Patriots DL snapshot

8 mill with incentives like making the pro bowl and work out bonuses

It will be interesting to see who the Patriots sign..Seymour or Wilfork???
The most important part of a 3-4 defense is the Nose Tackle. My Steelers have one of the best in Casey Hampton, who is also is a free agent next year. I believe Seymour is a better player and when he is the lineup, the Pats defense plays better all around. They did draft Brance, so maybe they are leaning Seymour but you never know....

We should just re-sign Seymour at the same rate as his old deal- no cap implications there. And then focus on re-signing Wilfork at a market rate deal, minus, say 10%. Brady and the boys can pitch in to re-work their contracts to keep Vince in the fold.... The offense is a juggernaut. The DL is top notch. There are now enough quality players among the DBs. But we could still use an OLB and an ILB.

And if Cassel is worth 6yrs/$63m, then we should have gotten at least two second rounders for the guy....

In order to save roster spots, the patriots are having Vince Wilfork also fill the role of backup QB

Vince is a player who comes to work everyday in every game. I would do whatever it takes to resign him and keep that group in tact.

i think it all starts with have a force at the point, whether occupying 2 or three opposins team mates..or collapsing the pocket..like Brady..Vince makes everyone around him better, including Seymour..Vince wants to stay..simply make him happy..

I agree with Steelers fan. Nose tackle is a very important position, and Pittsburgh has had one of the best this decade in Hampton. But it's also very important for the DEs to be able to hold their ground against the NFL's offensive tackles, who tend to be the biggest guys on the field. This not only helps the OLBs set the edge, but also prevents the offense from keying in on the ROLB in pass protection. You can't single-team Seymour without him getting in the QB's face, so that frees Adalius or someone on the left side.

Personally, although Wilfork was a good pass-rusher in college, I don't think he's shown much in that capacity in the pros. He's a stout nose tackle, no question. But whenever they've used him in the one-gap pass-rushing alignment, I've been pretty unimpressed. Seymour, on the other hand, has no deficiencies in his game. The only concern with him is his recent injury history. Extending him would be risky in that regard, but when healthy there's no doubt in my mind who the more important player is.

Yes Mark, I agree with the DE's able to hold there ground.. We have Aaron Smith who is very good but doesn't get the reconigation he deserves BUT we also have the best 2 combo OLB's rushing the passer in Harrison and Woodley. Signing Wilfork might be harder, even though he wants to say, than Seymour. Being that Seymour is over 30 and won't go for BIG money like maybe Wilfork is seeking.
If I am not mistaken, 3 or 4 of the offensive lineman for the Patriots are Free Agents after the year, so signing one of them might be more difficult......

Somtimes you need to pay up when the team need and the past performance of the player dictate this. There is only one nose tackle on the field. Vince is in the top 5 at NG in the NFL, for sure.

Vince needs us, we need Vince and we need him happy. Love Seymour but he's on the downside. Hopefully he can give us one more big year this year..

Sign Vince at 7-8m/year. He deserve's it. It's a very important position on anyone's football team...

With all the noise about Wilfork's contract , I went back and watch all the games in 2008. He is effective for sure, but dominant? Please! $7-8MM sounds like the top the Pats should pay him.

The LB situation is reminiscent of 06, sure Pats are good enough for title game with caldwell at WR but, they will be found out by the best teams... Lenon may be enough to cover Bruschi, but Thomas isnt the monster he was sold as, and the best you can hope for from crable etc is not killing the team as that is where every good team will attack...

On the flip side, the Colts wont be the same w/o Dungy & Harrison, Chargers are badly coached, Giants arent the same w/o Plax, and Pats have Steelers number...

I'm wondering how many teams who play a 3 4 are losing their NT to free agency next year or looking to upgrade? I don't think it would be worth it for a team to switch to a 3 4 just because of Wilfork and I don't think Wilfork can play as well in a 4 3 nor would a team over pay and have to move him to a new position (or would he even want to?) The Pats are in the drivers seat on this one. The Pats D line is outstanding and not just the first 3, Wright and Green off the BENCH, are you kidding??

hey JR - just because Kansas City signed Cassell to that deal, doesn't make him worth it...let's see how he does in a new system & without BB, Moss, Welker, etc. before starting in with this same gripe - it's getting kinda old & he may still turn out to only be a 1-year wonder. (with the Chiefs screwed for years, because of this deal) Plus, the beating Denver took for being involved in the whole mess was also a benifit to NE.
Also, if it weren't for putting the franchise tag on him, NE wouldn't have gotten anything. Instead, we got Patrick Chung & getting the deal done early, the ability to sign several quality FA's