Quarterback, for instance, is a position where age lends experience and doesn’t dramatically hamper performance. The ideal backup quarterback is a savvy veteran possibly nearing the end of his career. He knows all the tricks; he knows the NFL. He’s not a guy you want leading your team for 16 games (and hopefully more), but if your starter goes down, you’re content as possible knowing the backup at least has the experience and knowledge to throw a few games together and maybe keep the fire alive until your starter is back.

Wide receiver, however, is a completely different animal. Sure, you have your veterans out there who are showing their age, but know their stuff and still manage to stay relevant, but they keep their head above water and float around as a No. 2 or No. 3 on the roster or they disappear.

No one keeps a 35-year-old vet as a No. 5 wideout. There’s just no point.

You get that deep into the wide receiver depth chart (especially on a run-first team) and you’re looking for something else — not a vast wealth of knowledge or experience, but a spark. Someone who can come in and return a kickoff for a touchdown or a kid who has unbelievable speed and just may figure the rest out along the way.

Jan 5, 2013; Green Bay, WI, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback Joe Webb (14) steps up to pass during the third quarter of the NFC Wild Card playoff game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. The Packers won 24-10. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

Or someone who has all the athletic ability in the world, the natural instincts of a playmaker, the speed to outrun coverage and the height to outjump it too.

In a name: Joe Webb.

Reading that last sentence, you may think I am proclaiming Joe Webb to be the greatest wide receiver of all time. I’m not, and I don’t think he ever will be. But he could be an exciting player (something he’s already showcased) and in terms of wide receiver prospects, he’s certainly the most interesting one we could have as a No. 5 on the depth chart.

But there’s another aspect to being a backup player at any position on an NFL roster – competence. Webb proved he just couldn’t play with the big boys at quarterback, and after three wasted years with Webb holding a clipboard, the Vikings finally moved him away from his college position and back into the position he was drafted to be, wide receiver.

Will Webb be competent at wide receiver enough to make a roster spot? Can he even catch? According to Tom Pelissero, that’s not a problem:

Heard this: Joe Webb has caught everything in workouts. Hands aren’t an issue. It’s learning everything else. OTAs ramp that up. #Vikings

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) May 28, 2013

And this picture doesn’t look too bad, either.

Joe Webb as a WR on the first day of #Vikings OTAs bit.ly/ZroGUM

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) May 28, 2013

So he’s not a taller Troy Williamson. Step one to becoming a Vikings wide receiver – complete.

Time, both at the OTAs and training camp, will tell us more about whether or not Webb can catch on to all the other nuances of playing wide receiver in the NFL.

For now, let’s enjoy the prospect.

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Dec 30, 2012; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings linebacker Jasper Brinkley (54) raises his arms during his introduction to the game with the Green Bay Packers at the Metrodome. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports

The top-tier free agents got the attention in the first day of NFL free agency, but now that the first day madness has calmed down, the rest of the pack can start exploring their options on the market.

One such player is Vikings free-agent linebacker, Jasper Brinkley.

Brinkley, who was the starting middle linebacker for the Vikings last year after missing the 2011 season with a hip injury,  is looking to capitalize on his first shot at free agency.

MLB Jasper Brinkley (Vikings) visiting the Giants today, per source.

— Adam Caplan (@caplannfl) March 13, 2013

The Giants have a hole in the middle of their linebacking core as well with Chase Blackburn, last year’s starter in the middle, also available in free agency.

Brinkley is known for his powerful hitting, but he’s a liability in pass coverage and seemed to be losing his wallup toward the end of the 2012 season.

It’s hard enough paying a linebacker who really can’t cover, but paying a middle linebacker who can’t cover and isn’t even your best run-stopper is simply out of the question.

Surely the Vikings have a standing lowball offer out there for him, but chances are Brinkley will find a new home for 2013.

Could we soon be seeing Audi Cole in the starting lineup? Or dare I say it, Manti Teo?

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“Antoine Winfield was a very tough decision,” Rick Spielman said of the news, via 1500ESPN.com. “It was a business decision as we move forward. Antoine is a great football player for us.”

Releasing Winfield, who was going into the last year of his contract, cleared up $7.25 million in cap space for the Vikings.

Nov 25, 2012; Chicago, IL, USA; Minnesota Vikings cornerback Antoine Winfield (26) reacts to being called for a penalty against the Chicago Bears during the second quarter at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Rob Grabowski-USA TODAY Sports

Earlier in the offseason, Vikings brass had approached Winfield about taking a pay cut in 2013, but after another very productive year with 100 tackles and three picks, the Winfield camp was less than enthused about a renegotiation for less money.

Winfield’s cap number of $7.25 million was very steep for a slot cornerback turning 36 in June and looking at what Leslie Frazier called, “a reduced role.” However, Winfield is undeniably the best run-stopping cornerback in the game, even at his age, and his leadership and talent will most certainly be missed in the Vikings secondary.

Spielman, ever in PR-mode, spewed a little of the company line for us, as well.

“We definitely want to keep the door open on his possible return, but at this time we had to release him in order to get him out into free agency.”

That’s great, but frankly, Winfield already turned down the idea of playing for less money.

It’s certainly possible he goes out into free agency and sees that the Vikings are willing to pay more than anyone else, but there’s always a team like the Redskins dying to overpay for free agents (and wouldn’t you know, they just released DeAngelo Hall.)

It’s also possible Winfield just isn’t willing to play for the amount he is offered around the league and decides to hang it up.

It will be interesting to see whom the Vikings pick up to take Winfield’s place or if they are content with Chris Cook, Josh Robinson, AJ Jefferson and maybe a draft pick.

Either way, I fear for our run defense next year.

Hmmm, I wonder if Kevin Williams knows the names of any of the Vikings cornerbacks now, either..

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Editor’s Note: There seems to be some discrepency about whether or not the Vikings asked Antoine Winfield to take a pay cut. I’ll just let those with the sources duke it out Twitter-style.

Read somewhere #Vikings didn’t approach Winfield about a pay cut. Yes, they did. But there also was no dialogue for weeks after the combine.

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 13, 2013

Winfield may not have been willing to restructure his contract. But he was never formally asked to do so.

— Dan Wiederer (@StribDW) March 13, 2013