The Old Man Becomes the “Newman” Once Again
Joe Johnson
|
When you watch 39-year-old cornerback Terence Newman in the middle of a media scrum, surrounded by cameras and tape-recorders and microphones, you know he is a seasoned veteran. He takes the inquisition on with a smile and a calm that demonstrates his decade-and-a-half of experience in the NFL. He has seen it all before and knows not to get too excited or nervous on the opening day of camp.
“Those [nerves] left a while ago,” Newman said. “I’m always a little nervous in the first practice. I don’t know why, but [the] first practice I’m always a little jittery and it settles down after that. It’s always good once you get the first one over with. For me, I just relax and have fun.”
To be honest, the senior member of the Vikings roster almost sounds like a rookie when he is asked about his evolving role on the team. Certainly, he is considered one of the leaders of the team, but in the recent seasons, he has been required to lead by example, which meant playing in 15 games (starting nine) last season. This season, the veteran is open to whatever head coach Mike Zimmer has in store.
“I’m willing to do whatever they ask,” Newman said. “If they ask me to give LJ [Linval Joseph] a break at the three-technique, I’ll probably try to do that. Probably won’t be very good at it, but I would give it my best. It doesn’t matter to me. I just want to have a role and be able to have an opportunity to win a ring. That’s the only reason I’m still playing.”
After the Thursday morning walk-thru (in which Newman is spotted as a fill-in on the faux offense when the second teamers are learning the defense), Zimmer was asked just exactly what Newman’s role will be this season. Suffice it to say, three-tech was listed by the head coach.
“Terence is a corner. That is where he is going to play,” Zimmer said. “And if we need him at nickel or safety or some other spot, then we will do that. But he’s a corner.”
Newman is certainly capable of much more just cornerback. There has been plenty of speculation about him playing slot corner (which is technically is still cornerback, but a shift from the outside) since Captain Munnerlyn left via free agency and Mackenzie Alexander is still growing into the slot position. Zimmer has said that he expects Trae Waynes to grab the outside cornerback spot opposite of Xavier Rhodes this season, so a shift to the slot could be in the offing for Newman until the team is confident in Alexander there.
That could mean the old man Newman is finally going to be relegated to backup duty, and his versatility could have him playing all over the secondary (not unlike the veteran Brian Robison does on the front line of the defense). That appears to be the most logical step for the ancient warrior, who this offseason said was said to be considering a coaching job (recently offered by Zimmer)after his playing days are done.
Coaching is a natural progression for Newman. When Zimmer brought him to Minnesota (after coaching him in Cincinnati and Dallas), it was with the idea in mind that Newman would be mentoring the younger cornerbacks in the NFL game and Zimmer’s defense in particular—in addition to playing, which he has done a lot of. Taking the next step to coaching makes so much sense to a player who is already acting like one on the field.
Still, Newman has some unfinished business yet as a player. As much as a couple years ago, Newman was answering the question (which has become an annual question) about why he is still playing. He said then that he wanted to win a ring (as he said this year above), so he chose to stick with Zimmer and see if they could do it together. Asked if it was a difficult decision to come back again for his 15th season, the man who attributes his good health to drinking the occasional red win basically said, au contraire.
“Super easy. I definitely want to build what we did that first year,” Newman said. “I think this team is close, to be honest. That’s just my thought. We’re close to doing great things. Obviously, we got to work and compete hard. I think we just need to be a little meaner to each other and have a couple more fights. That just lets you know that everyone is really working and guys are getting personal and what not. I’m just looking forward to getting back to work and being with my brothers and having some fun.”
Despite the calm demeanor of the “Old Man at the C (as in cornerback),” Newman still has plenty of fire left in his belly for the game. And the Vikings are planning to take full advantage of it.