Winfield sends cautionary signals to team

As explanations for Antoine Winfield's offseason absence from the Vikings grew Wednesday, his agent left open the possibility of a training camp holdout in a report posted on the NFL's website.

Agent Richard Katz confirmed Winfield would report for the mandatory minicamp June 1-3, but said "I can't comment" on whether Winfield would attend training camp. Katz, who has not returned phone calls from the Star Tribune, also declined comment on whether Winfield wants a new contract to replace the six-year, $35 million deal that expires after the 2009 season.

While some in the Vikings organization believe Winfield ultimately is seeking a new contract, others are aligned with an explanation provided on NFL.com. Pointedly, no one is professing to fully understand Winfield's viewpoint.

The NFL's report suggested Winfield is unhappy to have missed the playoffs in two of his three seasons with the Vikings and is frustrated with the team's performance.

That frustration, however, has apparently not pushed Winfield to seek employment with another team. Coach Brad Childress said this week that Winfield has not sought a trade.

The Vikings seem unlikely to reopen Winfield's contract, which will pay him $4.9 million in 2007, because of the precedent it would set for other players who are in the midst of long-term contracts.

If Winfield is unhappy with the Vikings' direction, meanwhile, there are few substantive changes the team can make to appease him between now and the start of training camp.

Coaches and players seem convinced that Winfield will rejoin them next week for minicamp and appear unconcerned about a longer-term problem.

KEVIN SEIFERT