Wilfork is expected today

However, expect Wilfork's offseason attendance to improve today, when the Patriots kick off their three-day mandatory minicamp.

Nobody in Wilfork's camp would confirm he'll be in attendance today, but the strong vibe last night was that he will be on the field.

It was part of the plan for Wilfork to attend mandatory events, and he has 500,000 good reasons why it's in his best interest to end his boycott.

Under the six-year contract Wilfork signed as a rookie in 2004, which expires following this season, he would be jeopardizing $500,000 by not showing up for minicamp. According to a league source, there is language that could apply to Wilfork's contract and allow the Patriots to pursue that money if he doesn't attend. Also, Wilfork showed up Monday for the Patriots' Charitable Foundation golf tournament, a mandatory event for players.

It's not that Wilfork wouldn't be willing to forfeit the $500,000, it's just that it doesn't make sense to miss minicamp to belabor a point he's already made by sitting out voluntary workouts. If the Patriots didn't know that before OTAs, they definitely know it now.

Anybody who thinks the massive middle man of the Patriots' 3-4 defense enjoyed being the team's "matinee idle" during OTAs doesn't know Wilfork. In his comments to media last week and on WEEI radio Monday, Wilfork made it clear he wants to play.

"I want to be comfortable, but at the same time, I want to be with the guys that I go to war with," Wilfork told WEEI. "That's Ty Warren, that's Richard Seymour, that's [Tedy] Bruschi, that's Jerod Mayo.

"I want to be a Patriot, but at the same time, there's a business aspect to it. Hopefully we can meet somewhere in the middle of this thing and get it over with."

Wilfork's agent, Kennard McGuire, said he was in contact with the Patriots yesterday, talking with senior football adviser Floyd Reese.

"The details of that conversation are going to stay between me and Floyd," said McGuire. "However, both Vince and [owner] Mr. [Robert] Kraft have the same understanding that it's nothing personal, it is business."

Wilfork's teammates understand why he's been absent and were hopeful he would be back with them today.

Nose tackle/defensive end Mike Wright, who has backed up Wilfork at nose tackle, went through his own contract travails during the offseason as a free agent and ultimately wound up re-signing in New England via a four-year, $7.5 million deal with incentives that could push the deal higher.

"I'm sure it's really hard for him," said Wright. "He just wants to do what's right for his family. He's a great player, and we just hope to have him back."

Seymour, a veteran of contract stalemates with the Patriots, was asked if he'd bet on Wilfork being present today.

"That's obviously up to him, but I'm not a betting man," said Seymour.

The smart money is on Wilfork showing up.