New England Patriots Links 1/28/10 - Wilfork: "I Played My Tail Off"

Shalise Manza Young offers her thoughts on the Vince Wilfork contract situation.

"I want a long-term deal, or I want to be free," Wilfork said in an appearance Wednesday on WEEI radio. "Point blank. And that’s how I’m looking at it. That’s how my family is looking at it. It’s a short window of opportunity for me to go and make the type of money that I want to make. And hey, like I said, family comes first."

Wilfork’s agent, Kennard McGuire, and the Patriots have not talked terms on an extension since before the start of the regular season, Wilfork said.

It would be surprising if New England did not elect to use its franchise tag on Wilfork. If that happens, it would then be surprising to see Wilfork at Gillette Stadium before Week 10 next season, the last week he could arrive and receive an accrued season.

The Hall at Patriot Place:  The AFL Turns 50 Exhibit

In recognition of the 50th anniversary of the Patriots and the AFL, The Hall at Patriot Place has unveiled "The AFL Turns 50," a special exhibit on display at The Hall throughout the 2009 season. "The AFL Turns 50" is the most extensive collection of AFL memorabilia available for viewing anywhere. This exhibit will be closing on February 7th, so check it out while you can.

Colts president Bill Polian is upset about the Pro Bowl set up this year: (and I heartily agree with him on this point.)

"It's stupid. It's a disruption, but we'll deal with it."

"Well, we'll come back to practice on Wednesday. We'll practice Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. They'll have off Saturday. If it weren't for the Pro Bowl disruption, they would have the weekend off, but they can't because we have to send those players to Miami to do Lord knows what. We'll come back and practice on Sunday and the Pro Bowl players will go and do whatever they have to do and then the team will leave on Monday.

(Host: So the Pro Bowl players you will fly down there and they just fly back that day?) I don't know that they fly them back. I think they plan to keep them down there that evening. They haven't even told us yet what this is all about. We don't even have any details or anything like that. Maybe they will call us Friday and tell us.

In any event the fact of the matter is that we're thinking that they're down there Sunday night and they will meet us Monday, which is a hell of a thing isn't it? It sends a great message to all the young people out there and all the coaches that talk teamwork that you take your best seven players and split them up from your team at the ultimate moment in sports."

• Mike Reiss analyzes the Vince Wilfork situation, and it's not good. Contracts are all about leverage, which Wilfork didn't have as a rookie and doesn't have now in the NFL's uncertain labor situation.
• Karen Guregian asserts that if Vince Wilfork meant what he said, that it's not acceptable to be slapped with a franchise tag, then he has no other choice but to hold out.
• WEEI offers a transcript of Vince Wilfork's Q & A on the Dale & Holley show yesterday.
• Ian Rapoport notes Rex Ryan says the balance of power in the AFC East still rests with the Patriots. Ryan asked, "Do the Patriots still have Tom Brady? They're still the favorites."
• Mike Reiss notes CB Shawn Springs was a guest on ESPN's First Take this morning, and said he still feels like he can play.
• Albert Breer catches up with Romeo Crennel at the Senior Bowl's South team practice, to get his thoughts on the Patriots' vacant defensive coordinator position and his own new job with the Chiefs.
• Ian Rapoport interviews Pete Carroll, who learned a lot from his first head coaching stint with the Patriots. The first lesson is having the right personnel around.
• WEEI offers the transcript of Pete Carroll's appearance on the Dennis & Callahan show Wednesday morning.
• Tom E. Curran reports this year's Pro Bowl has turned itself from an afterthought into a Grade A annoyance.
• Albert Breer reports from the Senior Bowl that the Patriots have been 'kicking the tires' on pass rushers, sitting down with South Carolina's Eric Norwood and Michigan's Brandon Graham.
• Albert Breer throws around Jason Taylor's name again as a possible pass rusher for New England to consider.
• Adam Kilgore notes CB Shawn Springs clarified his earlier remarks on ESPN, saying he has no plans to retire and that he still has a lot to play for.
• Christopher Price offers a snapshot of where the Patriots stand at Linebacker: Eric Alexander, Tully Banta-Cain, Derrick Burgess, Gary Guyton, Jerod Mayo, Rob Ninkovich, Junior Seau, Adalius Thomas, Pierre Woods, Thomas Williams. (Shawn Crable and Tyrone McKenzie are on injured reserve, while Bruce Davis is on the practice squad.)
• Adam Kilgore discusses the Business Week article that includes Tom Brady and Randy Moss in its 'America's most powerful athletes' list.
• Kerry Byrne offers the Top 10 signature moments of the Patriots Dynasty, calling it one of the great rides in the history of sports.
• Jeff Howe feels Bill Belichick can't go wrong with either Pepper Johnson or Matt Patricia. Both are great candidates.
• Albert Breer looks at a scout's suggestion that New England would be the perfect landing spot for Tim Tebow.
• Albert Breer says that right now, QB Tim Tebow is viewed by the pros as a big project that's not yet  NFL ready.
• Ian Rapoport Senior Bowl Notebook: Patriots scouting department is not only interviewing prospects, but also counseling them on the evils of various forms of social media (facebook, twitter, etc...); Pete Carroll threw in a plug for SoCal Everson Griffen, a 6-foot-3, 265-pound DE; USC RB Stafon Johnson who nearly lost his life during a weight-lifting accident that crushed his neck and larynx is back and has beenimpressive this week; Tim Tebow is still standing behind his planned Super Bowl television ad, despite the controversy.
• Mike Reiss gets ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper's list of players that could be targeted to fill the Patriots' top needs at DE, OLB, RB, WR and OL in the 2nd round.

NATIONAL NEWS

• Scott Van Pelt (ESPNBoston) Tough road ahead for Vince Wilfork. (2.37 min. video)
• Tim Graham (ESPN) Wilfork already wearing contract war paint.
• Football Outsiders notes that the best game of 2009 was the Patriots 59-0 win over Tennessee, and ends up as the number five game of the DVOA era.
• Adam Fusfeld (Business Week) America's 100 most powerful athletes.  In America's sports world, power is about more than speed and strength.  It's also about how to sell.  Power 100 Slide Show.
• Paul Woody (Richmond Times-Dispatch) Snow-plow game remains stinging memory for Shula. "I called the Commissioner [Pete Rozelle] and told him it was the most unfair act that had ever happened in a football game. He agreed. I asked him what he was going to do about it. He said, 'Nothing.'"
• Tony Pauline (SI) Senior Bowl practice report: Day 3.
• Wes Bunting (Nat'l Football Post) Senior Bowl: Day 3 impressions.
• Michael Lombardi (Nat'l Football Post) Diner morning news: Who wants Tim Tebow?
• Andy Staples (SI) Four months after freak accident, Johnson hopes to prove NFL worth.
• Fox Sports Mock Draft version 1.0: What the other 30 teams are thinking.