Wilfork asks to be released. [Merge]

[Dustin]

#Patriots Pro Bowl DT Vince Wilfork has asked that the team release him after 10 seasons in New England, according to sources.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet)

March 13, 2014

[jameszeigler834]

That would be a nice pickup if its for Vet minimum.

[amfootball]

As expected. Sad to see Vince go but time to move on. The young guys did a good job last year in the middle. Just too much money for 33 year old coming off of achilles.

[Jonathan24]

hmmmm interesting with them just getting revis.  Seems like he would want to play with a shutdown corner

[RealityIsLuck]

One of the top NTS before his ACL tear last season. If he could come cheap I'd be okay with it.

Reported by Shefter and other sorces on twitter (on my phone cant link it)

[Insert Colts Pun Here]

Yeah, I'd take him for a year if the money was right.

[Valpo2004]

Certainly worth a look if he is released.  

[jvan1973]

That would be a nice pickup if its for Vet minimum.

if he would sign for vet min, he would stay in new England

[wig]

Like everyone, if his price is okay, that could be a big (literally) get.

[Indi Warrior]

I want this immovable object on our line

[IinD]

It was his Achilles, not acl.

Not sure what he's got left at his age though.

[Everyone]

#Patriots Pro Bowl DT Vince Wilfork has asked that the team release him after 10 seasons in New England, according to sources.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet)

March 13, 2014

Seriously, I was on Twitter refreshing constantly and as soon as the Wilfork news broke I came here immediately and you already had it posted. Either I have ridiculous lag in my internet or you ARE THE MATRIX, *Gasp*

[GoPats]

They must have tried to talk him into a pay cut or restructure. 

 

Bummer.

[amfootball]

if he would sign for vet min, he would stay in new England

Right on. He still wants to make some dough and he should. He is probably looking at 3mil at best. I still think he may end up with the Pats. Would hate to see him end up on the Browns like McGinest did.

[James]

Jones, Wilfork. Redding with RJF, Chapman, Moala and Hughes as depth.

 

D-line would get to much push. Then having Mathis and Werner rushing...

 

Grigson... make it happen!

[Valpo2004]

It was his Achilles, not acl.

Not sure what he's got left at his age though.

 

That's why if we did take him we'd do it on a 1 year deal.  But yeah I wouldn't wan to go long term on this guy.  

[GoPats]

If the situation is untenable then they should work a trade out for him. I'm guessing he'd be welcomed in Houston (Crennel is there now), maybe Buffalo (Pepper Johnson is there now)... the Patriots won't get much but they'll get something.

[Valpo2004]

Jones, Wilfork. Redding with RJF, Chapman, Moala and Hughes as depth.

 

D-line would get to much push. Then having Mathis and Werner rushing...

 

Grigson... make it happen!

 

Not so fast, report is unconfirmed and it's just a report that he asked to be released.  

 

Grigson can't move or consider moving until he actually hits the market.

[MTC]

Colts should be on top of this ASAP.

[Buck Showalter]

Does Wilfork like being a free agent more than he likes playing football???

 

just asking...

[GoPats]

The Patriots must have asked him to restructure and/or take a pay cut. 

 

If they do release him, he won't "come cheap." He's on the books for about $11M and probably scoffed at something in the $6-$8M range. 

[Warhawk]

If the situation is untenable then they should work a trade out for him. I'm guessing he'd be welcomed in Houston (Crennel is there now), maybe Buffalo (Pepper Johnson is there now)... the Patriots won't get much but they'll get something.

 

With a base salary of 7.5 million the team trading for him would have to assume?  I doubt they'd get much of anything, really.

[Colts_Fan12]

Jones, Wilfork. Redding with RJF, Chapman, Moala and Hughes as depth.

D-line would get to much push. Then having Mathis and Werner rushing...

Grigson... make it happen!

RJF is going to start opposite Jones

[Mameluc]

do we have the cap space to sign him and any of the other 2 FA coming? 

[GoPats]

With a base salary of 7.5 million the team trading for him would have to assume?  I doubt they'd get much of anything, really.

 

You're probably right... I guess I'm just thinking that if they lose him, it's better to get anything they can for him. Even one of those 7th round picks Bill loves so much.  ;)

[dgambill]

He would be a perfect fit to rotate in with Chapman but his price tag will likely be too high. I would expect a team like Oakland or Green Bay who haven't given Raji a new contract.

[Poster X]

Interesting move. The guy was going to make 11 million against the cap, and the team probably asked to restructure his due to the Revis contract. That run defense might be a little shaky with the big guy gone.

[Colts_Fan12]

Brad Wells literally said we could release RJF or Redding to sign Wilfork. wow that guy is so stupid. Think I'd rather look at BJ Raji might even be cheaper and he's 27

[Defjamz26]

Starting to feel like people will take anything, and any notable FA worth anything people want.

[OldManP]

Brad Wells literally said we could release RJF or Redding to sign Wilfork. wow that guy is so stupid. Think I'd rather look at BJ Raji might even be cheaper and he's 27

A torn achilles tendon is serious business, it's even more serious when the player is closer to 400 pounds than 300 pounds.

[amfootball]

On the radio they were saying a logical landing place for Vince is Buffalo with Peppers who was our Dline coach. They were real tight apparently. Wonder if Peppers outreached to him which is why he is asking for his release.

[OldManP]

On the radio they were saying a logical landing place for Vince is Buffalo with Peppers who was our Dline coach. They were real tight apparently. Wonder if Peppers outreached to him which is why he is asking for his release.

I hate to correct a Pats fan, but I think Peppers is still playing and you might mean Pepper Johnson.

[amfootball]

I hate to correct a Pats fan, but I think Peppers is still playing and you might mean Pepper Johnson.

Ha. Yes Pepper. No "s."  Too much going on today. My head is spinning. The Boston media is worse than a sewing circle with the gossip.

[Colts_Fan12]

A torn achilles tendon is serious business, it's even more serious when the player is closer to 400 pounds than 300 pounds.

Yeah I agree

[OldManP]

Ha. Yes Pepper. No "s."  Too much going on today. My head is spinning. The Boston media is worse than a sewing circle with the gossip.

The Boston media called the former coach Pepper Johnson "Peppers"?  Wow, that borders on incompetence!

[OldManP]

Yeah I agree

I don't think this player would be a good fit for the Colts.

[amfootball]

The Boston media called the former coach Pepper Johnson "Peppers"?  Wow, that borders on incompetence!

No that is on me. They were talking Peppers as a potential FA coming to NE which probably explains my typo. Too much on the brain.

[OldManP]

No that is on me. They were talking Peppers as a potential FA coming to NE which probably explains my typo. Too much on the brain.

OK, you could at least like the post that corrected that error.

[JerodMayo51]

One of the top NTS before his ACL tear last season. If he could come cheap I'd be okay with it.

Reported by Shefter and other sorces on twitter (on my phone cant link it)

 

It wasnt an ACL tear, it was a ruptured achilles tendon... on a 330+ lb nose tackle whos 33 years old..  Hes been one of the top 3 at his position for a long time, but there is a very big question mark as to his ability to come back from an injury like that when you're as heavy as he is and playing in a very physically demanding position like NT.

 

It wuold break my heart to see Vince move on, but he has a huge cap hit and is too much of a question mark at this point to pay that kind of money to him at 33 years old.  This is the sad reality of the salary cap era, at some point you have to move on from your heroes so that you can reallocate money to younger super stars that will be the pillars of your franchise for the next 5+ years

[amfootball]

It wasnt an ACL tear, it was a ruptured achilles tendon... on a 330+ lb nose tackle whos 33 years old..  Hes been one of the top 3 at his position for a long time, but there is a very big question mark as to his ability to come back from an injury like that when you're as heavy as he is and playing in a very physically demanding position like NT.

 

It wuold break my heart to see Vince move on, but he has a huge cap hit and is too much of a question mark at this point to pay that kind of money to him at 33 years old.  This is the sad reality of the salary cap era, at some point you have to move on from your heroes so that you can reallocate money to younger super stars that will be the pillars of your franchise for the next 5+ years

Well said but apparently the Red Sox are not on board with this concept according to Ortiz who said he "still has to carry the load" at 38. I love him for the drama this time of year.