Pats and Wilfork close to a deal for an extension?

[Rob0729]

Read more at: Report: Robert Kraft ?Re-Recruiting? Vince Wilfork To Patriots | New England Patriots | NESN.com

I'm wary of giving Wilfork an extension unless we can get out of it after this year, should he turn out not to be the same player.

Restructuring his salary this year is a no-brainer. Wilfork is kidding himself if he thinks its unfair for the Patriots to broach that subject. And without knowing the terms, I would still guess Wilfork is likely to make more in 2014 as a Patriot than on another squad, but his pride is getting in the way.

If the Pats gave him an opportunity to earn his entire salary this year based on playing time and not require him to play the entire year, their offer isn't unreasonable. It may not be what Wilfork wanted and possibly could have gotten on the open market, but it isn't like they are asking him to take an unreasonable pay cut.

 

[Rob0729]

This article speaks to a return to football taking as long as a year. The actual tendon healing after surgery however is different. The Patriots and their medical staff should know by now if there is any long-term damage that is irrecoverable.

From that, point it comes down to doing the work needed to regain his form prior to the injury. Does anyone question Wilfork’s work ethic and dedication? I personally do not; he was one of ten offseason award winners last season for his hard work. In addition, the timing of the injury, it will be 343 days since the injury when game one of the 2014 season kicks off.

He could work 24 hours a day conditioning and never come back to form. Again, the doctor said it could take over a year for him to recover and even if he recovers, he may never be the same again.

Based on the contract they reportedly offered Wilfork (a incentive based contract based on playing time), the Patriots are not convinced he will be back for the opener in September and could miss significant time (start the season on the PUP possibly). If they were confident that he had a good shot of being ready and close to 100% by the start of the season, they would not give an incentive based contract based on playing time.

So the Patriots (assuming the reports are true of giving him a contract that has incentives based on games played) disagree with your assessment and they have their doubts that he will even be ready for the start of the season.

Based on Tom E Curran's report, the Pats are preparing for the possibility of Wilfork being on the in season PUP and possibly even missing more games than the first six. And based on Wilfork's reaction to the offer, he might also be thinking the same thing that he may start the season on the PUP.

I am not questioning Wilfork's work ethic. I am questioning whether medical science is on his side and whether being a heavy and older player with a family history of diabetes (as mayoclinic points out) can overcome all that and be remotely the same player he used to be from day one of the season.

 

[BradyManny]

If the Pats gave him an opportunity to earn his entire salary this year based on playing time and not require him to play the entire year, their offer isn't unreasonable. It may not be what Wilfork wanted and possibly could have gotten on the open market, but it isn't like they are asking him to take an unreasonable pay cut.

I agree. Without knowing the details - which are obviously rather important - and purely speculating on what little we know, I would guess the Patriots are being reasonable.

Wilfork's emotional reaction is likewise understandable, even if it doesn't seem rational. It's also not surprising to think that after some time to think about it rationally, he was able to see the team was being reasonable.

I personally don't see anybody in their right mind offering Wilfork a $7.5 million salary to play this season, or anywhere even near that. The market for run stuffing DLs isn't great as it is, especially not for ones coming off season-ending injuries. For the Patriots to give him an opportunity to accrue that money via playing time offers him his best chance at getting paid the most this year.

 

[patfanken]

We don't NEED to sign those things, Ken. That's a wish list for you and many others. In all honesty, other than Alex Mack, I don't see a center out there worth signing. Nor do I see a DE out there worth signing other than Carrington. No, Allen isn't worth what he's asking for.

What LB is available, currently, that would require more than 2M in salary cap s.pace for this year do you want to sign? I honestly don't see one.

Now, if you were talking a Guard, then I'd say Davin Joseph might be worth in the 4M sal cap range for the 1st year, but even then, he's only a short term solution.

FYI, Robert Ayers is still out there as a DE. Sean Phillips could fill either the DE or OLB role. I for one wouldn't be unhappy to re-sign Wendell, although I can see us waiting until May/June to do it. Also a vet move TE wouldn't be the worst thing. Ed ****son or Owen Daniels.

All those would require the kind of cap space that only Vince can provide

 

[Brady6]

He could work 24 hours a day conditioning and never come back to form. Again, the doctor said it could take over a year for him to recover and even if he recovers, he may never be the same again.

Based on the contract they reportedly offered Wilfork (a incentive based contract based on playing time), the Patriots are not convinced he will be back for the opener in September and could miss significant time (start the season on the PUP possibly). If they were confident that he had a good shot of being ready and close to 100% by the start of the season, they would not give an incentive based contract based on playing time.

So the Patriots (assuming the reports are true of giving him a contract that has incentives based on games played) disagree with your assessment and they have their doubts that he will even be ready for the start of the season.

Based on Tom E Curran's report, the Pats are preparing for the possibility of Wilfork being on the in season PUP and possibly even missing more games than the first six. And based on Wilfork's reaction to the offer, he might also be thinking the same thing that he may start the season on the PUP.

I am not questioning Wilfork's work ethic. I am questioning whether medical science is on his side and whether being a heavy and older player with a family history of diabetes (as mayoclinic points out) can overcome all that and be remotely the same player he used to be from day one of the season.

I personally find Curran to be uncreditable; if you had asked me 4-5 years ago, I may have told you something different. I feel it is unlikely that Wilfork will be unable to play on opening day and I see no possibility of him missing more than the first six games. If that were the case, the team would have released him and told him to call when he was ready to play football, and they would work him out.

These links have images of Wilfork 1-month ago on vacation in Aruba; he does not look nearly as heavy as he did back when he was on the sidelines at the end of last season. In addition, considering he is wearing loafers it would appear that he is not suffering from any ongoing structural damage.

Instagram

Instagram

 

[AzPatsFan]

From what I have heard it might take into a second year before recovery is complete, if at all. No one has discussed the possibility that Vince would need to be on PUP for the first half of this season. I think that is possible, and that he would be much more effective in the 2015 season, than in the upcoming one.

How do you structure a contract to reflect this possibility?

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

Love the Wilfy Aruba pics B6. Keep 'em coming!

No matter what happens 75 is one of my forever Pats favs!

 

[supafly]

FYI, Robert Ayers is still out there as a DE. Sean Phillips could fill either the DE or OLB role. I for one wouldn't be unhappy to re-sign Wendell, although I can see us waiting until May/June to do it. Also a vet move TE wouldn't be the worst thing. Ed ****son or Owen Daniels.

All those would require the kind of cap space that only Vince can provide

It's all about the 2014 cap hit, so guys like Browner etc are coming in at around 2.75. LaFell is coming in even less. There's no reason we couldn't sign another player or possibly even two right now, should they choose to do so.

Obviously, a guy like Jared Allen was never likely much of an option to begin with in the first place, so if you're referring to a guy like that--then I'd agree, but that's a very unlikely scenario.

 

[supafly]

Love the Wilfy Aruba pics B6. Keep 'em coming!

No matter what happens 75 is one of my forever Pats favs!

Brady6 was likely down there waiting for an Amendola sighting

 

[Miguel]

Not only THAT, the unfortunate fact is that we need that $8MM in cap space now, before the draft.

Why do you think that the Patriots need 8MM in cap space before the draft?

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

Why do you think that the Patriots need 8MM in cap space before the draft?

Even after the draft it takes a while to sign the picks that only at that later time hit the cap.
Patience!

(OK, I know saying patience is hypocritical for a redhead)

 

[Miguel]

What happens if Wilfork is injured in camp on the first day? Are the patriots on the hook for the whole salary, ie he's IR'd?

If a player is injured in OTAs or in TC, the team is then on the hook for the player's salary.

 

[Danger Zone]

Why do you think that the Patriots need 8MM in cap space before the draft?

Maybe he doesn't know that film is all digital now..

or

He really, really likes mediocre Nicolas Cage movies?

(But I'm guessing he wants us to sign DeSean Jackson)

 

[Miguel]

From what I have heard it might take into a second year before recovery is complete, if at all. No one has discussed the possibility that Vince would need to be on PUP for the first half of this season. I think that is possible, and that he would be much more effective in the 2015 season, than in the upcoming one.

How do you structure a contract to reflect this possibility?

With a combination of 46-man roster bonuses and PT incentives
Wilfork played in 4 games last year so if the Patriots gave him a 150K 46-man active roster bonus like they did with Browner the cap cost in 2014 of those roster bonuses would be 600K with 1.8m NLTBE.

Wilfork played in just over 15% of the defensive snaps in 2014. Any playing time incentives over that amount would be NLTBE in 2014.

Let's use this for an example
20% - 500K
30% - 600K
40% - 700K
50% - 800K
75% - 1M
80% - 1.5M

What level he makes in 2014 would become LTBE in 2015.

 

[Miguel]

(But I'm guessing he wants us to sign DeSean Jackson)

Fair enough. Then it is not a fact that the Pats need 8m in cap space. It is an opinion. It is a pet peeve of mine when people call their opinion fact

 

[Miguel]

Here are some incentives that would be considered NLTBE but I think that a healthy Wilfork could easily reach.

1.) Pro Bowl
2.) Total defense - net yards - any improvement over 2014 would be considered NLTBE
3.) Average net yards allowed per rushing play - any improvement over 2014 would be considered NLTBE

 

[Danger Zone]

We all drive each other nuts at times. And Deus is without doubt one of the most knowledgeable and insightful contributors to this board. I've learned plenty from him. Plus, it's fun to yank his chain from time to time.

I agree with you about his football acumen and his contributions.

But I'm just not a fan of the type of man, who with his level of stature, bullies and belittles other members with such regularity.

It might be a big part of the reason why I'm so irritated by the unprofessional-ism of sports journalists. I just expect better from them.

At some point, their self-acclaimed "aggressive posting style" isn't simply the uncomfortable face of objectivity and "telling it as it is", its just that thing that makes them a bully.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

Fair enough. Then it is not a fact that the Pats need 8m in cap space. It is an opinion. It is a pet peeve of mine when people call their opinion fact

I've noticed you can be quite peevish at times

 

[bagwell368]

Since you can't know what he'll do in the future, you can only look to the past and present for guidance. Since there's currently no football "present", as it's the offseason, that leaves only the past.

If by looking into his present you are talking about his medical condition and the possibility of his playing this year, and playing unfettered at a very high level so he can earn the $7.58M he would get as a DT/NT if he isn't cut - then I agree.

Unless BB and co. have such assurance from the medicals by camp - than doing anything but cutting him is irresponsible from the standpoint of producing the best possible roster in order to win a Championship.

It's a fact that we don't have enough picks to finish staffing the team. We need to spend more on FA (pre and post draft) to make the roster as potent as possible.

 

[Deus Irae]

If by looking into his present you are talking about his medical condition and the possibility of his playing this year, and playing unfettered at a very high level so he can earn the $7.58M he would get as a DT/NT if he isn't cut - then I agree.

Unless BB and co. have such assurance from the medicals by camp - than doing anything but cutting him is irresponsible from the standpoint of producing the best possible roster in order to win a Championship.

It's a fact that we don't have enough picks to finish staffing the team. We need to spend more on FA (pre and post draft) to make the roster as potent as possible.

Your second paragraph is where you went off the rails.