When the Vikings signed veteran cornerback Antoine Winfield to a contract extension in 2009 the unique triggers in the deal, which de-escalated his salary if he were relegated to the nickel position primarily, should have been all the motivation the team’s front office needed to greatly upgrade the position and ensure Winfield stays put with a manageable salary.
Instead, the Vikings did little to add real firepower to the cornerback position and Winfield’s 2012 playing time meant his salary would be $7.25 million in 2013, which is obviously a lot to pay your average 36 year old corner.
The thing is, however, Antoine Winfield is not your average anything.
Ever since signing with the Vikings nine seasons ago, Winfield has been an example to every Vikings player to ever pass through the locker room, showing them how an NFL player ought to act off the field and how a great one ought to play on it. He has defied logic by being the greatest tackling cornerback the NFL has ever seen despite his small stature. He has played through emotional and physical pain. He has neutralized some of the best running backs, wide outs, and even quarterbacks the Vikings ever played. He has delivered speeches that resonated with his entire defense. He has been an on-field coach and an off-field angel in the Twin Cities. He has, almost single handedly, won some very memorable football games for us Vikings to remember and cherish forever.
His release sparked an outrage within the Viking fan community. I tried to take emotion out of it when explaining the financial reasons for myself being upset, but still concluded that the Vikings front office was to blame. After details of how the departure was orchestrated, however, I think the front office deserves blame for a lot more than simply the fact that Winfield was released.
Dan Wiederer of Access Vikings was the first to release details of how Winfield was informed of Rick Spielman’s decision. Wiederer says that Winfield was at Winter Park working out on Tuesday morning when he was asked to go see Spielman in his office upstairs. The release was described as “awkward” and “cold,” which is not terribly unusual in the business of the NFL, but it seems that this would be a situation that might warrant some extra tact.
Wiederer described Winfield as being confused and disappointed with how things played out. Despite previous reports that indicated Winfield refused to take a pay cut to stay with the team, the report says that Winfield was never formally approached about restructuring or reducing his salary, which is why he and his agent were so taken by surprise with the move. The report said Winfield felt like he deserved better, and all of us would likely agree with him.
Tom Pelissero of 1500 ESPN connected a few extra dots and writes the move to cut Winfield was a result of the team having to pay right tackle Phil Loadholt more money than they had expected to. The story played out in such a way that the Vikings had to break their own supposed ceiling of $5 million per year to re-sign Loadholt or else he would have jumped ship to the division rival Chicago Bears. The result apparently was a need to clear cap space and Winfield was the guy that drew the short straw.
Spielman admitted that the news was delivered to Winfield almost immediately after they had re-signed Loadholt.
The news of Winfield’s situation quickly spread following these local reports and the feelings many were feeling was beautifully summed up by Christopher Gates at Daily Norseman. Just in the last year alone, Winfield had played his heart out shortly after learning that his brother had been murdered and also tried his hardest to play through increasing pain which was the result of a broken hand.
When Winfield left the field during a week 17 victory over the Green Bay Packers it was painfully obvious just how much of a gap there is between his talent level and that of his replacements. Marcus Sherels and A.J. Jefferson might represent affordable youth, but Winfield defined the words “irreplaceable leader.”
Still, replacing him is now the task Spielman has assigned himself.
Today, running backs Reggie Bush and Steven Jackson [NOTE: Jackson ended up not joining the Packers, but still] joined the NFC North. The Vikings already share a division with three of the best quarterback-to-receiver combinations in the NFL. Big tight ends are prevelant in these divisional games. Yet, the Vikings chose to send their best tackler packing using youth, money, and a desire to retain “their guys” as the rationale.
Considering that the Vikings nearly sent a draft pick to Baltimore for the right to pay $6 million to a 32 year old Anquan Boldin, I’m not sure that the logic holds up. Even more damning are recent rumors that the Vikings have been in talks with middle linebacker Brian Urlacher, who is looking to be paid in the area of $5.5 million at the age of 34.
In addition, for a guy that is so stubborn about letting the market establish itself before diving in and overpaying a player during free agency, it floors me that Spielman was so willing to pay that much money to Loadholt with other top tackles still remaining unsigned as of this posting. Jake Long, Andre Smith, and Sebastian Vollmer are a few examples.
The fact that the Vikings supposedly haven’t approached any of their high priced veterans, such as Kevin Williams and Jared Allen, about extensions or restructured contracts is troubling as progress in those areas could have kept Winfield in the fold. Spielman is notorious for waiting until the last minute to make any moves, especially when re-signing his own free agents, but this seems to be a case where it bit him in the ass and he pinned himself into a corner.
If the Vikings had been more forthcoming with agents at the Combine, had they entered into negotiations a little sooner, and had they been more proactive about approaching their veterans for help with the cap then maybe this could have, at the very least, been done with a little more class and integrity.
Instead, our favorite team has released one of our favorite Vikings of all time, and done so in a very poor manner.
It’s a shame. It’s a disappointment. It was not needed.
And the buck stops at Rick Spielman’s desk.
View Comments
Very well put Adam. Given what Antoine has been to this team, and still was. it's hard to believe that more thought wasn't put into it.
I'm pissed, that sucks Rick!
Spielman are you nuts?? People cry foul aboutHarvin and you ditch a class act like Winlield. Maybe its time you went away. I have been wasting money for years watching a team that you have no clue how to build. Why don't you just go away
Iam sorry but speilman went out like a Bitch with this decision. A Real Bitch
Good Article,
It's sad , It didn't have to go down this way. I don't like Spielman's logic on this one.
You overpaid on Loadholt plain and simple, He won't own up to that one.
And your right, they didn't have to keep the agents in the dark up to the last minute.
no matter what really happened and why, the perception now is that, at the very least, the FO dissed a very well liked and respected team leader, which hurts the entire vikings organization, and that's unacceptable. ya gotta handle your business better than this
and where was les in all this? i've never felt that les shows anything but respect and compassion for his players, especially one who's been such a big part of his defense for so long, and a fellow db
If I had to guess, and it's a total guess.... Leslie was in the building since he did his presser and all.
No matter what happen with him its sad to see him go but he will always be in my vikings hall of fame to me
It's sad to see Tony go. He was a ton of fun to watch on Sundays.
Freds can't imagine most on this here blog were shocked to see the release of Tony. Our guy is well past his prime and Ricky Ricardo has been clear on his direction. Younger...and develop through the draft. Depending on draft results, old Kevin Williams may be on the same bus out of town soon enough.
It would be interesting someday to hear exactly how this transaction took place. We've only heard one side. Tony is a class dude, he knows as well as anyone that no man is promised tomorrow in the NFL. IF Ricky felt Tony's time was up, he owed no offer of restructuring to Windfield. Perhaps more courtesy, but the old timers need to move aside when the team or the player decide it's time. Rarely do we see an agreement as when a player is done , either the player retires or the player is angry he got cut.
Windfield is one of the only Vikes Freds would like to see stay well past his prime, but better to let the old dogs go one year to early than one year to late. Ain't that right Chester Taylor?
Freds,
Not shocked just disappointed. Your right, I guess I wouldn't make a good G.M.
Being a old timer myself, I lean Winfield's way :(
Freds forgot. AK, that really was a good read. Well done.
Geez, I can only hope there is more to this story but I'm fearing there isn't and Spielman has shown not only a stupid side but also a heartless side. If this is how it all went down, then all I can say is Spielman really stepped on himself this time. What a shame.
Agree with everyone else Adam. NICE JOB!
Excellent article. Puts Bleacher Report and NFC Northblog to shame. Business is business, but that doesn't mean a team GM cannot deliver bad news with respect to a player that gave his all for the Vikings. To summarily dismiss him as if he was a useless rookie, will forever stain Spielman. It speaks badly not just of the team and his management style, but the man's personality. Potential Viking players will take note of this and current ones might be less likely to give the Vikes a break in negotiations, knowing how these decisions are carried out. Winfield is still an amazing talent and he should still be wearing purple and gold. This reeks of bad karma.
This guy was by far my most favorite vikings, even more than any offensive player.
He simple was pound for pound the toughest guy on the field. His tackles, sacks and knock downs of anything from RB, TE to WR, even going under lineman was simply awesome. His pressence surely will be missed.