Minnesota Vikings: Team Replaces Antoine Winfield, Picks Up Benny Sapp

With Antoine Winfield officially placed on Injured Reserve after breaking his clavicle, an already-hopeless Vikings defensive secondary got even worse.

In an attempt to take a step forward after two in reverse, the Vikings have signed 30-year-old CB Benny Sapp.

After spending four seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent, Sapp began his first stint with the Vikings in 2008. In 2010 Sapp was traded to the Miami Dolphins for WR Greg Camarillo.

While in Minnesota the first time around, Sapp saw some major improvement and worked himself into the starting nickel CB role—a position most recently held by Antoine Winfield before his injury.

In two seasons with the Vikings, Sapp totaled 65 tackles, two forced fumbles, eight passes defended and two interceptions. Though he didn't have standout numbers by any means, he was consistent and reliable in the limited role that he did have.

After being traded to the Dolphins, Sapp could not live up to expectations, and his stats did not really improve at all.  In roughly 17 games with the Dolphins, he totaled 46 tackles, 11 passes defended and two interceptions.

Sapp was cut by the Dolphins on September 12th after Patriots WR Wes Welker torched him on a 99-yard touchdown to earn the New England Patriots a win in the first Monday Night Football game of the 2011 season—a night where Tom Brady threw for 517 yards.

Since being released by the Dolphins, Sapp hasn't really been involved with any other teams but claims that his 11-year-old son was his inspiration for staying in shape and getting back on the horse.

In an interview heard on Minnesota's FM 100.3 KFAN (the radio home of the Vikings), Vikings Vox Paul Allen talked to team-leading tackler Chad Greenway about Sapp's return. Greenway said that Sapp is a great teammate and has an excellent locker room presence.

Sapp has said that he loves the Vikings' 4-3 defensive scheme and feels very comfortable in his role here. Hopefully those positive feelings will equate to some positive production on the field.

Sapp will provide a veteran presence in the Vikings secondary and hopefully some speed and coverage skills against a very speedy group of Oakland Raiders wideouts.

With the lack of depth in the secondary after the loss of Winfield and the arrest of Chris Cook, the Vikings desperately needed to address this weakness. Sapp won't replace Cook or Winfield, but hopefully he'll be able to ease the pain a little bit.