Snake Eyes
Experienced Starter w/First Big Contract
- Joined
- Oct 29, 2007
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As I've said elsewhere, if the Pats were operating purely from a business perspective it would make sense to restructure Tommy Kelly to a cheaper deal and then cut Wilfork and go after UFA Linvale Joseph. Cutting Wilfork would save $7.5M, and Kelly's cap hit could probably be cut down from $2.5M to around $1.5M. Joseph is 25 and a very good run stopper and overall DT, and even in the most extreme contract scenario for him you could probably keep his 2014 cap hit to under $5M. Joseph, Armstead, Siliga and Jones would all be 25 or younger and a very good nucleus going forward. Kelly was playing well and seems very happy to be a Patriot. If the Pats lose out on Siliga, Wilfork could be re-signed on a "prove it" deal once he works himself into shape. If someone wants to go after an injured 32 year old DT aggressively - albeit a likely HOF one - that's the risk. But I think it is unlikely that Wilfork will regain the form that we saw from 2004-2012.
But there are other factors: Wilfork's leadership, the fact that he has been a HOF player for us, and 10 years of history. It would be a very hard call.
What do you think about Cam Thomas (Chargers) as an option for a run-stuffer?












