Gophers get back to playing — and winning startribune.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from startribune.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Copy shortlink:
Antoine Winfield Sr. stood 5- 8¾ and weighed 176 pounds when NFL teams were poking and prodding the Ohio State cornerback during the 1999 NFL Scouting Combine.
Somewhere back in the Buckeye State, Antoine Winfield Jr. was six months old and filled with the genes of a 5-9 tackling machine.
Wade Phillips, a pretty good judge of defensive talent, was Buffalo s head coach and vice president of football operations. He overlooked the elder Winfield s undersized stature and drafted him in the first round, 23rd overall.
Phillips defensive coordinator was Ted Cottrell, who would later coach Winfield as Vikings defensive coordinator. Cottrell signed off on the pick the moment he turned the game film on.