The linebacker has decided to remain with the Minnesota Vikings after initially accepting an offer from the New York Jets.
In the spring of 2004, the Minnesota Vikings were in hot pursuit of cornerback Antoine Winfield. As one of the top cornerbacks in the free-agent market, it appeared that the then 26-year old was on the verge of signing a deal with the New York Jets and the Vikings would have to look elsewhere on the free-agent market to fill a need in their secondary.
At the last second, the Vikings sent a private jet out to court Winfield and at the eleventh hour, he would change course and sign a six-year, $34.8 million contract with Minnesota.
Nearly 15 years later, the Vikings are socking it to the Jets again. Linebacker Anthony Barr had been reported to be heading to New York when free agency opens on Wednesday. While there is no word on the specifics of the deal or whether Rick Spielman took a private jet out to New York, it appears that the ninth overall pick in the 2014 draft had a change of heart and will be staying in Minnesota according to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo:
Plot twist! LB Anthony Barr has decided to agree to terms to remain with the #Vikings, sources say. He will not be a member of the #Jets after all.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) March 12, 2019
Details of the contract agreed upon between the Vikings and Barr were shared on Twitter by NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport.
The #Vikings are signing LB Anthony Barr to a 5-year deal worth $67.5M, source said. With incentives it can be worth $77.5M. He gets $33M in guarantees. And back home.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 12, 2019
Barr’s fate had been a hot topic among the Vikings’ past two offseasons as the team tried to extend all of their young players while also making a major financial commitment to new quarterback Kirk Cousins. As Minnesota signed Danielle Hunter and Stefon Diggs to lucrative extensions last offseason, it appeared that Barr would be out of the fold after failing to come to an agreement prior to the 2018 season.
Barr’s contract year was filled with ups and downs as he played in 13 games and tallied a career-low with 55 tackles (39 solo). The UCLA product’s pass coverage also suffered before he missed three games with a hamstring injury in the middle of the year.
Although Barr would make the Pro Bowl for the fourth consecutive year, many felt that his desire to obtain edge rusher money as opposed to 4-3 linebacker money would keep him out of the Vikings’ price range, but it appears the two sides have reached some sort of compromise.
With Barr’s return the Vikings can now focus on other areas of weakness along the offensive line and replacing Sheldon Richardson on the inside after he agreed to a three-year deal with the Cleveland Browns on Tuesday morning.