The Vikings roster is in the process of becoming much younger this season; eight starters are gone since last year.
Still, the younger players need some experienced players to mentor them, and one of the best is the oldest player on the roster: 35-year-old CB Antoine Winfield. He's entering his 14th season but still has plenty of love for the game.
“Absolutely,” he says. “I think I enjoy it more because I know my time is coming soon. Every day, I am going to get out here and compete. I think these guys keep me young. My teammates get after me a little bit for all the grey in my beard, but it’s all fun.”
Winfield’s attitude has not gone unnoticed. Coach Leslie Frazier said that he will monitor Winfield’s reps during games this year, and maybe he should start doing that in practice, too.
“He really seems to be into this training camp more than any other,” Frazier said. “You see him out there taking one-on-ones and all of the reps. He is doing everything he can to get ready. He is definitely invigorated in a lot of ways, which is good for our young players to see the way he works and how approaches things.”
One of the players gleaning anything he can from Winfield is WR Percy Harvin, who is matching up often in the slot where Winfield is spending a lot of time in camp. Winfield says that Harvin is very physical for his size and one of the top receivers in the league -- and that keeps Winfield sharp. But Harvin takes what he can from the matchup as well.
“After every play when I go against him, he'll ask me, ‘Now what did you see?’ And I will let him know what I am doing," Harvin said. "We’re going to continue to work hard and [make] each other better.”
Two of the best working to get better, showing that improvement knows no age.
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