All's well with Vikings, Winfield for time being

All eyes focused on the purple double doors Friday morning. Eighty-six players milled about on the Vikings practice field, but it was the one missing who had everyone's attention.

Finally, two minutes before the 10:25 a.m. horn signaling the start of minicamp, Antoine Winfield burst from the locker room. The previously absent cornerback smiled, mocked surprise at the clicking cameras, and took his place for warmup drills.

Friday's mandatory practices marked Winfield's first appearance at Winter Park in two months. He refused to detail his decision to skip voluntary practices and conditioning sessions, other than to say he was not seeking a new contract, but acknowledged he and coach Brad Childress had a 15-20 minute meeting Thursday in which "we got some things off our chest."

People with knowledge of the situation said Friday that an earlier conversation between the two, within the past 60 days, contributed to Winfield's decision to work out this offseason on his own. Winfield declined comment on that meeting, nor would he discuss a recent ESPN report that he requested a trade if the team extended its rebuilding process by drafting Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn.

Winfield appeared frustrated at several points in 2006, and Friday produced a careful answer when asked if he believed the organization was headed in the right direction.

"They're doing some things to help us get better," Winfield said. "Drafting [running back] Adrian Peterson, he's a real explosive back, a home run hitter. He gives us another weapon on offense. We'll see when that time comes."

Whatever his complaints, they were not serious enough to keep him away from minicamp -- or even from the Twin Cities, for that matter. Winfield has maintained his home here, working out at a Lifetime Fitness. He said he has been socializing with Vikings players on a weekly basis, and that when training camp begins, "I'll definitely be here.

"The offseason program, OTAs, are voluntary," Winfield said. "I've been in this league long enough to know my body," he said, "and know what I need to do to get ready. I'll definitely be ready by the time [the season] rolls around."

Winfield said he wasn't sure if he would attend next week's second round of voluntary practices, but the explanation was good enough for his teammates -- who celebrated Winfield's return while downplaying his absence.

"Antoine is an old vet, and that's what vets do," cornerback Cedric Griffin said. "I'm pretty sure everyone understands that. So that's what he is. He's an old vet and everyone respects him. We can't complain about what he's doing."

Childress was not as forgiving, saying "I don't care for" players skipping the team's offseason program, but acknowledged Winfield is not required to attend the voluntary portions.

"He is a professional and he's a good football player," Childress said. "As much as we all mother-hen -- we'd love to have everybody here and we talk about being here -- people do what they have to do. While I don't care for that, I can't require him to be here. I know this: He came back and he is in good condition. His body weight is right where it needs to be. He's not a guy that is lying on the couch eating bon bons."

The team's offseason program began March 19, and on March 28, Childress attributed Winfield's absence to a pre-planned vacation to the Bahamas. At the time, Childress said, Winfield would participate "plenty."

Shortly thereafter, the sources said, Winfield and Childress held a meeting that marked Winfield's last appearance at Winter Park until this week. Winfield said Thursday's conversation went "pretty well" but stopped short of saying his issues have been resolved.

Asked if he believes the drama is over, Childress said: "That's really more with Antoine. I expect him to be here [Friday] afternoon and for the rest of the mandatory part of this. And then it's his call whether he wants to come to the voluntary part of it next week."

• Winfield is entering the fourth season of a six-year contract worth $35 million. Although some people in the organization believe he is angling for a new deal, Winfield said: "That's so far from the truth.

"I haven't went upstairs and asked for any money, any extensions," he said. "So that's not it. It's just me not being here. I'm doing this thing on my own. And I'm just getting ready to play ball."

Staff writer Judd Zulgad contributed to this report.

Kevin Seifert • kseifert@startribune.com