Wilfork or Talib...who do you pay after the season?

[Sangreal95]

Take out emotions and I say Talib.

 

[IcyPatriot]

Take out emotions and I say Talib.

Vince is paid through next year ... no need to make a new LT deal at his age.

 

[ahmed]

Talib; a shut down db is lot harder to come by than a dominant tackle.

 

[Dr Pain]

Talib. Vince is too heavy and is breaking down. He has to be over 400 now.

 

[Christian]

Talib without question. He is a leader on this defense. Love the attitude he brings. THAT IMO is huge...when you have a player who is out there giving his all, shutting down #1 WRs week in and week out by himself virtually and then on top of it talking trash, getting the D amped....that's what you need.

I would imagine they'd draft a DT high next year regardless of Wilfork. He'll be around for another year too. Draft at DL and OL and get us strong in the trenches once again. We look to be in pretty good shape in the coming years at RB, WR, CB and LB.

 

[Sangreal95]

I posted this because the money to pay Talib could be reallocated from Wilfork. If Talib continues to have a strong season, I would ask Wilfork to take a pay cut.

 

[xlcjw72]

I posted this because the money to pay Talib could be reallocated from Wilfork. If Talib continues to have a strong season, I would ask Wilfork to take a pay cut.

Thats a shot in the face to a guy who has earned that contract. I love Talib and paying him is fine but find some other way to pay other than taking money from a guy who has been nothing but a model player AND human.

 

[slash83]

One way or another Talib isn't going anywhere, the team either franchises him or signs him to a long term deal. You just don't let a shut down corner leave.

 

[supafly]

One way or another Talib isn't going anywhere, the team either franchises him or signs him to a long term deal. You just don't let a shut down corner leave.

I hear what you're saying and it makes a lot of sense, but it will be extremely challenging to have to pay Talib almost 11 million dollars in terms of a salary cap hit next year on the franchise tag.

I think the franchise tag will be a very last minute 11th hour tool should it come to that, but they'll be doing everything they can to avoid having to tag anyone.

 

[manxman2601]

One way or another Talib isn't going anywhere, the team either franchises him or signs him to a long term deal. You just don't let a shut down corner leave.

You do if you think Dennard + Ryan (or another) can fulfill close too as good a role. 10m+ is a lot to pay out if you think the gain is only marginal. Note, I'm not saying that's how the Pats feel, just that if they do, it's unlikely they'd pay out that money.

 

[Huckleberry1]

Wilfork. He's a HOF caliber player who has been leading this defense for years. He's far from done despite what many will say and they need to make sure he finishes his career in NE. Players like Wilfork can contribute significantly into their mid 30's and I expect about 4 more years out of him, and that means a 15-20 million $ deal.

That said Wilfork is under contract so there is no need to base the Talib decision on it. They have a value on Talib and I don't expect them to go beyond it. I think it has gone up because he has shown his a lock down CB who can dominate the opponents best receiver but I still think they max out around 30 million over 4-5.

 

[Big-T]

Is Vince Wilfork $11m better than Joe Vellano? That is one decision to be made in this scenario, with how Vellano is playing at the minute - the answer to that for me is no.

I'd love for Vince to stay and retire a Patriot but unless he takes a pay cut, that $11.6m cap hit at his age, coming off that injury looks prime for cutting or trading - which would save $8m. That's an extra $8m to put towards keeping the secondary intact by giving Talib & McCourty a new contract (when you factor in the rest of the cap space etc on top of the 8 from Wilfork, that is).

So for me, with no change to Vince's contract in a one or the other situation, it has to be Talib.

*all the numbers were from here: » Over the Cap- New England Patriots 2014 Salary Cap and Contracts

 

[nabwong]

They will probably extend Wilfork next year and spread the money. Otherwise, he might be cut. (seriously). I think Wilfork wants to retire a patriot, so they'll work something out.

So that money will go to Talib IF he doesn't request Revis money, which we'll never pay. I think 7-8m tops a year and maybe an injury waver. I can see other teams would pay him 10-12m a year. So don't hold your breath that he'll be back.

We also need to pay McCourty.

 

[Rob0729]

Vince is paid through next year ... no need to make a new LT deal at his age.

He has a huge cap hit and a $7.5 million base salary. Wilfork could be gone if he doesn't take a pay cut either outright or through an extension.

 

[The_Riddler]

There isn't a better CB in football right now. Talib Island is what we've been searching and drafting for unsuccessfully for years now, we have to open the wallet for number 31.

 

[ausbacker]

As much as I love Vince Wilfork I'm going to side with Aqib Talib. Whilst I realise the importance of Wilfork to the DL, the versatility and scheming that Talib has afforded the Patriots Secondary has been nothing short of outstanding.

As it stands, I'm having a difficult time seeing Vince recover from an achilles rupture at his age and size. I hope this isn't the case but I'd be equally at home if the Patriots invested in developing the entire D if it has to be at Wilfork's expense. Still, I hope the big fella makes a full recover and returns to his dominant best in 2014.

 

[kennyb]

Hard for ankles to support that 400 pound body. Long recovery and he may end up retiring. Has a family history of diabetes and an eight figure bank account.

 

[brady199]

I think regardless of Talib, something needs to be done with Wilfork's salary. With that said, what the Pats are paying Wilfork for, is more then just his production on the field, and both sides are aware of that, but his salary isn't close to worth the production.

As for Talib, would love to keep him at a long term friendly deal. Doubt he is down with that. So I'd be fine with them franchising him as a one year stop gap. There are obvious concerns about his attitude and behavior. A long term deal with big $ guaranteed isn't going to help with that. But I would be more concerned with this hip flexor flaring up 2 years in a row.

 

[RayClay]

I posted this because the money to pay Talib could be reallocated from Wilfork. If Talib continues to have a strong season, I would ask Wilfork to take a pay cut.

I'm so glad our front office doesn't operate that way and that they are in charge and not the Junior GMs at this site.

 

[patchick]

As it stands, I'm having a difficult time seeing Vince recover from an achilles rupture at his age and size. I hope this isn't the case but I'd be equally at home if the Patriots invested in developing the entire D if it has to be at Wilfork's expense. Still, I hope the big fella makes a full recover and returns to his dominant best in 2014.

This is the key to me. Wilfork has been invaluable both on and off the field, but this is a TOUGH injury. At his age and size, you just can't assume he'll be able to come back to the same level of play.