Tackle Eric Winston has been elected as the president of the NFL Players Association, but he doesn’t want those responsibilities to be the only things on his plate in 2014.
While he’s protecting the interests of the league’s players as a group, he’d like to be advancing the interests of one team as a member of their offensive line. Winston would like to return for another year in the desert, although he knows that might not be possible. Whether it is in Arizona or elsewhere, Winston would like to sign before the draft in May.
“I can’t say there have been super-positive talks or anything like that,” Winston said, via Dan Bickley of the Arizona Republic. “It doesn’t seem like anything is being done. I’d still love to come back to Arizona. I love the guys in the locker room, love the city, and I think the team will be really good with or without me. They’re ready to have a special run out there. At the same time, it is what it is. I’m looking to get on a team as soon as possible, hopefully before the draft. I know I still have some miles left on the tires, and I’m looking to burn them off.”
Winston didn’t sign until just before camp last year and while he feels he held up well under the circumstances, his play wasn’t quite up to previous levels. Getting more time with a team couldn’t hurt, although it seems there’s still some work for Winston to do in terms of convincing someone to offer him an appealing deal.