Terence Newman turns 38 on Sept. 4. Still looks good. Hasn't missed any practice time. Still drinks the magic red wine. However, there is a distinct probability he won't play football forever.
So it's been interesting as I watch Mike Zimmer, the Vikings head coach and noted NFL Defensive Backs Whisperer, make his way around the practice fields in Mankato. Zimmer pays attention to all position groups, but lingers longer with the defensive backs.
When he's with them, he looks more like a position coach. A hands-on teacher. Literally sometimes.
Watching Sunday's practice, it's obvious the student who gets the most direction from the top guy is second-year cornerback Trae Waynes. Waynes, the team's first-round pick a year ago, clearly has first-round skills. But he's still an under-the-radar backup, not because he can't play, but because Newman won't stop drinking the magic red wine and grow old.
So until we see Waynes perform as a starter — whenever that is — I consider it a tremendous luxury that an NFL team has this kind of depth at such a hard position to amass even two quality starters. The fact Zimmer gets this much time to groom Newman's heir apparent is an added bonus.
Sunday, as Waynes lined up across from a receiver during an 11-on-11 segment of practice, Zimmer was standing behind the receiver, signaling some instructions to Waynes. Waynes was up close in press coverage, which is a physical part of the position that's not permitted, per the collective bargaining agreement, from the end of one season until the pads go on in training camp the following season. It's a puzzling rule considering how important that part of the job is for a cornerback, not to mention the fact that linemen engage in natural contact that's much more physical throughout the non-padded offseason workouts.
After the play was over and Waynes' reps were finished, Zimmer pulled him aside and gave him some more instruction.
"He seems a lot more comfortable in everything he's doing," Zimmer said of Waynes. "I've been working with him quite a bit trying to get him to finish plays a little bit better. I think that's what he needs to do. He's been really close on a lot of times.
