Vince Wilfork...on WEEI...

[patsfaninpa]

Doesn't sound like the Pats have made a push to sign him. He said he would like a long-term contract not a franchise. Tone of voice makes it sound as if he played his last game for our boys.

 

[tobias funke]

Re: Vince Wilfork....on WEEI...

I love Vince but it's unfortunately not up to him.

The guy obviously deserved a long-term contract 1-2 years ago, but the team missed the boat when he could have been cheaper, and now is afraid to give him a deal with the labor uncertainty.

The guy is going to get franchised, and he'll probably hold out of training camp, but I think we'll see him on the field for week 1.

It's a sad state of affairs for a team that ought to be making its best players happy at this point in time, but they got on this road a while ago and it doesn't seem like there are any detours left.

 

[Jangles]

Re: Vince Wilfork....on WEEI...

I will slap Kraft and Belichick if they let our best lineman go

first Seymour and possibly Wilfork?

This team isn't going to be poised for a deep playoff run until 2015 at this rate

 

[patsfaninpa]

Re: Vince Wilfork....on WEEI...

I love Vince but it's unfortunately not up to him.

The guy obviously deserved a long-term contract 1-2 years ago, but the team missed the boat when he could have been cheaper, and now is afraid to give him a deal with the labor uncertainty.

The guy is going to get franchised, and he'll probably hold out of training camp, but I think we'll see him on the field for week 1.

It's a sad state of affairs for a team that ought to be making its best players happy at this point in time, but they got on this road a while ago and it doesn't seem like there are any detours left.

I'm sure we'll franchise him if we don't sign him. The point is that he's not going to be happy about it. The Pats already got an extra year out of him on his rookie contract. 6YRS. They shouldn't be screwing with this guy. How's he going to help lead the team back if he's not happy with his situation?

 

[Lansdowne]

Re: Vince Wilfork....on WEEI...

This also won't help with bringing in potential free agents, seeing as how they treat their players when it comes to contract negotiations. Wilfork is definitely worth signing long term.

 

[tobias funke]

Re: Vince Wilfork....on WEEI...

I'm sure we'll franchise him if we don't sign him. The point is that he's not going to be happy about it. The Pats already got an extra year out of him on his rookie contract. 6YRS. They shouldn't be screwing with this guy. How's he going to help lead the team back if he's not happy with his situation?

I completely agree with you. Both Vince and Ben Watson got handcuffed by 6-year deals, and Vince outplayed his by a mile.

I also believe a happy player is going to be a better player in the crucial moments that make or break a season, because he has that extra mental edge to fight for the team that obviously values his abilities.

But the Patriots obviously have decided that his value as a 2-down player isn't worth the money he deserves, and that seems to be the end of it as far as the team is concerned.

If I'm wrong, and they do get a deal worked out, I'll happily eat my words, but I just don't see this playing out any other way at this point.

 

[The Dynasty]

Re: Vince Wilfork....on WEEI...

The Patriots will definitely atleast franchise him. Big Vince wont be happy but atleast he will still be in a Pats uniform next season. Personally I would give him the big contract that he deserves.

 

[R_T26]

Re: Vince Wilfork....on WEEI...

Sadly the Pats tend to run in place these days. Draft picks are no longer about improving the team but rather replacing the people that leave.

Wilfork sadly was not mediocre enough to get a contract, ask Sanders and Kazcur what you need to do to stay.

Thats why its hard to get excited about meriweather, since he probably has 2 years left as a Patriot.

Whatever... Eventually the pats have to realize you need to sign some of your young stars.
Because wilhite and brace are no samual and wilfork.

 

[JackBauer]

Re: Vince Wilfork....on WEEI...

Wilfork sadly was not mediocre enough to get a contract, ask Sanders and Kazcur what you need to do to stay.

Did that actually make any sense to you when you typed it?

 

[BritPat]

Re: Vince Wilfork....on WEEI...

"I want a long term contract or I want to be free."

Fair play to him.

 

[Sicilian]

Re: Vince Wilfork....on WEEI...

Sadly the Pats tend to run in place these days. Draft picks are no longer about improving the team but rather replacing the people that leave.

Wilfork sadly was not mediocre enough to get a contract, ask Sanders and Kazcur what you need to do to stay.

Thats why its hard to get excited about meriweather, since he probably has 2 years left as a Patriot.

Whatever... Eventually the pats have to realize you need to sign some of your young stars.
Because wilhite and brace are no samual and wilfork.

And Samuel and Wilfork were no Ty Law and Ted Washington at first either.

But let's not declare this an automatic franchise situation based on "tone of voice" during a phone interview.

 

[StraightCashHomey81]

Re: Vince Wilfork....on WEEI...

I've agreed with nearly every move BB has made with regards to letting high priced free agents go, whether it be trading them, cutting them, or letting them walk. I supported the Seymour and Branch trades, thought Ty Law wanted too many years, thought Milloy was over the hill, and thought Asante wasn't worth what the Eagles gave him. But letting Vince walk I cannot accept.

He is a premier NT, a team leader, and has done all the right things. For the first time, I don't think players would simply shrug off letting a player go as "The Patriot Way". I think trading Vince, letting him walk, or even franchising him could have a negative impact throughout the locker room. Unless he is asking for an astronomical contract with too many years, the Pats have to pony up and re-sign Vince.

 

[Rob0729]

Re: Vince Wilfork....on WEEI...

Doesn't sound like the Pats have made a push to sign him. He said he would like a long-term contract not a franchise. Tone of voice makes it sound as if he played his last game for our boys.

First, Bodden has said that the Pats told their free agents that if they were going to make them an offer, they would contact them in early February. It is obvious that the Pats are going to wait to the last possible minute to see how the CBA negotiations are going to play out because an uncapped year and possibility of a work stoppage in 2011 will affect how most teams approach free agency.

Second, unless Wilfork wants to risk not playing football again until 2012 or longer, he will be in a Pats uniform next season. He will be franchised. His options are to sit out the season, wait until week 10 and play for the Pats, or play the entire season under the franchise tender. If there is a work stoppage and he chooses option one, he may not play again until 2012.

 

[BelichickFan]

Re: Vince Wilfork....on WEEI...

"I want a long term contract or I want to be free."

Fair play to him.

He can get what he wants but he has to be Franchised first before some other team trades for him and gives him the long term contract.

 

[The Dynasty]

Re: Vince Wilfork....on WEEI...

I've agreed with nearly every move BB has made with regards to letting high priced free agents go, whether it be trading them, cutting them, or letting them walk. I supported the Seymour and Branch trades, thought Ty Law wanted too many years, thought Milloy was over the hill, and thought Asante wasn't worth what the Eagles gave him. But letting Vince walk I cannot accept.

He is a premier NT, a team leader, and has done all the right things. For the first time, I don't think players would simply shrug off letting a player go as "The Patriot Way". I think trading Vince, letting him walk, or even franchising him could have a negative impact throughout the locker room. Unless he is asking for an astronomical contract with too many years, the Pats have to pony up and re-sign Vince.

I agree. This guy has done everything that the Patriots have asked from him and he has performed on the field and he needs to be rewarded for it. He is the only player in his class drafted in the first round that was still playing under his rookie contract this season. He is a team leader, does anything the team asks from him and plays the game as hard as anyone on the Patriots. It would be BB's worst move as a Patriot if he lets Vince walk.

 

[Rob0729]

Re: Vince Wilfork....on WEEI...

I'm sure we'll franchise him if we don't sign him. The point is that he's not going to be happy about it. The Pats already got an extra year out of him on his rookie contract. 6YRS. They shouldn't be screwing with this guy. How's he going to help lead the team back if he's not happy with his situation?

No player is happy to be franchised. I disagree with your assessment of him being unhappy and will affect his production. It didn't hurt Asante Samuel. If he is franchised, he is in another contract year. He has incentive to play well and hope the Pats will either give him a long term deal or franchise and trade him. He plays like crap and his value especially in a franchise could cost him millions.

 

[Rob0729]

Re: Vince Wilfork....on WEEI...

This also won't help with bringing in potential free agents, seeing as how they treat their players when it comes to contract negotiations. Wilfork is definitely worth signing long term.

Of course it will because the Pats are the only heartless team that would slap a franchise tag on a player and force them to play under the franchise tag. Imagine if the Cardinals did that with a player like Karlos Dansby or the Panthers doing that to Juilius Peppers. Imagine the backlash if either of those teams franchised those players two years in a row.

The franchise tag is a fact of life for the NFL. Every season there are a half dozen to a dozen players franchised. The stigma of teams franchising players is no longer there. It is a tool that many teams use on a yearly basis.

 

[Jangles]

Re: Vince Wilfork....on WEEI...

I agree. This guy has done everything that the Patriots have asked from him and he has performed on the field and he needs to be rewarded for it. He is the only player in his class drafted in the first round that was still playing under his rookie contract this season. He is a team leader, does anything the team asks from him and plays the game as hard as anyone on the Patriots. It would be BB's worst move as a Patriot if he lets Vince walk.

Yep

Letting him go would make me question this teams front office more than I already do

 

[patsfaninpa]

Re: Vince Wilfork....on WEEI...

No player is happy to be franchised. I disagree with your assessment of him being unhappy and will affect his production. It didn't hurt Asante Samuel. If he is franchised, he is in another contract year. He has incentive to play well and hope the Pats will either give him a long term deal or franchise and trade him. He plays like crap and his value especially in a franchise could cost him millions.

I didn't say he wouldn't produce. I said he'd be "unhappy." He said that himself in the interview. You interpreted his not producing from that somehow. I asked how they expect him to lead others. When he's not happy with his own situation. You need cornerstones on a great team. He's good enough to be one.

 

[Rob0729]

Re: Vince Wilfork....on WEEI...

I didn't say he wouldn't produce. I said he'd be "unhappy." He said that himself in the interview. You interpreted his not producing from that somehow. I asked how they expect him to lead others. When he's not happy with his own situation. You need cornerstones on a great team. He's good enough to be one.

You know what? No player is happy to be franchised. Every year 6-12 or more players are franchised and unhappy. It is a fact of life of the NFL. I don't get how this is different than any other player that gets franchised.

The fact of the matter is that Vince is getting up there in age and many NTs tend to break down in their early 30s because of their weight. I don't know if it is a bad thing to have Vince play under the franchise tag the next two years and then let him walk.