Wilfork transcript
Vince Wilfork, who was absent from the Patriots' organized team activities last week, appeared at the Patriots Charitable Foundation Golf Tournament today at The International, and the nose tackle offered the following comments about his contract situation during an interview with sports radio station WEEI:
On why he missed OTAs:
Wilfork: "I mean, OTAs, you don't go to work when you're off, on your off days. OTAs wasn't mandatory, it was voluntary, so I chose to sit out . . . because of the situation I'm in. It's nothing personal towards the organization, it's nothing personal towards my coaches or anything like that. It's just basically what made the most sense to me at this point in time.
"I'm looking forward to moving forward, and with that being said, I'm looking forward to the season. It's not the first time a player has gone through a contract negotiation problem. So I try to stay positive and at the same time do what's best for me and my family. At the end of the day, that's what matters to me. I can't answer about what anybody else thinks, and what they think I should be doing. It's all about me and my family.
"That’s how I’m moving forward with it. Whatever made the most sense to my family and I, that’s what I will do. That’s why everybody out there is saying, ‘That’s what I should do’ or whatever, ‘he’s doing this,' [now] they’re hearing it from the horse’s mouth. And that’s where I stand right now."
On whether he's aiming for a contract similar to the $100-million deal Washington gave former Titans defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth:
Wilfork: "Like I said, when I’m dealing with my situation, I’m not looking at none of those guys. I’m my own person. They did what they had to do when they had to do it. Me personally, I’m really not paying attention to those types of numbers. It is whatever makes more sense to me. I want to win, I love the people that I’m around, so whatever makes the most sense.
"I’m not looking to sign this big-time, going-down-in-history, the best contract there is. I want to be comfortable, but at the same time, I want to be with the guys that I go to war with. That’s Ty Warren, that’s Richard Seymour, that’s [Tedy] Bruschi, that’s Richard Seymour, guys like that I want to go to war with, and I don’t think I’ll find any better group of guys or coaches out there. So I don’t want to leave. So I’m pretty sure we’re going to do everything in our willpower to make it work.
"Hopefully, it works. Hopefully we get it done. But at the same time, I’ve got to take it one day at a time. And that’s what I’m doing here. They understand what I’m going through. They understand the situation. I’m not hiding from nothing. But I try not to talk about it because I try to stay positive. I get frustrated at times, but at the same time, you just look back and . . . me personally, I look at the team, my fellow teammates that I have personal relationships with, and I don’t think I get that anywhere else other than here. I want to be a Patriot. That’s not the question here. 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. I hate the business part of it, but it is [a part of football]."
On whether it was difficult missing the OTAs:
Wilfork: "I love football . . . to miss the OTAs, that really hurt me, because any time my family is on the field, I want to be there. It hurt me to sit out, but at the same time, that’s the business part to it. I’m looking forward to the upcoming season. Hopefully everything is resolved, and if not, I’m gonna go forward, be 100 percent, and give everything that I have. Because that’s what I do. Just because of the contract or the negotiation, if that’s not done before the season, it won’t stop me from working hard. I will continue to work hard, I’m going to continue to put everything on the field. Because I have a guy like Ty Warren next to me looking for me, I have a guy like Jerod Mayo behind me. They’re dependent on me, so I have to live up to their expectations. And I expect the same from them. So regardless of the new contract or the same one, I will be happy, I love the game, that’s not a question, that’s not a doubt in my mind, and I will be ready to play this season."
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Hm...I wonder if it's a coincidence he mentioned Seymour twice. maybe he just got tripped up...or maybe he's insisting they resign Seymour. I'd be extremely surprised if that's the case...but I guess stranger things have happened
Negotiating a contract at work can be really difficult. I think Wilfork is having a good attitude about things. He understands it's business and isn't equating huge offers as "respect" or anything like that.
I'm glad to hear that he'll be honoring his contract and is excited to work hard.
It's not like missing an optional OTA is the worst thing in the world. Lots of players don't go to them because they don't like their team, or football. Wilfork has a much better attitude about them than a lot of players. Good for him. I hope he gets a fair deal and remains a Patriot.
Seems to me that if the Pats were going to extend Vince's contract, they would have done so already. My prediction: the Pats won't do squat, Vince will hold out but eventually show up, play this year, then the team will try to franchise him for next year while they get Ron Brace ready to take over.
I think this is a mistake, though. I think Vince can be had for much less than Haynesworth money, and to lock him up for another 5 years with Brace as a solid backup would be the way to go. Seymour will be gone after this year, so we need some continuity on the D-line.
I mean come on " OTA's" ? were talkin practice. practice? PRACTICE! what we talking about practice? PRACTICE!
"Seems to me that if the Pats were going to extend Vince's contract, they would have done so already."
I'm not sure how you come to this conclusion. Can you explain?
As one example, the Pats signed Ty Warren to an extension in August of 2007. What would prevent them from doing the same thing with Wilfork in roughly the same time frame?
Further, Dan Koppen's extension was finalized in October, 2006. Point is that because an extension has not been signed to date does not preclude one from being reached at any time before, during or after the 2009 season.
Those dunkin donuts are not going to eat themselves. Vince needs the big bucks.
Koppen and Warren had more than one season left on their original deals when they signed those extensions.
If Mr. Wilfork is concerned with what is good for his family he should be concerned that they see him as a man who lives up to his word. He signed a contract in good faith that he would play for this team for the full number of years the contract specifies. It's no wonder he mentioned Seymour twice, since Seymour is the Patriot's poster child for holding the team ransom to force his way out of a signed contract early.
Wilfork is an indespensable member of the defense, you can't rely on a second round pick to fill that whole who has never played in the system before. Extending Wilfork's contract makes the most sense...however that does lead to the likely situation of Seymour not returning, and in some ways i believe thats the right decision as he has rarely looked like the seymour of old the past two seasons. The front three are the base of the defense and wilfork is hiting his prime, don't let him slip!
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