Winfield absent but deflects blame

Antoine Winfield continued to stay away from the Vikings' offseason workouts Thursday, and there now appears to be little doubt the overriding reason is that negotiations on a contract extension broke down early last month. The veteran cornerback is entering the final season of six-year, $34.8 million deal.

"I would not speak for him," coach Brad Childress said when asked if this could be termed a contract situation. "I'd say you have to ask him. I'm not coloring it any way. You would have to check his reasons."

Winfield did not specifically address his contract situation but in a statement issued late Thursday said: "I want all to know that I'm not at OTA's because I don't want to be there. I do want to be there! As I have stated before, I want to finish my career a Viking."

Before Thursday, Winfield and his agent, Ashanti Webb, had not commented since Webb confirmed contract talks had ceased. Before that, however, Winfield had been taking part in the Vikings' offseason conditioning program.

Winfield has missed the first three practices that have been part of Organized Team Activities this week and isn't expected at Winter Park today. Childress did say he talked to Winfield on Tuesday -- Childress gave no details of the conversation -- when Winfield was getting his mandatory team physical at Tria Orthopedic Center in Eden Prairie.

The OTAs are optional, meaning that if Winfield missed a few it wouldn't be considered a big deal. Winfield, though, also was absent for the Vikings' mandatory three-day minicamp last weekend, making him the only veteran who wasn't in attendance. Childress said Winfield was at the funeral for the mother of a close friend, but did not say if Winfield was going to be fined.

Winfield, who will turn 32 on June 24, is back in the Twin Cities now, and one would think he would be more likely to be on the field after missing the minicamp. It's unclear if Winfield would consider a training-camp holdout if he doesn't get a new deal before practices begin on July 31.

One potential concern for the Vikings, and Winfield, is what happened two years ago when he skipped all of the offseason program, except for the minicamp. Winfield ended up missing a career-high six games in 2007 because of injuries.

After that, Winfield said he would not stay away from the offseason program again and last year rebounded to earn the first Pro Bowl berth of his 10-year career.

Cornerback Asher Allen, a third-round pick by the Vikings in April, was not on the field Thursday after undergoing an arthroscopic procedure on one of his knees, according to people with knowledge of the situation. It was a minor procedure and Allen is expected to be fine for training camp.

• Running backs Adrian Peterson and Chester Taylor also were not in attendance Thursday and haven't been present this week. Taylor rarely attends non-mandatory events, electing to work out in Houston. Also absent were kicker Ryan Longwell and running back Kahlil Bell.

• The Vikings and Kansas City Chiefs will not hold a joint training-camp practice as they have in recent years. Kansas City trains in nearby River Falls, Wis. Childress said the decision was made after he talked to new Chiefs General Manager Scott Pioli at the NFL scouting combine in February.

"They've got so many different things going on ... that they're thinking this year that they don't want to do it," Childress said.