Do you think the Patriots will release Vince Wilfork?

[cupofjoe1962]

The 3.6m cap hit will happen no matter what. Even with a restructure.

If they release him after June 1st, can't they split that money over two years?
1.8 million for 2014 & 1.8 million for 2015?.

I have always been a Vince fan, but I have no doubt he will be forced to take
a dramatic pay cut or he will be released at some point.

He did not look good last year before the injury and we all know Belichick
does not pay on past performance.

I would love to see Vince back, but it will probably be at short money with
incentives and Vince may not like that and decide to test the market.

Either way.... I wish him luck and Vince will always be a Patriot in my eyes !

 

[SHOWTIME15]

I will cite scripture (Patriots Gospel according to Miguel) for my response…

"Here are some moves that I think that Patriots may do
3a.)Reduce Wilfork’s salary from $7.5 million to $4 million while converting $3.5million of his salary into a NTLBE (sic) incentive – cap savings of $3.5 million"

This presupposes that the Patriots see satisfactory ACL healing progress and expected pre-season conditioning results with Big Vince

He didn't hurt his ACL

 

[chasa]

the only way i see them cutting him is if he refuses to restructure and his ankle isnt 100%

or if he doesn't pass a physical.

 

[Keyser Söze]

Love the guy, but his pro bowl days are over IMO. Makes letting him go a little easier.

 

[Miguel]

If they release him after June 1st, can't they split that money over two years?
1.8 million for 2014 & 1.8 million for 2015?.

No, since he was not signed for the 2015 season.

 

[Sciz]

The only thing that would surprise me at this point is if he played out the year with his current cap hit. I could see him being release outright, taking a straight pay cut, or getting an extension.

I will say, he's currently set to have a cap hit that is about 20 times Siliga's, and 2013 Siliga wasn't even really a downgrade from 2013 Wilfork, much less 1/20 of the player. If you take all emotions out of it, then I think it makes more sense to keep Siliga (preferably with a better backup than Vellano) as the two-down 1-tech and invest in a more versatile DT that can bring pass rush.

 

[Brady6]

If they release him after June 1st, can't they split that money over two years?
1.8 million for 2014 & 1.8 million for 2015?.

I have always been a Vince fan, but I have no doubt he will be forced to take
a dramatic pay cut or he will be released at some point.

He did not look good last year before the injury and we all know Belichick
does not pay on past performance.

I would love to see Vince back, but it will probably be at short money with
incentives and Vince may not like that and decide to test the market.

Either way.... I wish him luck and Vince will always be a Patriot in my eyes !

They do not have the option to release Wilfork with a June 1 designation because he is in the final year of his contract.

Edit – I just saw Miguel’s post sorry for the duplicate.

 

[RayClay]

The only thing that would surprise me at this point is if he played out the year with his current cap hit. I could see him being release outright, taking a straight pay cut, or getting an extension.

I will say, he's currently set to have a cap hit that is about 20 times Siliga's, and 2013 Siliga wasn't even really a downgrade from 2013 Wilfork, much less 1/20 of the player. If you take all emotions out of it, then I think it makes more sense to keep Siliga (preferably with a better backup than Vellano) as the two-down 1-tech and invest in a more versatile DT that can bring pass rush.

Did you see that constant pressure collapsing the pocket on Peyton in the playoffs? Neither did I.

Wilfork was either suffering from the ACL or something early, because Siliga isn't anywhere near the player Wilfork is.

Hopefully Siliga gets up to Kyle Love level at the nose.

 

[Sciz]

Did you see that constant pressure collapsing the pocket on Peyton in the playoffs? Neither did I.

Wilfork was either suffering from the ACL or something early, because Siliga isn't anywhere near the player Wilfork is.

Hopefully Siliga gets up to Kyle Love level at the nose.

Yes, it looked like Wilfork was being limited by his ankle early in the season. Siliga isn't close to Wilfork at 100%, but we never saw Wilfork at 100% this season. I don't think Siliga is about to turn into an All Pro, but he's the kind of player you can win with. The real issue is that they got essentially no pass rush from Chris Jones, who was supposed to be the pass rushing DT. I think the Pats would be better off investing in a better pass rushing 3-tech to upgrade Jones than an upgrade at 1-tech over Siliga.

 

[RayClay]

Yes, it looked like Wilfork was being limited by his ankle early in the season. Siliga isn't close to Wilfork at 100%, but we never saw Wilfork at 100% this season. I don't think Siliga is about to turn into an All Pro, but he's the kind of player you can win with. The real issue is that they got essentially no pass rush from Chris Jones, who was supposed to be the pass rushing DT. I think the Pats would be better off investing in a better pass rushing 3-tech to upgrade Jones than an upgrade at 1-tech over Siliga.

I think Jones is all right in that position and Sliga did a great job and should improve some, but they're rotation players. I'd love to get an impact player like hageman who's huge and can rush the passer, other than that we need to keep looking for that guy, though Armstead would also fill that role.

Lots of people mentioned Wilfork looked sick and I bet he was getting a lot of pain. He's not a go through the motions type, I saw him sweating and he had that pain look in his eyes. If healthy, I think we need Wilfork and an impact player and another impact player in a few years when Wilfork's done. I'm not sure we use an inside rush specialist enough to invest in. Like I said, an impact player that's stout and can rush would be ideal.

I think Siliga and Jones stick as backups while we juggle whatever pick, FA or Red Bryant type and or another year of Kelly to help in the front line.

 

[rdf63]

No. Restructuring the contract is the best option. If the Pats did let him go, they would not have even one All-pro Defensive Lineman and it would make one of their weakest spots even worse. I hope last year taught them that the DL needs a standout DL along with Vince.

 

[Marinlik]

No. Restructuring the contract is the best road to go. If the Pats did let him go, they would not have even one All-pro Defensive Lineman and it would make one of their weakest spots even worse.

But will Vince return to an All-pro level? I would say most likely not.

 

[rdf63]

He may not which is why you have to build around him. I still think he can be a solid NT for the next 2-3 years but the Pats DL can't continue to be undrafted or project players. They need impact DL's like Seymour.

 

[lurker1965]

I agree, but what are the chances big Vince agrees to a pay cut, and what are the chances the Pats offer more guaranteed money to an aging, huge guy coming off of a serious injury? IMO it's kind of a recipe for disaster. Not to mention a NT isn't quiet as valuable in todays pass happy league.

I will say though, that the increased cap certainly helps Vince's chances of staying. I still think its about 60/40 he gets cut unfortunately.

Vince has not played NT for 2 years. He is currently a DT that plays 2 gap. As for him being cut 60% of the time, um, don't bogart that joint.

Say that Vince has dropped off and assume he gets cut. (BTW, restructures are rarely out and out pay cuts, but believe what you will...) Whatever you save you now have to spend to get a decent (fair to middling) DT.

So you still have a net savings just not as much as you thought, but is that replacement a Silinga or a Soapawaga (spelling on both names). In either case you put a hole in your defense - and if it is a Soapawaga you have to pay to replace the replacement and for no savings you are worse on the field.

Not counting new info on his injury, the possibility of him being a healthy cut is 0%. With his injury maybe it is 10% if he is now a "Soapawaga" but clings to the idea he's still a "Seymour." (C'mon, I can't use him as a metric for him.)

 

[skspikex2]

He may not which is why you have to build around him. I still think he can be a solid NT for the next 2-3 years but the Pats DL can't continue to be undrafted or project players. They need impact DL's like Seymour.

i would rather have the Pats build with him than around him. Seeing he is on the wrong side of 30's, get someone to ease his snap. In fact, get some DE help too, Ninko and Jones were running on fumes on that Broncos game.

 

[Gronkandez]

Vince has not played NT for 2 years. He is currently a DT that plays 2 gap. As for him being cut 60% of the time, um, don't bogart that joint.

Say that Vince has dropped off and assume he gets cut. (BTW, restructures are rarely out and out pay cuts, but believe what you will...) Whatever you save you now have to spend to get a decent (fair to middling) DT.

So you still have a net savings just not as much as you thought, but is that replacement a Silinga or a Soapawaga (spelling on both names). In either case you put a hole in your defense - and if it is a Soapawaga you have to pay to replace the replacement and for no savings you are worse on the field.

Not counting new info on his injury, the possibility of him being a healthy cut is 0%. With his injury maybe it is 10% if he is now a "Soapawaga" but clings to the idea he's still a "Seymour." (C'mon, I can't use him as a metric for him.)

Ok, give him Suggs money 16m guaranteed 5 years 28m. 350 pound guys in their mid 30s coming off a major injury are always a good bet to stay healthy and maintain their level of play. Im not even sure he would take that. He is making $7.5M this year + $500k in bonuses =$8m and if he gets cut he is a FA where he will probably get a bigger deal depending on when he is cut.

As for the comparison to Suggs, everyone knows Suggs is on the juice since it only took him a few months to get back from the torn Achilles. Yeah that's normal. I would have to guess Wilfork isn't on the juice. Big difference there IMO.

Are you expecting Wilfork to be a three down player this year?? And for the next few years? He better for the money it will take to extend him.

 

[Brady6]

Are you expecting Wilfork to be a three down player this year?? And for the next few years? He better for the money it will take to extend him.

Do you think Wilfork was ever an ideal three down player or do you think he played three downs out of necessity? For years, we have tried to find pass rushers capable of playing inside on third down –

- Tommy Kelly
- Armond Armstead
- Jermaine Cunningham
- Justin Francis
- Jonathan Fanene
- Brandon Deaderick
- Ron Brace
- Albert Haynesworth
- Gerard Warren
- Shaun Ellis
- Myron Pryor
- Michael Wright

When we had Seymour, Warren, Green, and Wright was healthy, Wilfork was a two down player. He can push the pocket and command two blockers, and that helps when we go with the 3-DE fronts but other than that I think his playing three downs was more out of need than anything else.

 

[Brady6]

I think Wilfork really came into his own as a playmaker in the three years prior to 2013. Before that, he was more of a conventional nose tackle.

- 2004-2009 – 102 games played, 8 sacks, 1 forced fumble, 6 fumble recoveries, 11 pass knock downs, 12 run stuffs
- 2010-2012 – 54 games played, 11 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, 7 fumble recoveries, 13 pass knock downs, 19 run stuffs

Of course, talent has a lot to do with being a playmaker but understanding the game and your technique is also a big part of it. If Wilfork losses something physically I still think his technique and understanding of the game will keep him as playmaker. Do not get me wrong Wilfork is talented, but he was never an Ngata, Poe, or Suh who relied on pure physical talent to get by. If anything, the seasons Wilfork had the most physical talent were his less productive seasons.

 

[NormZauchin]

No, unless he refuses to restructure his contract.

Despite his reputation as putting the team before individual players, Belichick has a sentimental streak and has kept long time Patriots like Troy Brown and Kevin Faulk on the team at least one year after they ceased being affective. Vince gets a pass if he will take a pay cut.

 

[YearbookCurfew]

The Pats will ask him to take a cut, and if he refuses, then the Pats will release him. I hope he stays, but I don't want a bunch of our money taken up by an older vet.