New England Patriots defensive tackle Vince Wilfork picked a bad time to suffer the first major injury of his professional football career last year, when he went down in the fourth game with an Achilles injury that ended his season. Now that Wilfork, 32, is entering the final year of his five-year contract coming off a major injury, the Patriots have a decision to make regarding Wilfork.
Wilfork has some factors working against him. He is a 325-pound athlete ”“ his listed playing weight, which is almost undoubtedly higher than that ”“ with 10 years of professional football under his belt who is coming off a major injury. He plays the role of a run-stopper in a pass-happy league. Oh, and he will take up $11.6 million of the Patriots’ $133 million salary cap for the 2014 season.
That’s where the decision by the Patriots comes into play. Can they really pay an aging, health-in-question, position-of-lesser-importance player that much money when they have many other questions to answer?
The Patriots can certainly afford to pay him, especially considering they both agreed to that contract four years ago. But if the Patriots want to add more impact players, or just keep some of their own (i.e. cornerback Aqib Talib and/or wide receiver Julian Edelman), they need to find a way for Wilfork to not cost them $11.6 million against the cap.
Simply put, the Patriots can either just pay Wilfork what his contract calls for in its final year (which is highly unlikely to happen), sign Wilfork to a contract extension that will lower his salary cap hit, or the Patriots can cut him.
The last option, we feel, is not a route the Patriots should take.
In a heartless, ruthless world ”“ words that have in the past been associated with Patriots head coach Bill Belichick and the way the team goes about its business ”“ it would be easy for Wilfork to be let go, with a thank-you and a pat on the back on his way out the door. The Patriots could find a cheaper fill-in for Wilfork and use the money they save somewhere else.
But Wilfork’s impact on the field is only part of what he does, only part of his overall worth to the team.
As far as production goes, Wilfork has had a stellar career up to this point. He has been named to the Pro Bowl five times and been named All-Pro once. He has won a Super Bowl and played in two others. He, at times, has been the best defensive tackle in the NFL. And he played in at least 13 games every season until last year.
Off the field, Wilfork has been an even bigger superstar. He has been a leader in the locker room, an ambassador for one of the league’s darling franchises, and a positive presence in the community.
Put simply, Vince is a good guy.
And after last off-season, in which the Patriots and their fans had to endure the Aaron Hernandez saga, the Patriots need good guys.
Patriots owner Robert Kraft, one of the greatest owners in the NFL and professional sports in general, said he was “duped” after giving Hernandez a new contract prior to his arrest on murder charges, thinking that the previously troubled player had turned a corner. Kraft said after Hernandez’ arrest that the franchise would have to look at “how we do things.”
Kraft, however, has always deferred to Belichick when it comes to player personnel decisions, and always says he won’t interfere with his coach on those matters.
But Kraft might have to fight for Wilfork to stay. And he should.
The Patriots need a good guy like Wilfork. They need a leader like Wilfork. They even need a player like Wilfork.
There is no replacing him, and the Patriots shouldn’t have to.
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Today’s editorial was written by Sports Writer Wil Kramlich on behalf of the Journal Tribune Editorial Board. Questions? Comments? Contact Managing Editor Kristen Schulze Muszynski by calling 282-1535, ext. 322, or via email at kristenm@journaltribune.com.
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