An interesting point made by Tom Curran this afternoon over at NBCSports.com is that the Patriots haven't extended any of their veterans past 2010. After that season the NFL's current collective bargaining agreement will expire, and that could be a reason why guys like Vince Wilfork and others have yet to receive a contract extension.
Curran reports that Patriots owner Robert Kraft explained the thought process behind it recently.
"We don't know what the rules are going to be (under the next CBA)," Kraft told the website. "We know our agreement is going to have to change. It's not sustainable the way it is now for the entire league."
Asked if teams may be assessed luxury taxes, Kraft said, "We don't know what it's going to be."
"We don't know what the rules will be and we don't want to put ourselves in a position where we could be penalized for making poor decisions now when we don't know what the rules are. No one knows, we don't know. What could happen is we don't have any agreement."
Richard Seymour, Stephen Neal, Nick Kaczur, Ben Watson, Alex Smith, Jarvis Green, David Thomas, Kevin Faulk, Tedy Bruschi, Leigh Bodden, Logan Mankins, Russ Hochstein, Stephen Goskowski are also among other big names who's deals end at the end of this year. Needless to say this could be the reason why there are so many deals set to expire and why we haven't seen any of these players extended just yet.
More News Headlines:
MORSE: Patriots Position Analysis – 2026 Coaching Staff
By: Mark MorseThe Patriots' 2026 coaching staff, including Mike Vrabel, Josh McDaniels, and Zak Kuhr, maintains continuity after their Super Bowl run.
MORSE: Patriots Positional Analysis – Secondary
By: Mark MorsePatriots positional analysis breaks down the 'best in the league' secondary, detailing Christian Gonzalez's contract, Marcus Jones's role, and Kevin Byard's 2026 impact.
Patriots News 07-12, Pre-Training Camp 53-Man Roster Projection
By: Steve BalestrieriPreviewing the Patriots' pre-training camp 53-man roster projection, Christian Gonzalez, Sean Payton's Belichick offer, and Mac Jones' 2022 season.
MORSE: Patriots Position Analysis – Linebackers and Special Teams
By: Mark MorsePatriots' Linebackers and Special Teams are analyzed, detailing player performances, contract years, and improvement areas for multiple players.
MORSE: Patriots Position Analysis: Defensive Line
By: Mark MorseAnalyzing the Patriots' defensive line ahead of training camp, breaking down established veterans and promising young talent at defensive tackle and EDGE.