Comments on: Antoine Winfield Is Getting Upset

By: jrmbadger

jrmbadger — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 17:03:19 +0000

“MattskiJK says:
July 6, 2009 8:54 AM
As a Vikings fan this really grinds my gears. Kind of a dick move Winny.”
So a guy wants a contract extension, is told by the TEAM that he deserves one and will get one, then gets the cold shoulder and complains. So what?
That’s not a dick move……
THIS is a dick move…..
Retire. Then express doubt. Call coaches who charter a flight to go welcome you back. Call coach back – nevermind. Then after the team has publicly moved on, change mind. Create a huge distraction and a huge problem for a young team until you finally force a trade – whining the whole way about how bad uncle Teddy is for not TAKING YOU FOR YOUR WORD. Suck for a year. Then go to the team you really wanted to go to, but big old bad Teddy wouldn’t let you before ….. for the sole purpose of “sticking” it to your old team.
That my friend, is a “dick” move.
Any you are now lined up right in front of him, so get ready to be shafted by the king of all dick moves.

By: ZN0rseman

ZN0rseman — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 16:30:28 +0000

You know, what ever happened to the players in 80′s who would willingly help the team by taking a pay cut to help get a player signed that can help them win? Do they not care about winning anymore?
It’s winning and sacrifice turns a great player into a hero.
Winfield is a great player who is in a great situation in Minny… perhaps he should start thinking along the of heroism instead of how he can line his already extrordinarily fat pocketbook?
$0.02,
–Z

By: realitypolice

realitypolice — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 16:27:38 +0000

SpartaChris-
The “dick move” quote was from a comment posted by mattskiJK. The “holdout” quote was from Florio. Try to keep up.
Lots of players skip OTA’s (which, it’s worth pointing out, are optional), and a very small percentage of them hold out of camp. So one is not an indicator of the other.

By: Chris Rush

Chris Rush — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 15:40:33 +0000

What a weird blurb. Can anyone remember Florio ever taking such a hard line stance on players who gripe about their contracts? I mean, this happens all the time to every team in the league, and I don’t think you’ve ever issued such a blanket rebuttal like this:
“But that’s not how it works. The Vikings have bought and paid for his services for six seasons, and Winfield is contractually obligated to spend one more year with the team.”
Wow. You sure do make it sound open and shut.
In past years you’ve talked about how the Jets had a disgruntled player every offseason: Kendall, Baker, Coles. Those three guys said the same thing Antoine Winfield is saying now: “The organization lied to me.” In those cases, you did not see that issue in shades of black and white, but chose to ask what was happening inside the Jets organization that was causing such a thing.
But that’s not how it works. The Jets have bought and paid for his services for (#) seasons, and (player) is contractually obligated to spend (#) more year(s) with the team.
You never said that. And I’ve got a feeling that, the next time a player gripes about his contract and you don’t take the same, unequivocal stance that you did today, you’re going to hear about it from the folks who remember this blurb.

By: JimmySmith

JimmySmith — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 14:38:38 +0000

You have got to look at this in context. The Vikings paid Darren Sharper well past the point of his usefulness. They paid Berriman $44 million and the clown didn’t even make it up to 50 catches. They paid Allen over $70 million and whether he is worth it or not is hardly the point, its the fact that the Vikings spend stupid levels of money and now Winfield wants in on the action.
Can you blame him? He wants that same level of stupidity that justifies signing a 40 year old INT machine to a $10 Million dollar contract to apply to his contract.

By: CanadianVikingFan

CanadianVikingFan — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 14:13:06 +0000

Winfield was a great corner, he brought an intensity and a consistancy thats been missing at the corner position for a while. But he is old, I’m not sure how much juice he is going to have at the end of this season. Lets just hope one of the other corners can step up. Cedric Griffin has been playing amazingly this past year so I have no worries about him. But the others, Marcus McUseless, rookie Asher Allen, and the other guys..
Another thing I want to point out, they realize that Winfield is old and wont extend his contract but they will sign a old wilted Qb who is 8years older than him….. Makes me wonder if Chilli or Zigi have any common sense at all..

By: texasPHINSfan

texasPHINSfan — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 12:43:19 +0000

100% agree florio. he is a great player, but he needs to honor his contract. the Vikings didn’t go after a refund when he had bad years, why should they have to pony up an extra mil or so in his final year?
it’s not an entitlement, it’s a privilege…. and he’s had a nice payday.

By: Wayne

Wayne — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 12:40:36 +0000

I have to question this player or any player’s knowledge of what is happening to the nation and our economy right now. Greed is not a good attribute for anyone.
Does Winfield know that President Obama, the guy he probably voted for, along with the rest of the liberals in DC are in the process of totally destroying our nations economy, those greenbacks will be worthless to us all in another year. Welcome to communism comrade Winfield.
Now play football cause in the future, you’ll be playing for much less.

By: SpartaChris

SpartaChris — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 12:14:28 +0000

realitypolice says: July 6, 2009 10:53 AM "If he doesn't like it, he shouldn't hold out . . . he should simply retire." "As a Vikings fan this really grinds my gears. Kind of a dick move Winny." Wait a second. What has done that's such a dick move? Is he threatening to holdout? I don't hear that in his comments. Stop putting words in player's mouths, Florio.

Might want to go back and re-read the comments. Florio didn't call anything Winfield's done a "dick move." And skipping OTA's due to contract issues is a threat to hold out. In fact, he was quoted in this article: http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2009/06/05/childress-on-winfield-i-want-him-here/ as saying, “I want all to know that I’m not at OTAs because I don’t want to be there. I do want to be there! As I have stated before, I want to finish my career a Viking.” If money wasn't the issue, why would he skip OTA's?

By: cliffcla

cliffcla — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 12:00:06 +0000

Winfield is a class act. Anyone would be frustrated by hearing statements coming out that we want him. From the buzz his agent and the organization are not that far apart on the contract. I think this boils down to incentives, signing bonus, and Bret Favre. I really believe that the organization is waiting to see how much they will need to pay Favre before doing any other big money deals. This includes first second round draft picks and Winfield. Unless of course Favre has a contract in place already…

By: purpleguy

purpleguy — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 11:10:00 +0000

He’s worth a 3 year contract, but I bet he wants 4 years. You also got to wonder if the delay is at all related to the Lord Favre saga and the delay in determining the cap implications of signing bonuses and/or guaranteed money for both of them.

By: Greg P

Greg P — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 11:08:59 +0000

Winfield 6 million not enough? No its that you want that four the next 5 years I bet. The Vikes should offer him a 2 or 3 year deal, at 6 million per… He said he wants to retire as a Viking, but a 5 or 6 year deal for a guy thats 32, at 6 million plus per season. Yikes!
With a #1CB in Cedric Griffen, Ben Sapp, Marcus McCauley and 3rd round draft pick Asher Allen the Vikes are ready to move on, if they have to. Winfield’s positives outweigh any shortcomings he may have and it is a surprise that he has not made more than one Pro Bowl. Having said that, at this stage in his career, a short term contract would be in the Vikes best interest.

By: realitypolice

realitypolice — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 10:53:14 +0000

“If he doesn’t like it, he shouldn’t hold out . . . he should simply retire.”
“As a Vikings fan this really grinds my gears. Kind of a dick move Winny.”
Wait a second. What has done that’s such a dick move? Is he threatening to holdout? I don’t hear that in his comments. Stop putting words in player’s mouths, Florio.
It’s perfectly natural for a NFL player to want to avoid a lame duck season. There’s no safety net if he gets injured. As long as he doesn’t act on his dissatisfaction, he is doing nothing wrong here.
BTW, as I always like to point out in these types of situations, the NFL will renege on dozens of contracts this season, cutting players long before they pay the money in the contract they also signed. It amazes me how the average, hard working fan consistently takes the side of billionaire owners in these arguments.

By: Mandingo52

Mandingo52 — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 10:45:18 +0000

Hey people…his kids have to eat too.

By: halestorm74

halestorm74 — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 10:18:34 +0000

Calm down Antoine. You know the Vikes want to extend you, however, there is another contract looming in the shadows that they might want to get done first (a certain QB). Just relax I have a feeling it will get done.

By: Kaz

Kaz — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 10:17:56 +0000

In this economy, he needs to pocket the 6 million and worry about next year…well…next year. No one’s in the position to turn down money nowadays…

By: Agent Michael Scarn

Agent Michael Scarn — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 10:03:37 +0000

“They all said I was ‘their guy,’ and that we would try to get you done”
That’s what she said

By: Bob Nelson is a Whiney Titty Baby

Bob Nelson is a Whiney Titty Baby — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 09:43:39 +0000

Winfield is worth the $ he has been paid. But he is at an age where his shelf life is short. Perhaps something will happen after a certain other player signs and the cap implications are known.

By: Vikings Guy 29

Vikings Guy 29 — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 09:43:05 +0000

The key word is “try”… It’s not like a team is going to open up their checkbook and say, how much do you want? I get it, he wants it to get out that he’s unhappy to create a stir… Times are rough, don’t expect fans to feel your pain. Play out your contract and go elsewhere if you don’t like it here or feel you haven’t been treated fairly.. Two things that motivate players.. Wins and money, choose one move on!
I love it, he claims he’s a team guy, and all he wants is money.. For a CB that got beat on routes alot last year, I wouldn’t give him that kind of money…

By: Vikings Guy 29

Vikings Guy 29 — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 09:42:42 +0000

By: DCViking

DCViking — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 09:07:40 +0000

It would be great to Winfield back for the long term, but he is getting old — I don’t blame the Vikings for being cautious with signing him. Plus, for the all things he does, he’s not a great coverage guy — though that doesn’t seem to be a big deal as long as the Vikes run a 2-deep style defense.
The signing of a certain quarterback is probably also factoring into the negotiations.
But, mark this down, if the Vikings don’t sign him at least of one those people who claim “The guy is overpaid now and not worth his current contract.” will whine at the end of each of his posts with something to the effect that the Vikings lost their best defensive back, and thus are doomed to failure (among other reasons).

By: MattskiJK

MattskiJK — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 08:54:53 +0000

As a Vikings fan this really grinds my gears. Kind of a dick move Winny.

By: Tim

Tim — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 08:17:48 +0000

Give the man a few bucks at a lower per year rate compared to his current salary. Sign him through the 2012/13 season(s) with both sides understanding that he should retire at that point and he won’t get another dollar from the Vikes.
The man is a player and has been the lone bright spot on a historically bad pass defense.

By: Bob Nelson

Bob Nelson — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 08:10:36 +0000

1) The guy is overpaid now and not worth his current contract.
2) He knows no other team will be as stupid with their money.
3) He won’t get that money next year.
4) It’s tough getting old.

By: aj

aj — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 07:26:06 +0000

Maybe Winfield can call up Dunta Robinson ($9.96 million guaranteed this year with a franchise tag but still refusing to sign) and share stories about how they’re being dissed.

By: gwinn1952

gwinn1952 — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 07:12:21 +0000

You signed a contract…..finally made the pro bowl….and you want more money. Give me a break. You athletes need to show you are not a one year wonder. Do it again this year and then go for the contract. You signed a deal for lots of money and only made the pro bowl once. Get over yourself.