Minnesota Vikings Want Antoine Winfield Back
By Josh Sanchez
The Minnesota Vikings roster could use help in multiple areas, but a quick glance shows you that the team’s biggest needs are cornerback and wide receiver (despite the free agent signing of Greg Jennings). The Vikings have began to address the receiver position, while the glaring need at cornerback remains untouched. Unfortunately for the Vikings, that giant void on their roster was self-inflincted.
People around the league were surprised whenever the team let veteran Antoine Winfield go. He is one of the most physical and willing tacklers at his position in the league, and he still has a lot to give, despite his age.
Now, it looks like the Vikings realize their mistake and could try to woo the veteran back to Minnesota.
“I’m hoping that we can figure out a way to get him back here,” Leslie Frazier said, via Tom Pelissero of 1500ESPN.com. “So, I’m hoping that it’s not goodbye yet. Him and I talked a few days ago, before I came up here, and I don’t want the door to be shut. So, we’re going to still try to get something worked out — if he’s amicable to coming back.”
The Vikings released Winfield when they could not come to an agreement to cut his salary from $7.25 million. If the two sides still make no progress, they will shut the door on his return and then look elsewhere for their cornerback help.
“We’ll still look at what’s out there from the NFL perspective, but also in the draft,” Frazier said. “We need more depth at that position. As you know, you can’t ever have enough good corners in our league. So, we need to keep upgrading that position.”
Luckily for the Vikings, there are plenty of cornerbacks still available thanks to the dry market in free agency and they will also have plenty of options to add to their roster with their two first-round picks.