Vince Wilfork plans to return to Patriots for 2015

Actually, looking at this:

http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/rankings/defensive-tackle/

Is Wilfork's salary really that much out of line?

mgteich said:

Perhaps. Do you believe that Wilfork is worth $8M for his 2015 services?

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I think that it's likely to be a restructured deal with incentives.

Love the man and admire the he'll out of him for coming back like he did, cuz to be honest I did not think he could do it. Wore his Jersey proudly all year long every Sunday because underestimating everything he has done for this franchise is something that is far too easy to do. He is the defensive leader the way Brady is the offensive leader, the guy you can go to for a bill approved quote, an enforcer of the patriot way in the locker room. All of that said his play on the field is IMO worth 3-4 million and I would add another 1-2 for legacy and his off the field presence. He needs to restructure and I hope the pats, now that wilfork has proved he is back, give him another 2-3 years at 5 mil per with options if he drops off a cliff in ability.

Patriots1364life said:

Nice to have him back but not at 8 mil. He is a shell of his former self.

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He's not what he once was, but he's far, far better than "a shell of his former self."

He will still be better than any lineman we draft or acquire in free agency.

First ballot Ring of Honor.

A great New England Patriot if ever there was one.

I wouldn't blame Vince at this stage for being unhappy with the team asking him to go more incentive based. Nor would I blame the team for asking him.

The link describes him as not a Pro Bowl player at this point, that may be the case, but I would say only barely so. He's still a good run stuffing DT.

We do need an NT with pick number 32.

I hope Vince comes back and I think he'll still be productive. But, there's a a very good argument be made that we need to approach the DL position in the 2015 draft with more urgency than we did in 2014 at the QB position.

I don't have a big issue with paying Vince his $8M this year. Maybe he's amenable to a small restructure, but at $8M, it's not the worst thing in the world. He worked really hard getting back from that injury and he could possibly be a little better next year IMO. Between what he does on the field and his leadership, he's worth $8M to me.

I do think a DT is a need this draft though. Would like to bring back Branch for low money if that's possible. Branch & Wilfork plus a healthier Easley and a draftee who can work alongside Wilfork for at least a season would be invaluable I think.

I think and hope he will restructure. I dont want him going anywhere else.

If Wilfork can drop 40-50 pounds he's more than worth $8 million IMO.

That belly really grew this year ... I'd rather see him leaner and meaner.

If he can shed weight he'll have a few years left in him - Bianca can do it ... I know she will.

Ross12 said:

I don't have a big issue with paying Vince his $8M this year. Maybe he's amenable to a small restructure, but at $8M, it's not the worst thing in the world. He worked really hard getting back from that injury and he could possibly be a little better next year IMO. Between what he does on the field and his leadership, he's worth $8M to me.

I do think a DT is a need this draft though. Would like to bring back Branch for low money if that's possible. Branch & Wilfork plus a healthier Easley and a draftee who can work alongside Wilfork for at least a season would be invaluable I think.

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Branch, Wilfork, Easley, Jones, Siliga and a high draft pick? That's a lot of DTs.

Deus Irae said:

Vince should be a better player next year than he was this year.

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Why do you think so?

Not an attempt to direct the argument in one direction or the other but I can think of two sacks last season, one by Ayers and one by Chandler Jones, that would not have happened without Wilfork occupying three blockers. And those were only the ones that I saw. I wonder how many QB pressures and hits came from the attention Wilfork gets from the O Line.

Chris Jones is not good. He should not be on the team next year. Hopefully we get lucky in the draft this year. However there are some good d line/ d-ends available in the draft including Giants Paul I believe

I rather give the 8mill to McCourty. I like Vince and if he wants to come back for 4 mill per to play 35-40 snaps for two more years, that would be wonderful. But you can get Knighton. Dan Williams,Rubin, Sims or Raji, guys that can give 35 snaps for much better value.

mgteich said:

Perhaps. Do you believe that Wilfork is worth $8M for his 2015 services?

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Yes.

He just renegotiated last off-season and earned every penny of what he made. Iirc his deal is incentive laden so he would have to earn it again this coming season. I think,purple have little understanding of how important he is.

Wilfork's cap number consists of
3m salary
4m roster due on March 10
500K 46-man active roster bonuses
300K weight close
200K offseason workout
500K LTBE incentive (70% snaps AND divisional round appearance)
433,333 signing bonus proration

Ivan said:

Yes.

He just renegotiated last off-season and earned every penny of what he made. Iirc his deal is incentive laden so he would have to earn it again this coming season. I think,purple have little understanding of how important he is.

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I agree that Wilfork is worth everything he was paid in 2014. It does not follow that he is worth over $8M for 2015.

Are you being purposely misleading? Wilfork's $8M is not based on difficult to reach incentives. By the time he plays Game One, Wilfork will have earned more than $7M.

50-yard-line said:

Branch, Wilfork, Easley, Jones, Siliga and a high draft pick? That's a lot of DTs.

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I wouldn't keep Jones if they drafted a guy, assuming good health from Easley and production from the newbie.