Winfield contract a unique one
July 23rd, 2009 – 3:41 PM by Judd ZulgadAntoine Winfield and the Vikings both had a common goal. They wanted the cornerback to finish his career in Minnesota. But Winfield and the Vikings also wanted to protect themselves.
Winfield, coming off the first Pro Bowl appearance of his 10-year career, wanted to be paid like a starter as long as he was in that role. The Vikings wanted assurances that if Winfield wasn’t a starter they didn’t have to pay him like a front-line corner. Keep in mind with Winfield having just turned 32 years old, the Vikings were justified to have some concerns about this issue.
The compromise they came to in announcing Winfield’s five-year, $36 million ($16.1 million guaranteed) deal on Thursday is an interesting one and could be termed a de-esclator and potentially esclator clause. The verbiage states that if Winfield loses his starting job in 2011 and moves to the nickel role, the following season his salary of $7 million will be cut in half, meaning he will be paid as a top nickel corner rather than a top starting corner. But if Winfield eventually gets the starting job back his salary will jump back up to its previous terms.
What this means is that if Winfield loses his job, the Vikings won’t be tempted to cut him because he’s making way too much money. And Winfield won’t be looking for a raise in either situation because he would be well compenstated for the position he plays. Of course, if Winfield keep the starting spot his salary won’t change.
“I haven’t seen anybody else with it,” Winfield’s agent, Ashanti Webb, said when asked about the unique deal.
Said Winfield: “Of course, I’d love to play all five years at cornerback but we’ll just see.”
This contract took some time to get done and, according to Winfield, talks had started shortly after the season ended. Negotiations broke down for a period in the spring but then resumed. Winfield, however, did stay away from the Vikings’ offseason practices.
“It was important for me [to get this done] because I wanted to finish my career here,” he said. “It will be my last stop. Usually you see a lot of players when they get up in age go to different teams. That won’t happen to me. Once I’m done playing for the Vikings my career will be over.”
The Vikings have been extremely pro-active when it comes to their starting cornerback this offseason. Cedric Griffin signed a five-year, $25 million deal that includes $10 million in guarantees in March.
27 Responses to "Winfield contract a unique one"
Wow, that’s fantastic! BRILLIANT! I’m surprised this hasn’t been done before now.
How do you catch a unique contract?
unique up on it.
“… usually you see a lot of players when they get up in age go to different teams. That won’t happen to me. Once I’m done playing for the Vikings my career will be over.”
Let’s see ‘Toine, can you think of any current examples of that?
Careful coach, too much sarcasm on any given day, and you’ll have to attend Bones’ Boot Camp for Homer Haters.
I heard the food isn’t very good there, and definitely no kool aid.
Does he get a bonus if the recievers run and hide instead of taking a hit from him?
Wow, if the Twins lose today, they will be 48-48.
What’s the difference between 0-0 and 48-48, really?
Careful Tomb, too much baseball sarcasm on any given day, and you’ll have to attend the Grant Boot Camp for National Pastime Cynics.
Let’s see, I guess those records would be about the same as an 8-8 football team, a 41-41 basketball team, or a 33-33-16 hockey team. Your point?
And good one at 3:45! Just one above the Bud Grant wacky weed study funding. Better call it a day before you blow a fuse on any more of those.
With all this info and 2 CB signings in one day. Can anyone tell me where the nearest kool-aid stand is? I could sure use some.
Go Vikes
Coach: the mongoose to my cobra, or the cobra to my mongoose. I don’t know which, one of those.
I put my cynicism back in the drawer for the day…right next to the recycled children’s jokes.
Now go about your business, nothing to see here. Move along, move along.
[…] According to the Star Tribune, 32 year old cornerback Antoine Winfield has signed a contract extension that will help ensure that he finishes his career as a Viking. The contract is worth $36 million over 5 years, and contains $16.1 million in guarantees. […]
Had to run to get grub for my son who’s staying back to hold the fort down while me and the missus go on our trip. Oh I hope the house and dogs are in one piece when I get back!!!
Health is excellent coach…thanks fer asking. I haven’t quit totally on the smoking… was doing great till I got here after a couple of months. Smoke a pack every couple of weeks… big change from the pack a day…. awfully hard though.
Yep that is a unique contract… I like the fact that he stays around bringing up the young guns….. just wish we weren’t screwing around with the ‘Ol Mississippi Man. Was anxious to see what those other two QB’s were gonna do. Oh well, I’m resigned to the fact that there ain’t no stoppin’ it now.. might as well sit back & enjoy the ride.
No doubt about it..with or without you know who…it’s gonna be FUN!!!
Brilliant.
Why don’t more contracts have this De-celerator clause.
I’ve always liked Winfield and the fact that we was willing to take such a contract just shows what type of mettle he’s made of.
Cudos to Winfield and the Vikings for getting this done.
Oh….and I’m a Packer fan and A-Rodg is going to rock purples faces twice this year!
Boom!
Classy post Temi, flies in the face of what we usually see from the east.
We often have to agree to disagree here, and I respectfully submit that you are wrong about this year’s Packer v. Vike results. When you get a 4-quarter defense, we’ll talk. Meanwhile, you haven’t seen our quarterback lately, have you?
Thanks for stopping by. Hope the records of both our teams surpass last year’s. 
Yup, Antoine’s willingness to only get paid what he’s worth on the field just reinforces his status as my favorite Viking. Top talent that walks the walk without contantly shouting “look at me, look at me” like most “stars.”
Yup, Antoine’s willingness to only get paid what he’s worth on the field just reinforces his status as my favorite Viking. Top talent that walks the walk without contantly shouting “look at me, look at me” like most “stars.”
fee fi fo fan, I smell the blood of a Packer man.
He wasn’t mean though…takes the wind out of a guy’s sails.
BUT, here you go, the inevitable numbers for this year:
Vikings 11-5
Bears 10-6
Packers 8-8
Lions 4-12
Good numbers, Tomb. Is that with or without BF?
So the Packers will be the same as 0-0. Got it.
Those are the “without Favre” or “Favre isn’t playing that well” bet-hedging numbers.
With Favre playing on top of his game, add one or two to the tally.
Am shocked!!! That a pro athelete would agree to an honest contract based on his abilities. Kudos to Winfield! ya gotta respect that approach. course there is no way in hades that this contract will be the wave of the future….so sad.
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Antoine Winfield and the Vikings both had a common goal. They wanted the cornerback to finish his ca […]
Looks like the triangle just pulled off another gem
Glad the contract is done. Had a hard time understanding the terms, but that was because of something Tomb said. “Unique up on it”? ? ? ? Sounds like one of those hare-lip jokes.
(hope nobody’s offended)
[…] It was with that in mind that the Vikings decided to work with Winfield and his agent, Ashanti Webb, on a contract extension that would keep #26 in a Vikings uniform for the duration of his career. However, as the Star Tribune’s Judd Zulgad pointed out in a blog entry, there was much more to this particular contract negotiation than meets the eye. […]
[…] Access Vikings: » Blog Archive » Winfield contract a unique one […]
[…] Access Vikings: » Blog Archive » Winfield contract a unique one […]
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Antoine Winfield and the Vikings both had a common goal. They wanted the cornerback to finish his ca […]
[…] A nice web master placed an interesting blog post on Access Vikings: Blog Archive Winfield contract a unique oneHere’s a brief overviewI haven’t quit totally on the smoking⦠was doing great till I got here after a couple of months. Smoke a pack every couple of weeks⦠big change from the pack a dayâ¦. awfully hard though. Yep that is a unique contract⦠… […]
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