The NFL’s Highest Paid Defensive Back
May 20th, 2024
Cha-ching!
Antoine Winfield seems to always wear a smile on his face. He acknowledged that today.
You’d smile too if you were the richest-paid defensive back, not just safety, in the NFL.
A dream became a reality today for Winfield as he signed his second Bucs contract that makes him officially the highest-paid NFL defensive back.
“It’s surreal to me,” Winfield told the local pen and mic club at One Buc Palace. “I was smiled before. I’m really smiling now.”
Licht was obviously proud of the transaction.
“He’s got a historic contract but he deserves it,” Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht said. “He’s done historic things already in a short career.”
What’s cool about Winfield is he gets it that he’s not so much being rewarded for what he has done in the past but what he can do in the future.
“I’m going to put the work in,” Winfield said. “Going to continue to put the work in. I feel like my best football hasn’t even been displayed yet.
“Every year I want to be better than the year before. That’s my only goal. … Learn something new every single day.
“My goal is to get 10 takeaways, however they come.”
Well, that’s not the only goal, Winfield confessed.
“Bring up the guys with me,” Winfield said of his teammates. “To match my energy. To match my work ethic. Put that work in so we can ultimately get another Super Bowl.”
It was a long time coming.
Winfield said he’s been a student of the game since he was six when he watched his dad, Antoine, Sr., study tape of Calvin Johnson. Winfield said if his dad, a former Vikings Pro Bowl corner, did something he figured he better do it too.
As a young boy, Winfield said he once saw his dad doing ladder drills. Well, if it’s good enough for Dad, it’s good enough for him. So he joined in and his dead taught him proper technique..
And so much more.
“I emulated everything he did,” Winfield said. “He set the blueprint.”
Winfield thanked all his coaches from high school all the way to the Bucs, singling out Todd Bowles and safeties coach Nick Rapone.
Winfield made sure everyone in attendance knew he’s not satisfied with getting paid. He wants more on the field of play.
“I still have that fire,” Winfield said. “I don’t see that going away.”
As for playing in Tampa, Winfield wants to make more history here. “The only place I want to be at.”
May 20th, 2024 at 4:00 pm
Yes!
May 20th, 2024 at 4:03 pm
Winfield is great, but there’s still meat on the bone. It looks like he’s still hungry and will keep working on that bone. Stay hungry my friend!
May 20th, 2024 at 4:25 pm
FN Love it
May 20th, 2024 at 4:44 pm
I wish every Buc player had Winfield’s work ethic and drive to excel. No doubt he will achieve a lot more !
May 20th, 2024 at 5:03 pm
Mr Cool Breeze.
Man is a 5 star player all day everyday.
May 20th, 2024 at 5:13 pm
well deserved. congrats to his family
May 20th, 2024 at 5:31 pm
There are many leaders on this team, including him. I hope he gets to wear a C.
May 20th, 2024 at 5:46 pm
Dls5492 – he will have a C now forsure.
Offensive captains – Baker Wirfs Evans
Defensive captains – Vea David Winfield
May 20th, 2024 at 6:03 pm
Well, at least when our team gets to the Super Bowl we win it. Just think if each player manifests as Tweeze does..
May 20th, 2024 at 6:22 pm
When I see an article titled “The Highest Paid…” anything I’d assume the one piece of information in the article would be the contract numbers. Obviously I’d be wrong, but it’s 4yrs/$84.1 million
May 20th, 2024 at 6:23 pm
“Another” Super Bowl.
Vea, Wirfs and Winfield … these guys are champions, and they are still here. Great foundation. Let’s get another chip!
May 20th, 2024 at 6:48 pm
Congrats, well deserved! Make us proud!!! 💪
May 20th, 2024 at 8:03 pm
So pumped to see him paired up with Whitehead again
May 20th, 2024 at 8:44 pm
Peace!
May 20th, 2024 at 8:54 pm
Boom!!! Superbowl here we come
May 20th, 2024 at 9:10 pm
I say it is Awesome to watch a player go from rookie to the caliber he is now on a trajectory to the hall of frame. I’ve wacthed Selman,Brooks,Sapp,and barber do it and there is nothing like it. We are now witnessing Mike Evans, Lavonte David and Antoine Winfield Jr. rise to the top and it is truly a blessing to witness this history in the making first hand.
May 20th, 2024 at 9:30 pm
HOF player for sure. Best in NFL. Hopefully a Buc for life!
May 20th, 2024 at 9:32 pm
@ProudBucsfan, this version of the franchise might very well be the best any Buc fan has ever seen. No hype.
May 21st, 2024 at 3:51 am
I fidnt know much about him when we drafted him. I was going through the stages of grief with how sissified football seemed to be becoming. Then zI checked him out and thought. Dude is boom or bust. Well explosions are going off everywhere. Mark D. With his B is silly.
May 21st, 2024 at 7:06 am
@ Drop Buoy how can you have such high hopes as to see contract numbers when they can’t even manage to not call his Dad “dead”. Like wtf