Vikings Message Board.Com

if anything... Seattle did the right thing by scoring Winfield in a run heavy division.

Cliff wrote: Can anyone think of the last time the "off season favorite" to win the super bowl actually won the super bowl the following year?

It's probably higher than you realize. I think following an NFC team, this doesn't seem to be the case because the NFC puts a different team in the championship almost every year. However, if you look at the AFC over the last decade its been the Ravens, Patriots, Steelers, and Colts. So maybe the favorite hasn't won every year but there are certainly contender teams that either win or make it very close year in and year out.

I like the element of surprise in the NFC as well. Did ANYONE outside of huge Giant fans think they'd win it all in 2011?

AFC is a weak #### conference.

Tom Pelissero ‏@TomPelissero 2m

On plane back from Seattle now. Most surprising revelation based on what I saw/heard there: not 100% sure Antoine Winfield makes the team.

Tom Pelissero ‏@TomPelissero 1m

Don't get me wrong. I like Winfield, still think he can play. But Jeremy Lane, Byron Maxwell, Will Blackmon, others are off to strong starts

Crax wrote:

Wow. Sounds like we could sign whomever they cut! If it's Toine all the better.

Crax wrote:

Come on back to 'sota, Antoine.

Wishful thinking.

Tacklers belong at safety and linebacker, not corner. Have to be able to cover.

Good riddance.

Demi wrote:Tacklers belong at safety and linebacker, not corner. Have to be able to cover.

Winfield at safety or linebacker? Those ideas aren't half bad.

Demi wrote:Tacklers belong at safety and linebacker, not corner. Have to be able to cover.

Good riddance.

They need to be able to tackle too. For a guy who can't cover, Winfield sure did a nice job of it last year.

I still think Winfield's got it. Yes, he's older and has lost a little speed, but the man is GOOD! He is respected by offenses, a charismatic player on the field and brings the level of play UP when he's on the field.

OTOH, if his physical abilities limit his field time and he does retire in the near future, his mentoring skills to me say 'Make Winfield a COACH'. Talk about a coach who could teach from experience and really teach the young guys HOW to tackle. For him to be in the league so many years as an undersized player, that says his skill set is solid. That's what I'd like to see our young guys learn.

Cliff wrote: Can anyone think of the last time the "off season favorite" to win the super bowl actually won the super bowl the following year?

Seattle is far from being THE off season favorite. Along with Seattle, I've seen the 49ers, Patriots, Ravens and Broncos all mentioned by various talking heads and self-proclaimed NFL experts. As for Vegas odds, right now I think the Broncos and 49ers are at the top.

Demi Wrote:

Pro football focus rated his coverage around 20th best in the NFL. I say that is a fair estimation of his coverage skills. However, he was the best tackling corner in the NFL per PFF.

How many times, in his career, has Winfield stuck a tackle that prevented a player from getting a first down on third down? The corner position is more than just coverage.

Frazier and the coaching staff value Winfield highly. Also Winfield hasn't allowed a TD pass against him for 3 seasons. For someone who can't cover, he seems to be doing okay. I can understand someone lamenting the fact we have Marcus Sherels in the seconday, but celebrating the loss of Winfield is odd.

Mothman wrote: They need to be able to tackle too. For a guy who can't cover, Winfield sure did a nice job of it last year.

Great he won us so many rings. So many playoff games

You need a corner who can keep a QB from throwing to a WR. Well, QBs don't matter so so I guess Cbs not as much either.

Demi wrote:Great he won us so many rings. So many playoff games

Because Revis has how many?

dead_poet wrote: Because Revis has how many?

Zero, which is odd, because everybody knows the the team with the best CB usually wins the Super Bowl. That IS the deciding factor almost every season, right?

Oy...