Terence Newman has reached the point of an extended career where his age as the NFL’s oldest defensive player reflexively is rounded up.

The venerable Vikings cornerback is 37 years old. But he will turn 38 in September just as Minnesota starts its NFC North title defense, supplanting recently retired safety Charles Woodson as granddaddy.

Tiny spikes of gray hair protruding from Newman’s shaved head reveal an ongoing struggle to conceal the evidence. But the 14-year veteran has nothing to hide regarding his proven game, his playmaking role with the Vikings or his duty to pay it forward with ambitious apprentices gunning for his job.

Not with so much unfinished business from a journey that started back in 2003.

“I don’t have a Super Bowl. I don’t have an NFC championship. I don’t have any of that,” said Newman. “That’s what I’m chasing. I’ve made a lot of money playing this game. It’s not money. I want a ring.”

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Pioneer Press predictions: Then or now, Colts seem to have Vikings’ number He told the Vikings in January he wanted to return. The feeling was mutual. Turned out, Minnesota was his only suitor. And that’s just fine with Newman.

“As long as somebody’s going to employ me, and they have a legitimate shot at making the Super Bowl, then I’m down to play.”

Watching Newman during organized team activities Wednesday at Winter Park, it was obvious there was no place he would rather be.

There he was again taking first-team snaps at right corner. And on the sideline cracking wise with owner Zygi Wilf and laughing with safeties Harrison Smith and Andrew Sendejo. He played catch with 6-year-old Obadiah Gamble — a.k.a. Teddy Bridgewater’s rapping birthday boy.

And he spent 15 minutes after practice lining up opposite first-year free-agent cornerback Melvin White and preaching about footwork at the line of scrimmage.

This is Newman’s eighth season playing for coach Mike Zimmer, who was his defensive coordinator in Cincinnati and defensive backs coach in Dallas.

Familiarity is all well and good, but playing for an ascending defense on a playoff team that was one botched field goal from reaching the divisional round last season is what lured Newman back to the grind.

“The things this team did last year, it’s a great situation with guys returning, a great head coach and coaching,” he said. “That’s important for any team to make a run. I feel this is as good as any team in the league that’s able to do that. If we can get that done, maybe I will think about being done.”

Newman was signed in March 2015 to spackle Minnesota’s leaky pass defense with an experienced cornerback, one who eventually would mentor first-round draft pick Trae Waynes.

Instead, he started all 16 games for the first time since 2010. Newman played well enough to keep Waynes sidelined and wound up leading the Vikings with three interceptions.

Moreover, Newman’s guile and versatility allowed the Vikings to start him at safety for the first time ever during a Week 14 injury crunch.

Ideally for the Vikings, the 23-year-old Waynes will emerge during training camp and seize the starting job from Newman. Competition at the position will be especially fierce this summer with Waynes and rookie Mackensie Alexander clashing with Newman and veteran nickel cornerback Captain Munnerlyn.

Cornerback arguably is the toughest job in the NFL, requiring defenders to backpedal against wide receivers who typically are the fastest players on the field. Newman said the shared struggle creates an unbreakable bond

“It’s the code of DBs to pass on as much as you can to everyone and anyone on your team who’s willing to listen,” he said.

Job security be damned.

“That’s the way it should be,” Newman said. “If a guy earns his spot, if he beats me out, I’ve done my job giving him information and techniques to do his job.

“It’s not just about me being a starter. It’s about me helping this team achieve the common goal among everyone out here.”

Sounds like a wise old man.