Since the owners opted out of the CBA in May, 2008 28 teams have been able to sign a veteran player to a big contract. Please note that some teams have signed two or more players but I just listed one per team.
If the above 28 teams could do it, why couldn't the Patriots??
Yes, but most of those players are not in the same situation. Let's go through them all:
Oakland Asomugha - Couldn't come to terms with a deal and was an exclusive rights franchise tagged player for one year and then was signed a year later. So the Pats have a long way to go before they get to that point with Wilfork.
NYJ Bart Scott - Signed a 6 year, $48 million which per year is only about $1 million more a year than AD is getting plus he was a free agent. If Wilfork agreed to 6 years, $48 million, he would be resigned right now
Miami Carey - Contract is 6 years, $45 million. Again Wilfork would be resigned if it was the contract he was looking for.
KC Cassel - Singed a six year, $63 million which is not even close to top QB money. He was also a trade.
Philadelphia Celek - Six years, $33 million. Not chump change for a TE, but really not a huge contract
Chicago Cutler - The Bears gambled on him to be their franchise QB of the future. Had to pay him. Still a young QB, not a in his prime NT
Carolina Delhomme - Five years, $42 million isn't exactly a big contract for a QB. Were forced to extend him for cap room because they franchised Peppers and needed cap space to sign rookies and couldn't cut him.
NYG Eli - I am still dumbfounded by that contract. Again a young franchise QB
Buffalo Evans - Four years, $37 million - A good deal for a non-elite WR, but nowhere near the money Wilfork will get.
Pittsburgh Harrison
Indy Hayden - Five years, $43 million is not a huge contract for a CB
Washington Haynesworth - A free agent signed by Daniel Snyder. Enough said. He is probably the reason why Wilfork doesn't have a new deal because of the ridiculousness of his contract
Seattle Hill - Was franchised and then signed to a 6 year, $38 million deal which is not exactly a huge contract and probably more than half of what Wilfork is looking for
Jacksonville MJD
San Diego Rivers - One of the four or five best QBs in the league and still has 10 years ahead of him if not injured
Green Bay Rodgers - Ditto
Houston Schaub - Signed a six year, $48 million contract less than a month after the Pats gave Adalius Thomas his contract. If the Texans get credit for Schaub, the Pats. Moss got his deal after Schaub. They plan to pick up his option, but his deal was done in 2007
San Francisco Staley - Signed a six year, $42 million extension that locks him up for 9 years with the 49ers. He won't be a free agent until 2017.
St. Louis Stephen Jackson - Six years, $44 million. Good RB money, not even close to what Wilfork will get with a hometown discount
Baltimore Suggs - Had to be franchised in both the 2008 and 2009 seasons until they got a deal done in the spring of 2009. This is an argument in favor of tagging Wilfork and letting him play out his deal
New Orleans Vilma - Five years, $34 million. Again a good deal, but chump change compared to Wilfork
Dallas Ware Six year, $78 million. Around the money Wilfork is probably looking for, but Ware might be the best defender in the game
Tennessee Washington - Six years, $27 million. That is not a big deal
Atlanta White 6 year, $48 million Not top dollar for a WR, not close to what Vince would want
Arizona Wilson 5 years, $39 million. Not a huge, but not a small contract. Big for a safety
Minnesota Winfield - 5 years $36 million. Not top dollar for a CB
Tampa Bay Winslow Six year, $36 million. Again, nowhere close to Vince although high for a TE
Denver D.J. Williams - 5 years, $32 million signed the same offseason that the Pats gave Randy Moss 3 years, $27 million
I don't get why teams like Houston and Denver get credit for signing deals in the offseasons of 2007 and 2008 and the Pats don't get credit the same for Randy Moss or Adalius Thomas?
