Vince Wilfork’s unique place in Patriots history

Correct me if I’m wrong, but I believe Vince Wilfork is the only mortal player (that excludes Brady) who has a ring with dynasty waves 1 and 2. That’s a tough task because you need to account for the nine season drought from 2005-2013 and still have bookend titles.

Wilfork was in the Super Bowl 39 starting lineup. 2004 was his rookie year.
Wilfork was in the Super Bowl 49 starting lineup. 2014 was his last season with the Patriots.
No other player besides Brady is on the roster, starting or not, for each dynasty wave.

On the other hand, Logan Mankins has the unlucky distinction of having played for the Patriots from exactly 2005-2013, missing a ring by one year on each side.

Yep, Wilfork was the only player from 2004 on the 2014 team. ( Brady obviously excluded)

Vince belongs in Canton. He dominated the position for a decade and he’s got two rings to show for it.

I feel sorry for Logan Mankins. Was drafted in 2005 when the Pats were champs and was traded just before the 2014 season when the Pats became champs again.

Played 9 seasons here, was an absolute stalwart, true pro and a great player and had nothing to show for it. I hope he makes the Pats HoF.

zimmy said:

I feel sorry for Logan Mankins. Was drafted in 2005 when the Pats were champs and was traded just before the 2014 season when the Pats became champs again.

Played 9 seasons here, was an absolute stalwart, true pro and a great player and had nothing to show for it. I hope he makes the Pats HoF.

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Hell of a player. I think the lack of Super Bowl rings will unfairly hurt him. He's hardly been on any Pats HOF lists I've seen in recent years.

Nikolai said:

Hell of a player. I think the lack of Super Bowl rings will unfairly hurt him. He's hardly been on any Pats HOF lists I've seen in recent years.

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He's not eligible yet.

I am waiting for the voluminous book that will be written by BB that will explain many of the decisions he made and we as fans wrestled with, not starting Malcolm Butler, what went wrong with Lawyer Milloy and Mankins are some of the many I anticipate..

As fans we think he should be in Canton, but I highly doubt he will ever get voted in...

A few things. I love Vince's personality and he had unreal conditioning for a man that size but I never thought he was elite. He was an above average run defender that offered little to no pass rush. All of those years where we had no pass rush and joke if anyone we sign could rush the passer reflects on Wilfork as well.

Mankins is someone I will never feel bad for. He played a role in both superbowl losses. I think he is the most overrated player we have had under BB.

doesntmatter1 said:

A few things. I love Vince's personality and he had unreal conditioning for a man that size but I never thought he was elite. He was an above average run defender that offered little to no pass rush. All of those years where we had no pass rush and joke if anyone we sign could rush the passer reflects on Wilfork as well.

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People were making that pass rush joke this year but you saw in the playoffs that the team can switch schemes and apply pressure when needed. Wilfork's job was to stop the run first and apply pressure second. He did both extremely well while constantly being double teamed. Vince was the anchor of the Pats D for 10 years, made the jobs of the other front 7 easier and IMO a consistent top 5-10 defensive tackle (higher in a couple of those years).

Ice_Ice_Brady said:

On the other hand, Logan Mankins has the unlucky distinction of having played for the Patriots from exactly 2005-2013, missing a ring by one year on each side.

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Mankind had his chances. He should have played better.

doesntmatter1 said:

A few things. I love Vince's personality and he had unreal conditioning for a man that size but I never thought he was elite. He was an above average run defender that offered little to no pass rush. All of those years where we had no pass rush and joke if anyone we sign could rush the passer reflects on Wilfork as well.

Mankins is someone I will never feel bad for. He played a role in both superbowl losses. I think he is the most overrated player we have had under BB.

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sieglo said:

Mankind had his chances. He should have played better.

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He also got trampled against the Jets and Ravens.

zoostation said:

People were making that pass rush joke this year but you saw in the playoffs that the team can switch schemes and apply pressure when needed. Wilfork's job was to stop the run first and apply pressure second. He did both extremely well while constantly being double teamed. Vince was the anchor of the Pats D for 10 years, made the jobs of the other front 7 easier and IMO a consistent top 5-10 defensive tackle (higher in a couple of those years).

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This. I think we saw this year that the Pats' travail in pass-rushing were always going to be there. Flowers is still a must-sign (or at least a big loss if we can't)... but why, if you go by regular season alone? Quick, was he a top-10 leader in sacks in 18? Top 20? No, Trey was 34th in solo sacks.

Turns out that "**** Pats Fans say" turns out to be right... we get pressure, not necessarily sacks (we were limping along with something like 1/2 the sacks of the pack (not the leaders of the pack) last I saw, up to the playoffs.

But regardless of how many times we "got home" in SB 53, ask anybody where BB got that beautiful ring, and the answer's going to be "He went to Jared." And part of that beautiful romcom was a running gag about bringing Flowers. See what I did there.

Why all these labored puns about Flowers and 53, when we're talking about Big Vince? The answer is, we have NEVER put up big sack numbers in this era. We never will either, despite the impressive D-line work this post-season. Blitzing has always been, and will always be, one tool in the tool box -- and we'll do it without bringing the house and potentially giving up the big play.

BOOORRRRRINNNNNNG. Not to mention all those years playing primarily 3-4. And nobody was better at it than VW. I'd say he has a special place in modern Pats D-line history, except he probably takes up 2 places.

doesntmatter1 said:

A few things. I love Vince's personality and he had unreal conditioning for a man that size but I never thought he was elite. He was an above average run defender that offered little to no pass rush. All of those years where we had no pass rush and joke if anyone we sign could rush the passer reflects on Wilfork as well.

Mankins is someone I will never feel bad for. He played a role in both superbowl losses. I think he is the most overrated player we have had under BB.

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What the hell are you talking about? Wilfork was double teamed his entire career and his play was elite until his injury. Nose Tackle’s aren’t pass rushers, and trying to use that as a case to minimize his play is absolutely idiotic.

Some of the negative takes on Wilfork and Mankins are completely idiotic. Both are HOF worthy. The only OL better than Mankins in Patriot history is Hannah, and that’s debateable

DarrylS said:

I am waiting for the voluminous book that will be written by BB that will explain many of the decisions he made...

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Don't hold your breath. Belichick is a never explain, never complain kind of guy.

And I have the not unique at all distinction of predicting a Super Bowl win after Mankins was gone.

doesntmatter1 said:

A few things. I love Vince's personality and he had unreal conditioning for a man that size but I never thought he was elite. He was an above average run defender that offered little to no pass rush. All of those years where we had no pass rush and joke if anyone we sign could rush the passer reflects on Wilfork as well.

Mankins is someone I will never feel bad for. He played a role in both superbowl losses. I think he is the most overrated player we have had under BB.

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Yeah, I never understood all the hots for Wilfork. Everyone would say "you have to double team Wilfork" and then I'd see tape and a third of the plays Wilfork wasn't double teamed and yet it's not as if he was winning that 1-on-1 or pushing that player back or creating pressure. If anything it seemed he was taking the play off and would dive to either gap to stuff the run. Basically he pretty much became a run-stopping option only. Which is why he would not be on field for obvious pass plays. He's good. But I never thought him elite. Frankly Trey Flowers is a better interior DL.

Ice_Ice_Brady said:

He also got trampled against the Jets and Ravens.

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Giants X2. He also only has 1 all pro team.

Vince is a red jacket lock & should be a gold jacket guy too.

doesntmatter1 said:

Mankins is someone I will never feel bad for. He played a role in both superbowl losses. I think he is the most overrated player we have had under BB.

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Exactly. He is a big reason for the drought. Tended to do some stupid things, and just flat out suck in big games.

Ivan said:

Some of the negative takes on Wilfork and Mankins are completely idiotic. Both are HOF worthy. The only OL better than Mankins in Patriot history is Hannah, and that’s debateable

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It's beyond absurd and shows how some posters have short memories and don't know football.