There isn't a player on the Vikings more familiar with coach Mike Zimmer than cornerback Terence Newman. The 38-year-old is entering his 15th NFL season, his career starting in Dallas when Zimmer was the defensive coordinator under Bill Parcells and the Cowboys selected Newman fifth overall in the 2003 draft.
The two have worked together off and on ever since. They were together four seasons with Dallas before Zimmer took the same position with the Atlanta Falcons. Newman signed with the Cincinnati Bengals as a free agent in 2012, reuniting with Zimmer before he became Vikings coach in 2014.
One year later, Newman signed a one-year, $2.5 million contract with the Vikings. He signed another one-year deal in 2016 worth $3.1 million and then once again resigned this March to a one-year deal worth $3.25 million.
So, does Newman see any differences in Zimmer from his rookie year to his 15th season?
"He's pretty much the same guy," he said. "I think he may be getting a little softer with his old age, but he's still hard-nosed and he's kind of from the tree of coach Parcells. Both of them are tough-nosed, and demand a lot, but they care about their players."
Newman recalled that first year in Dallas, when the Cowboys were coming off three consecutive 5-11 seasons and hired Parcells to take over the team. They finished 10-6 and reached the playoffs. Newman was a standout rookie, finishing with 76 tackles, four interceptions and one fumble recovery.
"We led the league in total defense my first year there," Newman recalled. "[Zimmer] has a crazy ability to get guys to play better than they have been playing. He has gotten a lot of guys throughout the years, Dallas, Atlanta, Cincinnati and here, to play really good football."
Veteran viewpoint
Newman said he relishes the chance to keep playing and being productive. He is a two-time Pro Bowl player and is also second on the active list for career interceptions with 41.