Comments on: Antoine Winfield surprised by release by Vikings

By: urcrap

urcrap — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 02:03:45 +0000

After reading the media scoops on the Winfield release, and coming from a Vike fan, I wish him best to find another team that plays the Vikes this season and he embarrasses the organization with the lights out performance that he brought to the field for 9 seasons. Hated to hear of this move and shame on you Mr. Spielman!

By: contra74

contra74 — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 19:42:55 +0000

tokyosandblaster says:Mar 13, 2013 6:15 AM

That’s because the Vikings have no class whatsoever.
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So class must be signing a repeat drug abuser named Johnny Jolly?

By: deenognizer

deenognizer — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 18:57:57 +0000

This SUCKS! Now we don’t have anyone on the team who can LAY THE LUMBER, not to mention, TACKLE!!! Gotta go after LaRon Landry NOW!!!

By: champs794

champs794 — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 17:10:19 +0000

Whether it was my dog with cancer or a veteran that can’t play every down and won’t take a pay cut, I know what I’d have to do.

That doesn’t mean it feels good.

By: filthymcnasty1

filthymcnasty1 — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 17:00:45 +0000

purplehaze12 says: Mar 13, 2013 11:15 AM

“It sucks being a Viking fan this past week!”

As opposed to the previous 50 years without a championship?

By: purplehaze12

purplehaze12 — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 15:15:27 +0000

It sucks being a Viking fan this past week!

By: spartan822

spartan822 — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 15:09:38 +0000

So many ex-Packer greats end up playing for the Vikings, never the other way around
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That’s because players know that going from the Vikings to the Packers would be like getting a demotion. The smart ones leave the Packers and come to the Vikings.

By: 15starr

15starr — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 14:49:23 +0000

So many ex-Packer greats end up playing for the Vikings, never the other way around

By: mjkelly77

mjkelly77 — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 14:16:09 +0000

The Vikequeens mistreat their players. Plain and simple.

By: vikesfannatx

vikesfannatx — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 14:15:07 +0000

He should be thankful… he’s been a Viking for a long time… if I were him, I’m begging Seattle to hire me for a season.

Apparently Seattle wants to win a championship

By: vikesfansteve

vikesfansteve — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 14:11:56 +0000

He was asked to restructure his contract to help re- sign Loadholt and he refused. Instead of pulling a Tom Brady he pulled a James Harrison. The Vikings had no choice but to cut his 7.5 million cap hit. Do they want to keep him? Yes no doubt but will he take 3 million? He played great last year but still got burned bad a couple of times like the whole Indy game. He is a huge loss, lets hope the Vikings can get him to return but the cut should be no surprise when the team his trying to build a winner and you refuse to restructure your contract.

By: jonstump

jonstump — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 14:09:42 +0000

He needs to retire and immediately open the “Winfield School for Pro Tackling” as he is the best pure tackler in the game, and it is a lost art. If a guy who is “five foot nothin, a hundred and nothin” can tackle like that, there’s no excuse for anyone else in the league.

By: Rick Spielman is a Magician

Rick Spielman is a Magician — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 14:06:45 +0000

Great all-time Viking, but I can’t believe he was that surprised. He was asked to take a pay cut and he refused. Why should the Vikings put an offer in front of him if he already told them he wasn’t taking a pay cut? I think he should have seen this coming.

By: truehoosier62

truehoosier62 — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 13:45:38 +0000

You can’t build a great team if you allow emotions to guide you. Winfield was a great player, and a player any team would be proud to have. Having said that, he’s also 36, has had numerous injuries in the past three years, is a great tackler, but has never been a truly shut-down” corner, and was going to be paid $7.2M this year, when the team wanted to begin to accelerate the playing time of some younger corners, (not counting anyone they may draft).
Sad to see him go, but it’s time to move on and keep building

By: codiablo

codiablo — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 13:38:43 +0000

Speilmqn best to apologize. That guy was Mr. Viking-time to offer the guy 2 yr 8m contract; guaranteed.

By: chillyp

chillyp — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 13:32:55 +0000

The thing they’re not mentioning is that the Vikes had previously spoken to Winfields agent about a restructure and they said it was a ‘No Go’. So what, did they want the Vikes to offer a restructure to insult AW?

By: filthymcnasty1

filthymcnasty1 — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 13:25:51 +0000

He’s surprised that they didn’t release Ponder first.

By: jazz11001

jazz11001 — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 13:17:43 +0000

Ok I understand moving Percy for his attitude but 26 was the polar opposite. If this is the way the team management behaves then it is time to remove Rick Zygi…for the same excuse you gave us for Percy.

By: wwwmattcom

wwwmattcom — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 13:08:51 +0000

We missed you in Buffalo Antoine.

By: conormacleod

conormacleod — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 13:06:48 +0000

Cry me a river on the “he deserved better” posts. Don’t get me wrong, I loveWinfield. I love the Vikings. But, I’m supposed to muster up resentment at one rich guy being cut off an NFL roster? I have news for you, MOST of us deserved better in life. But it just didn’t happen. Now shut up and enjoy football.

BTW: from what I read Winfield declined to take a pay cut. He should have expected to be cut.

By: jus10jonez

jus10jonez — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 13:05:17 +0000

I know my Falcons only have about 4 mil in cap space but I hope we sign him. We need a good cover cb and a good tackler.

By: bobby2478

bobby2478 — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 13:03:43 +0000

If it’s true that Spielman never so much as asked him about possibly restructuring his deal, and they just cut him out of the blue, then I think Winfield deserved better.

After 100 tackles last season and playing like 90% of the snaps when he was supposed to be a nickel corner, and him being a team leader on defense, and having been a great player and community guy for the team for the past 9 years, you’d figure they owe him some decency.

I don’t buy the explanation that it’s all due to the fact they needed cap space for Loadholt’s new deal that was more then they expected to pay. If they had no way of fitting Loadholt’s new deal under the cap and this was the only way, you’d still think they could have asked him about restructuring his deal so he can retire with the team. You also think they’d give him a heads up before free agency that they may need him to restructure his deal to clear cap space, or in worst case scenario he might be a cap casualty so his agent could do some homework. Not the way to treat one of your leaders on defense who’s been nothing other then a model player for you for 9 yrs.

By: skylander14

skylander14 — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 13:03:23 +0000

He was a nickel corner making $7+ mil, this couldn’t have came as that much of a surprise. It sounds like the Vikings want the play time and roster space for younger players just as much as the cap room.

By: ickky

ickky — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 12:58:24 +0000

“As a vike fan i am sorry to see him go. He was nothing but class and he did deserve an opportunity for a restructure. Good luck Antonie!,”

By: Where's Bud Grant when you need him?

Where's Bud Grant when you need him? — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 12:49:13 +0000

The reality is hadn’t “formally” proposed a restructuring means they did propose one and he didn’t listen. Beyond that his cover skills simply aren’t what they used to be. Take the emotion out of it and see it for what it is, a business decision. The right one. After he doesn’t attract any other interest he might be back in Minnesota at a lesser price if his pride allows it.

By: 2ruefan

2ruefan — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 12:48:35 +0000

I don’t like the way Spielman did business her at ALL.

He should have approached the agent and discussed what they needed to do in order to keep him around.

He deserves better than to just be outright released with no discussion, etc.

It smells of Spielman doing it this way on PURPOSE so that Winfields opportunities elsewhere were diminished and Spielman would have leverage to bring him back at a lower price.

I think this is a move that could come back to seriously haunt them this year. He is far and away their best corner and if he doesn’t have a plan to replace his level of play, they are SCREWED in terms of pass defense next year…

By: andrewsteindione

andrewsteindione — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 12:47:12 +0000

manilarizzo says: Mar 13, 2013 6:20 AM

Nine years and we’re talking about one of the better corners in the league being “still able to play”.
_________________________________

He’s been with the organization for nine years, but he’s been in the league for much longer. He was drafted by Buffalo in ’99 and is probably 36 years old at this point.

By: lebronsinsecurity

lebronsinsecurity — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 12:27:50 +0000

Would love to see him in a purple uniform again, but doubt it happens. Spielman claiming it’s a possibility publicly was nothing more than a PR move. Hope you get to for a winner Antoine – Nobody at your position and size could deliver a hit like you. Good Luck!

By: fwippel

fwippel — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 12:14:00 +0000

Yeah, he had a high price tag, but he was also this team’s best CB, and good CBs are hard to find.

Time will tell is this ends up being a smart move, but for a team sorely needing to add quality at several positions already, this move adds nothing to the team, and more more significant position to the list of team needs.

The Vikings now have a great deal of cap space. What have they done with it?

By: jdk5477

jdk5477 — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 11:45:06 +0000

Foxboro is waiting, not to mention Lombardi!