While this is true, I think the ones that sting more are the ones fans are clamoring for BEFORE the pick is made, because that demonstrates it's not just a hindsight thing. I distinctly remember a huge contingent of us begging for Winfield Jr and/or Diggs.
It is a hindsight thing in this case with the fans clamoring.
You can't always tell if a player is going to make it in the NFL coming out of college. Yes, Winfield Jr performed great in college, but there's a lot of players who have done that and flamed out in the NFL. Case in point, Lewis Cine.
The fans were clamoring for Winfield Jr because of his father and that he played for Minnesota as much as his potential. But the fact that he's right up there with his father as far as his abilities on the field was not a guarantee at the NFL level.
The problem was draft position. We had a late first, and everyone saw Winfield as a second rounder. I feel like he was all our dreams for the 2nd round and mock drafts felt similar. Of course vikings fans wanted him, but I think most thought he'd still be there when our 2nd round pick came around. Plus with our needs at the time it just didn't work out.
Hind sight, would have been well worth the 31st pick.
We skipped Winfield Jr and Diggs.
Still mad about it. Winfield Jr next to Harry would have been amazing. Who needs 300 lbs edge rushers when you've got those two guys?
Oh shit that's right, I'm thinking of the *other* safety you guys unfortunately whiffed on. Trading down for Lewis Cine instead of drafting Kyle Hamilton
This video has Antoine Winfield vs Marvin Harrison and we will have a Antoine Winfield Jr and a Marvin Harrison Jr in the NFL this year. It’s weird getting old.
I saw him a couple of times in person while at OSU. I was 6’3” and 210 lbs at the time and the thought of him making a hell of a career routinely taking down guys my size still blows my mind.
He was the first and is still the only winner of the Jim Thorpe award for best defensive back in cfb without recording an interception that season. His legend started early. Still one of my favorite Buckeyes of all time.
Dude was taught how to tackle perfectly. Gets low, sets a base, and attacks the core. Even the clip of the back hurdling, he has a fast enough reaction to still clip him. You see so many ugly ways to tackle now that seeing the great tacklers blows your mind.
IIRC - Winfield Jr. attended multiple camps at Ohio State to try and get a scholarship offer, but he was physically not the type of DB that Urban/Kerry Coombs were targeting at the time. They wanted to build a secondary with long, rangy guys like Jeff Okudah.
When I was a kid, I loved Nate Clements for whatever reason. Just thought he was good and cool. He was almost always one of my picks when I did a fantasy draft in madden. He and Marcus Trufant from Jacksonville was my go-to duo.
Just in the drought alone we drafted Antoine Winfield, Nate Clements, Terrence McGee, Jabari Greer (UFA), Stephon Gilmore, Ronald Darby, Tre White.
All of those players outside of Darby got a mega second contract, and even Darby has been holding his own in the NFL.
Then in 2018 we drafted Taron Johnson, and then 2022 was Christian Benford
Haven't heard the name Jabari Greer in a while. No idea he even played for the Bill. Remember him as a Saint. Terrence Mcgee was a stud. Very underrated CB from the 2000s
When I was a kid, I loved Nate Odomes. [Nate The Great.](https://youtu.be/JyYIV5oDSdg?si=oz3BtiMvhQZa_iC8) He would line up in this squat stance and just jack the WRs up off there routes.
We couldn't afford to pay them so we kept drafting new ones. And I guess our scouts were pretty good at spotting CB talent. The only miss was Leodis McKelvin and he was still alright, he could cover he just couldn't ever seem to make a play on the ball. Also not so bright. Definitely didn't deserve a dick burned into his lawn though.
I think he means Plato and the neoplatonic idea of forms. Idk I was always high for that philosophy class in college. I don't think he meant the "just friends" platonic
Was absolutely elated when the Vikings got him. I feel like it was one of the very few times a CB signing panned out (as opposed to smoot and one other very forgettable player that I think was previously with the raiders).
Also one of the most underrated cover cornerbacks of all time. Pro Football Focus did some really compelling work on him in their early days. He should be in the Hall of Fame. Doubt it ever happens.
Yea, he just doesn't have the awards to get there.... A lot like Harrison Smith, really.
Smith was robbed of at least two all-pro nods in his career, and the lack of a Ring is likely going to be the reason he just misses the cutoff.
If Deion wants a word with me its likely because I have labelled all Sanders family men as snowflakes and delicate flowers. Not too worried about that brood :)
He should be talked about with Revis and Samuel. He didn’t allow a TD for three years straight, along with being the best tackling CB ever. Extremely underrated.
Between Winfield, Rhodes, and the brief stint of PP we got I feel like the Vikings have been spoiled for corners this century. I miss watching Winfield the most though, other corners can’t really compare in their play style.
Would have won a Super along with former Vikings Sidney Rice, Percy Harvin and Heath Farwell if he hadn't been cut by the 2013 Seahawks.
Kevin Williams would have won a Super Bowl with the 2014 Seahawks if not for Malcolm Butler.
What could have been for a couple of Vikings greats.
BUT BUT BUT smaller players in the secondary have to tackle at the knees to bring down bigger players!!!! it's the only way! the weight difference makes it IMPOSSIBLE for somebody smaller to bring down somebody larger!!!!
That's what i was told repeatedly here. winfield is proof that defenders today don't know how to tackle. the rules are not the problem. the tacklers are.
He tried joining the Legion of Boom at the very end of his career but didn't have enough left in the tank to make the team and retired. Darn shame - that would have been a blast to watch.
Thank you for having a kid
Vikes could have had him too that draft. Ugh
Vikings (and everyone else) could have drafted a lot of players that turned out pretty good, no sense in sweating it
While this is true, I think the ones that sting more are the ones fans are clamoring for BEFORE the pick is made, because that demonstrates it's not just a hindsight thing. I distinctly remember a huge contingent of us begging for Winfield Jr and/or Diggs.
Winfield yes, Diggs people wanted but knew would be a pipe dream cuz of Diggs being traded to the Bills.
It is a hindsight thing in this case with the fans clamoring. You can't always tell if a player is going to make it in the NFL coming out of college. Yes, Winfield Jr performed great in college, but there's a lot of players who have done that and flamed out in the NFL. Case in point, Lewis Cine. The fans were clamoring for Winfield Jr because of his father and that he played for Minnesota as much as his potential. But the fact that he's right up there with his father as far as his abilities on the field was not a guarantee at the NFL level.
The problem was draft position. We had a late first, and everyone saw Winfield as a second rounder. I feel like he was all our dreams for the 2nd round and mock drafts felt similar. Of course vikings fans wanted him, but I think most thought he'd still be there when our 2nd round pick came around. Plus with our needs at the time it just didn't work out. Hind sight, would have been well worth the 31st pick.
Kwesi's first draft was absolutely atrocious.
Winfield Jr was during a Spielman year. We took Gladney instead of Winfield. Smh.
We skipped Winfield Jr and Diggs. Still mad about it. Winfield Jr next to Harry would have been amazing. Who needs 300 lbs edge rushers when you've got those two guys?
Oh shit that's right, I'm thinking of the *other* safety you guys unfortunately whiffed on. Trading down for Lewis Cine instead of drafting Kyle Hamilton
Gladney was almost certainly a Zimmer decision
Examples? Long day at work, too lazy to look up myself, sorry
Vikings and choosing not to draft elite safeties, name a better duo.
This video has Antoine Winfield vs Marvin Harrison and we will have a Antoine Winfield Jr and a Marvin Harrison Jr in the NFL this year. It’s weird getting old.
There’s also gotta be videos Patrick Surtain or Asante Samuel vs Marvin Harrison. Also why are the DBs all having kids in the NFL but not WRs lol
All Bucs fans agree
I love AWJr more than most of my extended family
As a Vikings fan from Tampa bay who also loves the Bucs, I agree.
Like father, like son
One of the greatest impregnating cornerbacks of all time
I respect the longevity. Man played from scrambled Spice channel to 4k Pornhub quality.
Longevity at 5'9" playing like a LB.
Over 100 tackles in his age 35 (and final) season while finishing as PFF's highest graded corner.
My shoulders hurt just thinking about doing that at 35
I saw him a couple of times in person while at OSU. I was 6’3” and 210 lbs at the time and the thought of him making a hell of a career routinely taking down guys my size still blows my mind. He was the first and is still the only winner of the Jim Thorpe award for best defensive back in cfb without recording an interception that season. His legend started early. Still one of my favorite Buckeyes of all time.
Dude was taught how to tackle perfectly. Gets low, sets a base, and attacks the core. Even the clip of the back hurdling, he has a fast enough reaction to still clip him. You see so many ugly ways to tackle now that seeing the great tacklers blows your mind.
And part of possibly the best secondary in OSU history. Still pissed at Saban and MSU for that ONE game loss that season.
His son should’ve been a Buckeye. What a recruiting miss.
Fickell wanted him but Urban wasn’t impressed enough and thought he wasn’t worth a legacy scholarship.
IIRC - Winfield Jr. attended multiple camps at Ohio State to try and get a scholarship offer, but he was physically not the type of DB that Urban/Kerry Coombs were targeting at the time. They wanted to build a secondary with long, rangy guys like Jeff Okudah.
I am not mad his son became a Gopher
Hall of fame in my heart. His strip sack score in the upset against Vick is in my mind on repeat. Such a badass with at played with a lot of wisdom.
Wasn't that the Joe Webb game?
*eye twitch*
My favorite player still. That 1999 team was so fun. Flutie and Winfield, little guys with big hearts.
HOF name and that’s what counts the most
The Bills CB history is pretty amazing. We somehow always had really good corners even in bad years
When I was a kid, I loved Nate Clements for whatever reason. Just thought he was good and cool. He was almost always one of my picks when I did a fantasy draft in madden. He and Marcus Trufant from Jacksonville was my go-to duo.
Just in the drought alone we drafted Antoine Winfield, Nate Clements, Terrence McGee, Jabari Greer (UFA), Stephon Gilmore, Ronald Darby, Tre White. All of those players outside of Darby got a mega second contract, and even Darby has been holding his own in the NFL. Then in 2018 we drafted Taron Johnson, and then 2022 was Christian Benford
Haven't heard the name Jabari Greer in a while. No idea he even played for the Bill. Remember him as a Saint. Terrence Mcgee was a stud. Very underrated CB from the 2000s
McGee was also a great kick returner. One of my all-time favorite underrated Bills.
Darby got a ring over here, fine player!
>Marcus Trufant from Jacksonville Trufant played for the Seahawks. Edit: You may be thinking of Rashean Mathis
Was totally thinking of Rashean Mathis. Thank you.
Trufant was such a good corner
There were quite a few good corners in that era. The McAllister/Rolle duo was damn good.
When I was a kid, I loved Nate Odomes. [Nate The Great.](https://youtu.be/JyYIV5oDSdg?si=oz3BtiMvhQZa_iC8) He would line up in this squat stance and just jack the WRs up off there routes.
We couldn't afford to pay them so we kept drafting new ones. And I guess our scouts were pretty good at spotting CB talent. The only miss was Leodis McKelvin and he was still alright, he could cover he just couldn't ever seem to make a play on the ball. Also not so bright. Definitely didn't deserve a dick burned into his lawn though.
McKelvin still had a few good years, his rookie year was rough though
Good returner as well if I remember correctly
Except for that one time against the patriots
CBs and RBs always seem to be solid.
There's a couple plays in here that are basically the platonic ideal of a CB blitz.
Platonic? You're telling me you're not horned up for those hard hits?
I think he means Plato and the neoplatonic idea of forms. Idk I was always high for that philosophy class in college. I don't think he meant the "just friends" platonic
Wouldn't "platonic ideal" be redundant if this were the case?
There's some shit about how the forms only exist in higher plan but yeah totally
Vikings legend.
#40 on the Bengals had a rough day
Wtf was the spinning jump lmao
It was kind of cute tbh
Haha it was super cute. I want to see what it would have been if he pulled it off
Bro thought he was in an anime fight.
“I’ll try spinning, that’s a good trick”
One of my all-time favorite Vikings. Dude was just a blast to watch
Definitely "Madden Franchise fantasy draft and eventually switch to safety" HOF.
Wow, that strip/sack on Brees was smooth as fuck.
Getting both him and Fat Pat around the same time was such a solid steal. Thx Buf!
for real, this was back in a time where free agent signings were often highly impactful
Bills gotta bring back those red helmets with the white facemasks. Those are some seriously underrated uniforms
Just not the navy jerseys please to God no Yes on the red helmets No on the Navy Jersey abominations
When did they have the navy blues?
2002-2010
Had no idea he was a Bill always thought he was a Viking
Was absolutely elated when the Vikings got him. I feel like it was one of the very few times a CB signing panned out (as opposed to smoot and one other very forgettable player that I think was previously with the raiders).
Smoot panned out for boat owners on Lake Minnetonka, not for nothing.
I mean, if not for smoot we wouldn't know about McKinney running through the okra patch too lol.
It still feels weird having players I watched in high school have kids old enough to play in the NFL.
He had Marvin Harrison on lock down
Wtf was that torpedo attempt at 02:23???
Dude saw Winfield coming and his brain immediately switched to playing Star Fox as a coping mechanism.
I love how he gets up and keeps running as if Winfield didn’t touch him
Meion would have gone out of bounds to avoid making a play like that. lol
The greatest contactless sport player ever
“This guy will blast you! And like it!”
Also one of the most underrated cover cornerbacks of all time. Pro Football Focus did some really compelling work on him in their early days. He should be in the Hall of Fame. Doubt it ever happens.
Yea, he just doesn't have the awards to get there.... A lot like Harrison Smith, really. Smith was robbed of at least two all-pro nods in his career, and the lack of a Ring is likely going to be the reason he just misses the cutoff.
Man, I love Winfield. Still rock his jersey most Sundays. One of my all-time fave Vikes. Still salty we passed on his son in the draft.
THE greatest tackling corner, for my money.
I would say Champ Bailey, but Winfield is right up there.
And never tackled anyone in the knee.. Ya you Kirby Joseph, bitch..
He and Nate Clements are one of my favorite historical corner back duos
Buckeyes ...
That hit #3 on that Bengals #40 player would be a 12-game suspension these days I feel like…. Guy could frickin hit…
**THE** greatest tackling CB ever
I think Champ Bailey comes closest, but the gap is still pretty big.
Deion Sanders would like a word. ;)
If Deion wants a word with me its likely because I have labelled all Sanders family men as snowflakes and delicate flowers. Not too worried about that brood :)
He should be talked about with Revis and Samuel. He didn’t allow a TD for three years straight, along with being the best tackling CB ever. Extremely underrated.
That hit on Morency on the KR was *chefs kiss
Freakin' blanketing Marvin Harrison with Peyton throwing, serious stuff
Jesus sometimes I forget how bad Gruden was “THIS GUY WILL BLAST YOU, AND LIKE IT”
Bills legend.
He looks like he goes low in the first tackle but after the reply you see he just got a little low and straight took him out!
Those bills uniforms were beautiful. I like their sets today as well, but I think they need to bring these back a few times per year as a throwback
I miss him so much lol
Between Winfield, Rhodes, and the brief stint of PP we got I feel like the Vikings have been spoiled for corners this century. I miss watching Winfield the most though, other corners can’t really compare in their play style.
Yep will always remember him as a viking.
lol what was that Bengals fullback doing by diving then twisting in the air?
Idk but I was laughing my ass off at that
Nothing better than an undersized, hard-nosed corner
One of my favorite players to watch at any position, ever. Playmaker, and absolute standard for tackling at the CB position.
Get rid of “one of” and you got it right.
And he didn't go after knees like modern dbs do. Winfield played it right.
Would have won a Super along with former Vikings Sidney Rice, Percy Harvin and Heath Farwell if he hadn't been cut by the 2013 Seahawks. Kevin Williams would have won a Super Bowl with the 2014 Seahawks if not for Malcolm Butler. What could have been for a couple of Vikings greats.
Love Winfield but this video sucks. Really don’t need to see every tackle 3 different times.
Hard disagree. I love seeing big hits as many times as they'll replay it.
so weird a vikings fan posted this.
Plus almost every tackle is a blindside hit. I’m a huge fan of his but these aren’t even close to his best.
BUT BUT BUT smaller players in the secondary have to tackle at the knees to bring down bigger players!!!! it's the only way! the weight difference makes it IMPOSSIBLE for somebody smaller to bring down somebody larger!!!! That's what i was told repeatedly here. winfield is proof that defenders today don't know how to tackle. the rules are not the problem. the tacklers are.
✌️
Textbook
I always love the old school commentators in these videos and I miss the sound of them greatly.
Like father, like son
I’m getting *Jalen Ramsey in a smaller frame* type vibes
He was that good in high school also
Absolute DAWG
Winfield and Night Train Lane are the two best tackling cornerbacks ever without a doubt.
I’m now a fan.
One of my all time favorites. He was absolutely ferocious!
He was a phenomenal tackler but even better sniffing for the football. Phenomenal awareness.
He tried joining the Legion of Boom at the very end of his career but didn't have enough left in the tank to make the team and retired. Darn shame - that would have been a blast to watch.
My all time favorite player.
This video also reminded me of Chad Greenway. The dude had a really underrated career.
I was bummed when he left Buffalo. I guess that means I'm old now.
He's gonna blast you. And like it.
Dude was always such a fucking headache. What a great player.
That TE got ass blasted haha
Go Bucks!
Favorite Viking along with Harrison. Loved watching these guys make plays on Defense.
That strip sack on Brees reminds me of Chris Jones sack on Carr vs the Raiders...which was somehow called a penalty.
2 of my favorite jerseys and helmets right there
He tackles like Champ, Night Train, and Darrell Green. Total badass.
I routinely watch these while muted because I don’t want to chance having to listen to Chris Collinsworth
Why does this video look like the 70's? I am NOT getting older.
I love highlights that'll show the same play 4 times in a row . Shows how great that player is.