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Friday Patriots Notebook 3/6: An End of An Era With Wilfork, Bidding War Between Pats and Jets for Revis?, More Notes

Ian Logue
Ian Logue on Twitter
Mar 6, 2015 at 9:00am ET







Wilfork had some great moments during his career in New England. (USA TODAY Images)

The news about Vince Wilfork on Thursday proves that the NFL rolls on no matter who you are, and sometimes it happens at the expense of guys that are loved by their team and their fans and it's hard when the business side of football gets in the way of keeping that story going.

In Wilfork's case, he's a player who has been a key component to the Patriots defensive line since being drafted 21st overall in 2004, and he's been an incredible teammate, leader, and friend to a lot of players in that locker room.

Looking back to the day he was drafted, his story was an interesting one and he's a player who was already at a maturity level well above and beyond what most players his age tend to be at.  Having lost both his parents two years prior in 2002 over a six month span, it caused him to have to grow up in a hurry.  At just the age of 20 he was married to his current wife, Bianca, and had two children.  After being drafted, Wilfork didn't care about his big contract or buying a new car, or all the crazy things young players tend to do with it.

"I already have a car," said Wilfork back in 2004. "A house is my main concern right now. Getting familiar with the area and that is it."

He's had plenty of great seasons here as a Patriot, playing a key role in New England's championship run in his rookie season as well as helping be a part of a decade where they've continually won ten or more games. Despite coming off of his Achilles injury in 2013, he had solid year for the Patriots after finishing with 47 tackles as well as an interception and a pass defensed. He also played in 68% or more snaps in 10 games last season.

It's been quite a run, and it's one that you could almost see coming back when he first got the news.  The former University of Miami standout told the media the day he was drafted that the fact this was an organization that cared about winning was why he was so excited to be a part of it.

"I loved [being picked by the Patriots] because New England loves to win, they love to play the game and they know a lot about winning," Wilfork told the New England media in a conference call that day. "[When it was announced I was a New England Patriot] I just fell in love right there."

Wilfork said in a statement yesterday that he still believes he has plenty of gas left in the tank one year removed from his Achilles injury.

They won a lot of games thanks to him, and it will be tough not seeing the number 75 on the field for this team next season.  Unfortunately everything comes to an end eventually, and now the Patriots will head into 2015 having closed a chapter with a player who was just as good off the field with all of the charity work he's done with he and his wife.  Guys like him don't come around very often, and it was quite a run.  

He'll definitely be missed.

SCHEFTER TALKS REVIS, MCCOURTY:

ESPN's Adam Schefter was on Mad Dog Sports Radio on Thursday and gave his thoughts on where Darrelle Revis may end up, and he believes it may come down to a bidding war between the Patriots and Jets.

“I believe that it will come down to the Patriots and the Jets,” said Schefter via WEEI.com. “I think the Jets are going to pay him short of whatever he wants to bring him back there because not only could they use him, it would be a huge moral, emotional victory for that franchise to bring him back there, get him to finish his career there.

“I don’t know what New England is going to offer him, I really don’t. Say it’s $10 million, $11 million a year, $12 million and you’re the Jets and offer $15-16 million a year. Worth it to go back to New York to finish your career for a few million dollars more where you would be saluted as a king? I don’t know. It’s a question of what you find most important, what you value most in your life and what you want to do with your career.”

Schefter also went on to say that he was surprised that Devin McCourty wasn't given the franchise tag designation instead of Stephen Gostkowski.

“It was a little surprising to me that McCourty wasn’t tagged and they went with Gostkowski,” Schefter said. “I think once McCourty gets to market he’s going to get a lot of interest from a lot of different teams — Philadelphia, both New York teams. Look, what team in the league doesn’t need a safety? If you’re in that position, I think he is going to command big dollars.

“I think it is going to be a big enough offer that compels him to leave New England, a place he’d like to stay. He wants to be there. He’d like to stay there. This is going to be a business decision and I think there are going to be some teams out there that make it a hard enough business decision for him to leave.”

ADDITIONAL NOTES:

- As we get closer to free agency it appears the rumors are starting for players the Patriots may have on their radar as they start kicking the tires for some new players for next season.  According to the Miami Herald's Armando Salguero, Dolphins receiver Brian Hartline is a player the Patriots have expressed interest in.  He was cut by Miami last week.

- Patriots owner Robert Kraft has been a person who has taken an interest in many different issues over the years, and the latest one appears to be trying to do his part to help in the battle of marriage equality.  According to the Huffington Post the New England Patriots organization was one of 379 corporations and employer organizations to sign a friend-of-the-court, or amicus brief, urging the Supreme Court to legalize same-sex marriage.  Other pro teams included the San Francisco Giants and the Tampa Bay Rays.  You can read the full list here.

- According to WHDH Tom Brady is about to play a round of golf with a former major champion.  The Super Bowl XLIX quarterback will reportedly play a round of golf at Augusta National with four-time major champion Rory Mcllroy next week.  Augusta National is the home of the Masters Tournament, with the 79th edition scheduled to be played from April 9th-12th.

- Bill Belichick was on hand for Clemson's pro day on Thursday, with TigerNet.com reporting that Belichick watched defensive tackle DeShawn Williams while he was there, keeping an eye on him during his foot drills. Williams told the website he hoped he made an impression. "Yeah, I saw him give me a look during the foot drills," Williams told the website. "He was like, 'Who is this guy?' But I got his attention, and that is a good thing. But whoever picks me is going to get a hard-working guy. I am not a guy what will be showboating but I will get the job done." Sounds like a Patriot.

- Patriots running back Shane Vereen is going to be honored on March 26th. According to SCVNews.com Vereen will be honored at the Hyatt Regency form 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. The City of Santa Clarita Mayor Marsha McLean is expected to present a key to the city and honor Vereen at the event. Vereen will also reportedly speak to the attendees about his career path and will answer questions.


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