Vince Wilfork

evenge.

Maybe the remaining eight (Tom Brady, Logan Mankins, Matt Light, Kevin Faulk, Wes Welker, Vince Wilfork, Stephen Gostkowski, and Ross Ventrone) are fueled by revenge. They can pass the experience on to their teammates, but the teammates can’t feel it because they didn’t live through it. It has to belong to the individuals. The experience isn’t transferable.

Continue reading "Hours Before Kickoff: Super Bowl XLVI"

1. DT Vince Wilfork was in beast mode all afternoon. Six tackles and a sack doesn’t begin to explain his influence on the game. Wilfork had at three tackles for a loss and his share of pressure on QB Joe Flacco. It was a dominant performance by a team leader showing what it takes to get to a Super Bowl. It was arguably Wilfork’s best game in the biggest game of the year.

Continue reading "Pick Six: AFC Championship"

DT Vince Wilfork recovered a fumble for a second week in a row. LB Jerod Mayo picked up his first two sacks of the season. And Brady rushed for two touchdowns after a one-yard plunge last week.

Continue reading "Pick Six: Week 16"

It’s a lot easier to score when you don’t have to run 50 yards. DT Vince Wilfork pounced on a loose ball in the endzone, jarred out of QB Rex Grossman’s hand by DE Andre Carter, and Wilfork held onto the pigskin while under the pile for his first career touchdown. A lot easier than trying to return interceptions, right?

Continue reading "Pick Six: Week 14"

Can the coaches move NT Vince Wilfork to safety? After playing more than 100 games without an interception, Wilfork has two in his last three games.

Extra Point: Players on both teams wore pink in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. For the month of October, players, coaches and referees will wear pink to support the fight against breast cancer. For more information and how you can contribute, go to NFL.com/pink.

Continue reading "Pick Six: Week 4"

1. Let’s start with a couple of firsts: NT Vince Wilfork came away with his first career interception near the end of the first half. He returned the pick 36 yards and the offense converted the turnover into three points. Safety Sergio Brown got his first career pick as he stepped in front of San Diego TE Antonio Gates in the third quarter. According to Brown it is his first interception since high school. And according to ProFootballReference.com, it is the first time Gates was held without a reception.

Continue reading "Pick Six: Week 2"

on this season is unknown.

Last year Wright was part of the pass rush unit that often included NT Vince Wilfork and DL Myron Pryor. Wright was very effective in that role as he led the team in sacks with 5.5.

Continue reading "Hours Before Kickoff: Week 2"

They played without DL Ron Brace, Mike Wright, and Myron Pryor. The unit of Brace, Vince Wilfork and Brandon Deaderick was the team’s best run-stopping unit. Wright and Pryor were effective pass rushers. Without the full rotation, the Jets gained 120 rushing yards and QB Mark Sanchez wasn’t sacked.

Continue reading "Aftermath, Forward Thinking"

On the next drive, D-linemen Vince Wilfork and Gerrard Warren combined to stop a third and one quarterback sneak. Two three and outs took place in overtime. 

The original timetable for the defense to come into their own was half a season. It is a standard grace period for an average rookie to “get it.” And with a defense loaded with first and second year players, it’s fair not to expect too much too soon. 

Continue reading "Stepping Up, Step Forward"

But as a group, with NT Peter Soliai anchoring the middle, they are like Seymour, Ty Warren and Vince Wilfork. Langford, Soliai, and Odrick were all drafted by Miami, all are young, and the Dolphins want to keep the core of their defense together for a long time. 

Continue reading "Hours Before Kickoff: Week 4"

They need to be involved to develop a role on the team. 

Sub Runs: NT Vince Wilfork expressed disappointment at the defense’s inability to stop the run with substitution packages. Will they do a better job this week? 

Continue reading "Hours Before Kickoff: Week 3"

It doesn’t completely offset the 23 years of experience between NT Vince Wilfork and DEs Mike Wright and Gerard Warren, but at times the unit will show its age. They will miss DE Ty Warren, who is on injured reserve with a torn labrum in his hip. 

Continue reading "A Running Concern"

sive ends). 

Only along the defensive line is there an abundance of veterans with mainstays Vince Wilfork (28 years old), Mike Wright (28) and Ty Warren (29) welcoming Damione Lewis (32) and Gerard Warren (32). There are plenty of youthful hopefuls, but they aren’t guaranteed snaps, with Myron Pryor a likely exception after an encouraging rookie year. 

Continue reading "Shawn's Gone"

ankins and the Pats talking. 

Back in February, New England slapped the franchise tag on NT Vince Wilfork. Though disappointed, Wilfork accepted it as long as it was part of the process towards reaching a new agreement. 

Continue reading "Market Value Set for Mankins"

Remember the DL was stacked with first rounders Richard Seymour, Ty Warren and Vince Wilfork for a while, with second round pick Jarvis Green the first D-lineman off the bench as part of the rotation. And the Pats selected Daniel Graham and Ben Watson with late first round picks. 

Continue reading "Need or Best Player Available?"

ill be rated for the Patriots’ need, with 1 not a need and 5 being ugent:

Defensive Line

Vince Wilfork, Mike Wright, Ty Warren, Ron Brace, Myron Pryor, Darryl Richard, Adrian Grady, Damione Lewis

Continue reading "Draft Evaluation: Defensive Line"

B Tully Banta-Cain, CB Leigh Bodden, RB Kevin Faulk, K Stephen Gostkowski, OG Logan Mankins, and NT Vince Wilfork. Of those six, three re-signed. And OG Stephen Neal re-signed as well, which is a bonus. 

Continue reading "Can't Keep Them All"

Here's the list from best to worst:Tully Banta Cain: 21.8Vince Wilfork: 9.6Leigh Bodden: 6.8Brandon Meriweather: 5.0Ty Warren: 3.9Rob Ninkovich: 3.4Patrick Chung: 1.8Shawn Springs: 1.7Junior Seau: .8James Sanders: -1.4Myron Pryor: -1.7Terrence Wheatley: -1.9Derrick Burgess: -2.2Gary Guyton: -2.2Mike Wright: -3.8Jerod Mayo: -3.5Ron Brace: -4.2Brandon McGowan: -4.4Darius Butler: -5.1Adalius Thomas: -8.5Jonathan Wilhite: -9.6Jarvis Green: -14.1

Continue reading "Pro Football Focus' Rankings of the ..."

in the 3-4, the Patriots might have to make a move at 22 for someone like Odrick.

As we saw with Vince Wilfork being the first Patriot in a long time to get a rich new contract, Bill Belichick's theory of team building starts on the lines. So they must fill holes there first and foremost with their high picks.

Continue reading "ReBuilding The New England Patriots Defense"

They first re-signed OLB Tully Banta-Cain and later reached an agreement with NT Vince Wilfork. 

The truth is, New England doesn't have to make a splash in free agency this year. They had to keep key players from leaving the Gillette Stadium pool. 

Continue reading "Home Takes Priority"

Today soon-to-be Free Agent Vince Wilfork went on WEEI in Boston and said, in a 320-pund nutshell, that he wants a long term deal or he wants to be free to seek one elsewhere. The Patriots informed their free agents that they would contact them in early February so the fact that Wilfork hasn't been contacted yet should not be a red flag.

Continue reading "Wilfork Decision a Major One for Belichick"

It is absolutely imperative that Vince Wilfork is re-signed, preferably to a long term deal that keeps him with the Patriots for the next four years. I don't know how you can justify not locking up Wilfork long term. I drink the "In Bill We Trust" Koolaid as much as anyone but here's a guy who is a consumant professional, playing what is the most important position in the 3-4 defense, and is the best player at a position you're already thin at. Wilfork and Mayo should be the foundation for the Hoodie Pats D version 2.0. Wilfork must be retained, even if by the dreaded Franchise tag.

Continue reading "2010 New England Patriots Defensive ..."

safer to keep him than hope a replacement can come in and do the job as well as Green. 

DL Vince Wilfork – I thought Wilfork would be signed because the Patriots freed enough cash after trading DE Richard Seymour. But without a contract and a strong possibility to be franchised, Wilfork seems more like trade bait than being resigned. 

Continue reading "Free Agents"

halftime…A tip of the cap to the Patriot players selected to the Pro Bowl: QB Tom Brady, NT Vince Wilfork, and Welker. WR Randy Moss and S Brandon Merriweather will attend as injury replacements.

Continue reading "Pick Six: Wild Card"

There are a dozen players on this week’s injury report. Fortunately only DLs Ty Warren and Vince Wilfork are questionable for the season finale. 

Assuming head coach Bill Belichick plays it safe, Warren and Wilfork will be held out of the season finale against Houston. After that, it’s a case by case basis. 

Continue reading "Hours Before Kickoff: Week 17"

Congratulations to NT Ron Brace. He had his first career start. Without NT Vince Wilfork, DEs Ty Warren and Myron Pryor out, he was needed. Brace was OK, finishing with four total tackles. 

Continue reading "Pick Six: Week 15"

boils down to a violation of team rules gets punished, no matter who you are. 

Weeks ago NT Vince Wilfork put a sign up in his locker simply saying, “Do Your Job!” It’

Continue reading "The Message?"

He eclipsed 30,000 yards passing in his career…NT Vince Wilfork was flagged for a personal foul for “blocking” quarterback Chad Henne after he threw an interception. I though

Continue reading "Pick Six: Week 13"

We’ll see who gets the better of the match-up. 

A Nose for the Ball: NT Vince Wilfork must lead the effort to stop N.Y.’s ground game. On the flip side, NT Kris Jenkins is done for the year. The offense should be able to effectively pound the rock. 

Continue reading "Hours Before Kickoff: Week 11"

The only long-tenured players are linemen Jarvis Green, Ty Warren, Vince Wilfork, and Mike Wright and safety James Sanders. 

Other veterans on the defense were signed as free agents, many signed just this year. While adjusting to a new defense might be easier for them, don’t expect the unit to play as a whole immediately. There will be blown assignments because of mental lapses and lack of trust. 

Continue reading "Hours Before Kickoff: Week 1"

The Seymour trade shifts the root of the core to the left. 

NT Vince Wilfork – New England has no excuse. They must sign Wilfork to an extension. Otherwise trading Seymour would be in vain. Quality 3-4 nose tackles aren’t easy to find. Because Vince can play in either defensive front, he has added value. 

Continue reading "The Core"

There’s been a lot of talk of contracts of late: Why has Vince Wilfork’s talks stalled when Nick Kaczur and Mark LeVoir can get extensions? With Eli Manning and Phillip Rivers getting mega deals, what will Tom Brady ask for when his negotiations open up? If Ted has four oranges and Mike has seven, then what is the capital of Scandinavia? 

Continue reading "Fishy Deals"

people. 

The collection of linemen include three first round draft picks (Richard Seymour, Vince Wilfork, and Ty Warren), two second round draft picks (Jarvis Green and rookie Ron Brace), and the rest a collection of day two picks and free agents (Titus Adams, Myron Pryor, Darryl Richard, Steve Williams). 

Continue reading "4-3, or Not 4-3? That Is the Question"

measure of relief to hear from Patriots director of player personnel Nick Caserio that the team and Vince Wilfork’s agent are continuing contract talks. Whether that means progress is being made or the stalemate continues is unknown. But at least the lines of communication are open. 

Continue reading "Wilfork or Seymour?"

ntract squabble that boils over to the surface around the start of training camp and this year it's Vince Wilfork who's unhappy with how negotiations on a new deal or extension have gone. Over the years I've learned to not stress about Patriots players who are unhappy with their contracts. They have a way of working themselves out one way (Richard Seymour) or another (Deion Branch).

Continue reading "Patriots Training Camp Begins: What We Learned"

Contracts 

According to all sources, NT Vince Wilfork will not hold out during training camp, despite not reaching an agreement on a new contract. Wilfork has one year remaining. If the two sides don’t reach an agreement, Wilfork becomes a free agent at the end of the season and could sign with anybody. 

Continue reading "Camp Countdown"

gh for Harrison, his reputation should say enough to get Rodney into the Hall. 

Nose tackle Vince Wilfork ended his “holdout” by attending the mandatory minicamp on Wednesday, his first appearance in Foxborough this off-season. He was contractually obligated to attend or likely be fined $500,000, which is almost a quarter of his 2009 salary. 

Continue reading "Closing Speed"

As I've been saying for the past year re-signing Vince Wilfork should be priority one for the New England Patriots front office and from this article in today's Boston Herald it looks as if things are headed in the right direction.

Continue reading "Vince Wilfork Happy How Talks Are ..."

he Patriots D-line rotation starts with Richard Seymour, ends with Jarvis Green, with Ty Warren and Vince Wilfork in between. But Wright worked his way up from 2005 practice squad signee to playing in every game in 2008. He may not be indispensible, but Wright's contribution to the team is valuable.

Continue reading "Mike Wright Done Right"

Of the three players ahead of Seymour in tackles, only one is on a winning team.

NT Vince Wilfork

The difference in tackles between Wilfork and Seymour is just two, but give the big man in the middle his due. He's been unstoppable at times, either splitting double teams or anchoring the middle. His numbers would be better if he didn't miss most of the Seattle game. Wilfork is having his best season and should be rewarded for it.

Continue reading "Pro Bowl Pats"

One thing I do know is Seymour, with Vince Wilfork an exception, is playing at a higher level than his mates along the D-line. The team needs him on first, second, and especially third down.

Continue reading "Hours Before Kickoff: Week 14"

rotect QB Trent Edwards, who suffered a concussion this season already. To Butler's left is NT Vince Wilfork, and to his right is DE Ty Warren. Not an easy pair to deal with for 60 minutes. Now that task is up to his back-up.

Continue reading "Hours Before Kickoff: Week 10"

It's better than a suspension.

NT Vince Wilfork had a reluctant visit with commish Roger Goodell about his elbow to the helmet of Denver Broncos QB Jay Cutler. While a suspension was an option, Goodell showed some leniency and just fined Wilfork, but it is a hefty fine.

Continue reading "Vince Will Fork Over the Dough"

But the pass rush comes up short. He only has one sack. NT Vince Wilfork, DEs Ty Warren, Jarvis Green, and Mike Wright haven't tallied one.

Granted, in a 3-4 defense, the OLBs shoulder most of the responsibility of baggin' passers. I knew Mike Vrabel had a career year that wouldn't be repeated. He averaged just over five sacks per season with the Pats. Through four games he has two sacks, which projects to eight sacks for the year.

Continue reading "Short on Sacks"

But I expect a spike in production for the defensive line.

NT Vince Wilfork established himself as one of the best at his position last year. He anchors a line that will have a healthy Richard Seymour to start the season and Ty Warren, who I expect to produce like his 2006 season (84 tackles, 7.5 sacks). Rotate in Jarvis Green and  Mike Wright for pass rush purposes and New England has one of the best and deepest defensive lines in the league.

Continue reading "Room for improvement"

ath Evans
WR Randy Moss
WR Wes Welker
TE Ben Watson

Defense

LE Ty Warren
NT Vince Wilfork
RE Richard Seymour
OLB Mike Vrabel
ILB Tedy Bruschi
ILB Victor Hobson

Continue reading "Looking too far ahead"