Karen Guregian catches up with Vince Wilfork, who isn't worried about the moves other AFC teams are making, with the hopes of taking down the Patriots.
"You know what? That’s fine with me," Wilfork said yesterday. "We want to keep doing what we’ve been doing, and hopefully it’s good enough. We’re all starting from the same point once again. We start all over this year. Hopefully, we can finish it off right."
"Each year this team is getting better and better. That’s what we want to do. We have a great group of guys in this locker room. And they love football," Wilfork said. "They have a passion for football. And you can win with that. You can win with people like that, and that’s what we have in this locker room. We have a bunch of guys that love one another, they play for one another. You have to have that to be successful at this level."
"Whoever they bring in, they feel can help this ballclub win. That’s what it’s all about," Wilfork said. "Bill, all those guys, they make the decisions, who comes in, who leaves. If they think they have someone that can help us win games, guess what, we’re going to go that route. If it don’t work out, it don’t work out. I’m just happy to be on this side with these coaches and this organization and the people who make the decisions because they’re proven. They’ve proven they can go out and grab guys, guys people never heard of, or guys who have a different role somewhere else, and come here and be successful. "I know Bill knows what he’s doing. I don’t get caught up into why he’s bringing so and so in. I don’t think he would jeopardize this franchise or this organization by bringing in someone that’s a flat-out knucklehead."
Wilfork believes the secret is having everyone on the same page, and that’s what the Pats had last season on the road to the Super Bowl.
"If you can get that, you’ll be successful. And we’ve had that over the years," he said. "I’m very blessed going through college and pros, I’ve had a very good winning percentage. I can’t complain. But the one thing is that group of guys. Everybody gives everything up to win. That’s one thing that’s been similar. You have to have that group of guys that has that fight in them. If you don’t have that, you have a problem."
TEAM TALK
- Erik Scalavino reviews this year's installments of Jon Gruden's QB Camp series on ESPN, and says they're well worth the time.
- Patriots Today - Pats visit Children's Hospital. (1.54 min. video)
- Draft Prospect Review: DE / OLB. (15:44 min. program)
- PFW in Progress - The PFW crew discusses the Patriots perceived Draft strategy and what they feel the Pats will do with their 27th and 31st picks. (2 hour program)
LOCAL LINKS
- Karen Guregian reports Patriots RB Kevin Faulk was hoping to beat the odds with his ACL recovery, but wasn't where he needed to be mentally last season.
- Christopher Price resets the list of the Patriots' 17 unrestricted free agents.
- Adam Schefter, Tedy Bruschi and Mike Reiss debate whether the Patriots are too dependent on Tom Brady.
- Karen Guregian Patriots Notebook: Kevin Faulk wants to return for a 14th season if the Patriots will have him back. If not, he'll retire; Wes Welker is still trying to figure out if he'll show up for OTAs; Faulk, Matthew Slater and Dane Fletcher put some smiles on the faces of kids at Hasbro Children's Hospital; Fletcher appeared without a cast on his hand saying, "We're good, baby. No worries, there."
- Mary Paoletti describes the scene in Providence when Matthew Slater, Dane Fletcher, and Kevin Faulk went to Hasbro Children's Hospital to share some goodwill.
- Jeff Howe reports Wes Welker has no financial incentive to report for next week's voluntary workouts.
- Christopher Price posts the highlights from Wes Welker's appearance on NFLN's Total Access last night.
- Nick O'Malley notes Dane Fletcher is free of his cast and fully recovered from his thumb injury.
- Mike Reiss profiles possible Patriots in this year's draft: S Phillip Thomas (Syracuse) and a trio of WRs from Akansas: Joe Adams, Greg Childs & Jarius Wright.
- Jeff Howe says the Patriots could make Nick Perry their first opening-round pick from USC since Willie McGinest.
- Jeff Howe thinks Luke Kuechly is on the Patriots radar, but he'd need a big draft-day slide to land in New England.
- Tom E. Curran breaks down the Inside Linebacker position in this year's draft, and looks at who would be the best fit for the Patriots..
- Jerry Kronenberg reports Jonathan Kraft thinks the NFL will enter Europe within a decade.
NATIONAL NEWS
- Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Welker hints that he may sign franchise tender during offseason.
- Kerry J. Byrne (Cold Hard Football Facts) The big tease: Why elite offenses never put out.
- Staff Report (Pro Football Weekly) Q&A with draft analyst Nolan Nawrocki.
- Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) 26 players to attend the draft, and all should get drafted early.
- Wes Bunting (Nat'l Football Post) NFL Draft: Instant impact prospects.
- Brian Billick (Fox Sports) Safety class looks thin in 2012.
- Jeff Diamond (SI) Teams must weigh Jenkins' talent over any potential headaches.
- Rob Rang (CBS Sports) 2012 NFL Draft Big Board: Expanding, adjusting 50 best players.
- Bucky Brooks (NFL.com) Jaguars snag native son Tim Tebow in 2010 draft re-do.
- Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Girese claims bounties weren't needed in the '70s.
- Adam Schein (Fox Sports) Jets should return to 'Hard Knocks'.
- Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) NFL lifts ban on casino ads for two years.