Money On Antoine Winfield’s Mind
July 14th, 2023
Joe loves when players talk about wanting to score a fat bag of a contract.
Most NFL players avoid referencing money, but Joe thinks that’s a little silly. Those same guys usually are quick to say the NFL is a business. Just loosen up and talk about it.
Last summer, the Bucs had two cornerbacks entering their contract seasons: Jamel Dean and Sean Murphy-Bunting. Dean openly talked about wanting to break the bank and being motivated by money. Murphy-Bunting wanted no part of contract talk.
Now, Pro Bowl Bucs safety Antoine Winfield, Jr. is entering his contract year. And Winfield comfortably referenced his upcoming money season during his recent visit to The Richard Sherman Podcast, noting he’s dialed in on a big payday.
“I gotta get my interceptions up. You know, it’s a contract year,” Winfield said. “I’m happy. I’m excited. So making sure I touch that ball and stay healthy, those are the two big goals: create takeaways and just staying healthy, for real.”
Winfield added that he thinks the Bucs have the talent to be the NFL’s best defense and that’s another one of his goals — for the unit to finish 2023 with the league’s No. 1 ranking.
Joe doesn’t see the Bucs as having top-dog defense ability, but certainly top-10.
Winfield said he has no injuries standing in his way, for now.
“My body’s feeling amazing,” he said. “I don’t know how it’s going to feel in a month or two (laughs).”
July 14th, 2023 at 11:25 am
If he is not making playoffs for years, might as well get the fat contract for those non-playoff years.
July 14th, 2023 at 11:32 am
Laid back….with my mind on my money and my money on my mind.
July 14th, 2023 at 11:40 am
Buc87,
Nice Snoop reference. Don’t forget Prime Time Deion Sanders did a rap album…one of his songs was “Must Be the Money.” LOL.
July 14th, 2023 at 11:53 am
It’s a great watch. Sherman is a really good interviewer especially with his inside knowledge of our defense. Winfield is definitely going to be on TV after he’s done playing.
July 14th, 2023 at 12:01 pm
Pay the man now before he solidies himself as the best safety in football, since then it’s going to cost a lot more.
July 14th, 2023 at 1:36 pm
‘Joe doesn’t see the Bucs as having top-dog defense ability, but certainly top-10.’
OK, who kidnapped Joe? CERTAINLY a Top-10 defense? Is this the same Joe who constantly bemoans our lack of a pass rush?
Right now we have TWO bonafide CBs: Davis & Dean (neither of whom apparently excite Ronde Barber). Behind them we have Delaney, McCollum with some NFL experience plus 6 others with almost no real NFL experience.
Right now we have TWO bonafide Safeties: Winfield & Neal. Behind them we have 4 others with almost no real NFL experience.
Right now we have TWO bonafide ILBs: LVD & White. Behind them we have 5 others with almost no real NFL experience.
Right now we have THREE bonafide OLBs: Shaq, Nelson & JTS. Behind them we have 7 others with almost no real NFL experience.
Right now we have TWO bonafide DLine starters, Vea & Gaines, plus THREE others (Hall, O’Connor & Senat) with some NFL experience. Behind them we have 4 others with almost no real NFL experience.
What I’m seeing is a fairly solid starting rotation with questionable depth. IF everyone stays healthy and IF several key rookies & 1st year guys reasonably contribute, then we have a decent chance to break into the Top-10. Maybe even the Top-5. But it’s all contingent on staying healthy as a defense.
July 14th, 2023 at 1:48 pm
DR,
I wouldn’t call JTS a bonifide starter. Dude still has a lot to prove!
July 14th, 2023 at 2:14 pm
@DR
**SB Champ, Special Teams Ace, full-time ringer and part-time baller Pat O’Connor 😅 put some respect on Pattys’ name plz & thx lol
July 14th, 2023 at 2:36 pm
Note to Joe. 2 cool story ideas that will get a lot of participation
1. breakout candidates on offense and defense (no rookies)
Mine: Defense – JTS (do or die year), Offense – Goedeke, Dark Horse – Cam Gill
2. rookies most likely to contribute
Mine: Defense – CK, Offense – Payne, Dark Horse – Tucker
July 14th, 2023 at 3:04 pm
@Sly
3. A “getting to know”/”meet (insert player name)” type article series on some of the newer faces that have a shot at making the team. We’ve got something like 28 rookies on the offseason roster last I counted, but it might even be more.
4. Or A camp battle series because we’re filling jobs all over the roster with like a “tale of the tape” element to it would be a cool engagement type deal.
July 14th, 2023 at 3:21 pm
NCBucFan … Maybe I should’ve listed JTS as having ‘some NFL experience’?
Dooley … Not dissing Patty at all. He’s a survivor. And with 243 def snaps as compared to 1123 S/Ts snaps in his 5 years in the league, I’d definitely agree that he’s a Special Teams Ace. He’s already surpassed Russell Shepard for S/Ts GOAT & will be giving Ryan Smith a run for his money this year.
SlyPirate … I agree with you about our defensive rookies, and they’ll be what put us into the Top-10 if they perform as well as I hope they will. Kancey, Dennis & Diaby all could do very well if given a chance, as well as some others like Ramirez. Some others like JTS, Hall, Gill & McCollum could surprise this year. Here’s hoping anyway.
July 14th, 2023 at 3:30 pm
Wirfs and Winfield gonna get paid. Bye bye White!
July 14th, 2023 at 4:54 pm
Lock him up now don’t wait, you’ll end up more
July 14th, 2023 at 5:03 pm
I want Winfield Jr. on our squad for life. This kid is going to be a special player.
July 15th, 2023 at 4:01 am
I for one appreciate Winfields honesty. But that is because he balled in his non contract years. From somone who has not played up to their talent level it is a dubious thing to talk about.
Can you say D White?
Go Bucs!
July 15th, 2023 at 4:56 am
I pray for his safety.
I pray that he doesn’t get any concussions this year.
Do you know who leads the world in concussion research?
Israel.
And do you know what they discovered?
That cannabis is amazing for concussions.
The NFL should learn from the NBA.
Legalize it!
July 15th, 2023 at 8:01 am
^^^
“W” comment, cause it’s true
July 16th, 2023 at 8:59 am
Teacherman, I’m treating my concussion as a I read your post.