
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