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Minnesota Vikings: Re-signing Terence Newman makes sense

By Kevin Parvizi

November 15, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Minnesota Vikings cornerback Terence Newman (23) intercepts the football intended for Oakland Raiders wide receiver Andre Holmes (18) during the fourth quarter at O.co Coliseum. The Vikings defeated the Raiders 30-14. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
November 15, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Minnesota Vikings cornerback Terence Newman (23) intercepts the football intended for Oakland Raiders wide receiver Andre Holmes (18) during the fourth quarter at O.co Coliseum. The Vikings defeated the Raiders 30-14. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /
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Whether it’s Steve Smith Sr., his former teammate Julius Peppers, or a different 3-4 outside linebacker in James Harrison, plenty of ageless wonders have shown that old guys can still succeed in the NFL. One of the quietest members of the 35-and-up crowd who is still going strong is Minnesota Vikings defensive back Terence Newman, an old friend of the aforementioned Smith’s.

Oakland Raiders now-retired safety and future Hall of Famer Charles Woodson captured all the headlines- and for good reason- as a “white-bearded” standout in the secondary, but Minnesota Vikings cornerback Terence Newman deserves to have some praise kicked his way for his quality 2015 campaign.

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Newman didn’t have the interceptions Woodson did (though he did have three of his own), but he was an above-average starter on one of the best defenses in the NFL. Some, especially me, were skeptical when Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer decided to bring Newman from the Cincinnati Bengals, but he’s proven to be Minnesota’s wise man, in addition to being a quality player.

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62 tackles, three picks, and 12 passes defended are solid stats for any cornerback in this league, and they are downright impressive for a 37-year-old who has been in the NFL since 2003. Newman looked just as good last season as he did in 2014 for the Bengals, when he had 70 tackles with one pick and 14 PDs. His year-to-year consistency has been remarkable, since he’s never defended less than eight passes in his 13-year career.

Although Newman hasn’t made a decision on whether or not he will retire, it would be a great idea for the Vikings to re-sign him to another cheap, no-risk contract for one season if he chooses to keep playing. Newman, who is one of the best tackling cornerbacks in the business, still has plenty left in the tank, and the fact that he is willing– and able- to play safety for the Vikings should be seen as a bonus.

If you look at the Vikings list of upcoming free agents this offseason, you’ll see that they don’t have any real priorities, and Newman is probably their best player from last season on an expiring contract. Re-signing him would be dirt cheap, and it would allow the Vikings to further ease Trae Waynes‘s transition, making the need for the 2015 first-round pick to have a great second season slightly less dire.

Since Newman can tackle and make plays on the ball even at his advanced age, it seems like he could be ticketed for that move to safety, which would be helpful to the Vikings in certain situations. It could allow Zimmer and the coaching staff to throw different looks at defenses, and Newman has always been good at attacking the football.

We’ve seen the likes of Woodson and DeAngelo Hall make successful cornerback-to-safety conversions late in their career, and if Newman is game to play for a 14th NFL season, then this is an experiment worth trying out.

Jan 10, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings cornerback Terence Newman (23) before a NFC Wild Card playoff football game against the Seattle Seahawks at TCF Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 10, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings cornerback Terence Newman (23) before a NFC Wild Card playoff football game against the Seattle Seahawks at TCF Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports /

I don’t see the risk in bringing back Newman, and even if he does suddenly suck (despite being one of the team’s most consistent defensive backs in 2015), the financial cost will be minimal. When he’s not on the field, Newman’s experience in the locker room is apparently valuable, and while that alone wouldn’t be enough to justify another contract, his sagely presence is a nice bonus when combined with the fact that he’s still a good player.

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Xavier Rhodes‘s huge in-season bounce-back to his terrific 2014 form was an encouraging development for the Vikings, and I like Waynes’s chances of making strides under Zimmer’s guidance. Throw Newman back in there on a secondary that already contains players like Harrison Smith and Captain Munnerlyn, and Minnesota should be able to build on a 2015 season that saw them make the postseason and finish fifth in the NFL in points per game allowed.

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