Several contending teams are in regular contact with free agent cornerback Antoine Winfield, according to league sources.

With the midpoint of the season approaching, a decision is expected sooner rather than later.

Winfield, coming off a strong season with the Vikings, resumed working out a few weeks ago after originally planning to retire. He was released by Seattle -- which has the NFL's deepest and best secondary -- in a cap-crunch before the season and will be very selective about where he signs.

The veteran would like a chance to get a ring -- which led to him signing with Seattle rather than accept more money to remain with the Vikings. While Winfield is getting weekly calls from several playoff-bound clubs, the struggling Vikings are also still in contact with him, according to a team source, and the fact Winfield played so long there and has such affinity to the area could keep them in the mix, but ultimately the chance to win a title elsewhere likely would win out.

Several teams have asked that Winfield not sign a deal without giving them an opportunity to match, and injuries could always play a role as well (New England, for instance, is trying determine the extent of top corner Aqib Talib's hip flexor suffered Sunday).