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Vince Wilfork’s response to Patriots players who criticized fans
"We want a winning city, and Boston is known for wins in all sports, so we have to keep that tradition going. The Celtics got it last year, so we have to get back on track."
Vince Wilfork’s thoughts on Patriots fans: Patriots Hall of Famer Vince Wilfork recently shared his thoughts on one of the more controversial subplots of the team’s disappointing 2024 season.
Amid a losing campaign — New England finished 4-13 for the second year in a row — frustrations began to boil over. Linebacker Jahlani Tavai, responding to fans’ booing then-head coach Jerod Mayo, had a pointed quote while being interviewed in January on WEEI’s “The Greg Hill Show.”
“The fans, I appreciate them at times, but sometimes they just have to know their place and just understand that it’s a work in progress,” he said. “Rome wasn’t built in one day.”
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Teammate Davon Godchaux added similarly that he felt there “could have been better class by the fans with the booing and stuff like that.”
The reaction to the soundbites was, unsurprisingly, largely negative. Tavai later tried to clarify his comments.
Looking back at the episode, Wilfork offered some wisdom he learned in his 11 seasons with the Patriots. Speaking to MassLive’s Karen Guregian in a recent interview, Wilfork explained the fans’ rationale.
“These players have to understand when fans are frustrated, that means you’re not doing something you’re supposed to do and they’re tired of it,” he told Guregian. “That’s how we always looked at it. We never jumped down our fans’ throat or whatever, because we always responded.
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Granted, Wilfork’s career overlapped with one of the most successful periods in team history. New England won at least 10 games in every season the dominant nose tackle was on the team (a fact that he certainly had something to do with). He won Super Bowls in his first and last seasons as a Patriot.
“When you win, that’s what happens,” Wilfork said of fans’ expectations. “We want a winning culture. We want a winning city, and Boston is known for wins in all sports, so we have to keep that tradition going. The Celtics got it last year, so we have to get back on track.”
After multiple losing seasons, Wilfork knows that Patriots fans — having grown accustomed to competing for championships over a 20-year span, are becoming impatient.
“I know the fans are dying. That’s what happens when you win a lot. You get some spoiled fans, and rightfully so. That’s the cost of winning.”
Trivia: Vince Wilfork was one of six players from the University of Miami to be drafted in the first round in 2004 (setting a record for most players from the same school to go in the first round). Can you name the other five Hurricanes who got drafted in round one alongside Wilfork?
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(Answer at the bottom).
Trivia: Safety, tight end, two linebackers, and one offensive lineman.
Scores and schedules:
The Celtics held off the Cavaliers 112-105 in Cleveland on Tuesday night. Tomorrow, the Celtics host the Mavericks at TD Garden at 7:30 p.m.
The Bruins also won, defeating the Wild at TD Garden 3-0. Boston plays again tonight, facing the Rangers in New York at 7 p.m.
More from Boston.com:
- Derrick White’s late surge lifts Celtics to win over Cavaliers: 9 takeaways
- Jeremy Swayman stops 35 shots as the Bruins shut out the Wild 3-0
- Red Sox, Cardinals have reportedly had ‘recent’ talks on Nolan Arenado trade
- Jaylen Brown maps out what he wants to see from new Celtics ownership
- Drake Maye says he was recruiting players to Patriots during Pro Bowl
- Kyrie Irving reveals dream for Celtics big three that never materialized and ‘splintered’ the locker room
- What Guerschon Yabusele said about trade rumors linking him to possible Celtics return
- J.D. Martinez reportedly planning a career in pickleball after baseball
- NFL may launch men’s and women’s pro flag football leagues, Roger Goodell says
- Trump to sign executive order barring transgender female athletes from competing
Tom Brady’s favorite off-the-field Super Bowl memory: The former Patriots quarterback answered a fan question about his vast experience on football’s biggest stage.
Exploring the Myles Garrett possibilities: The Patriots might have longer odds to acquire the superstar pass rusher who recently requested a trade from the Browns.
On this day: In 2017, the Patriots rallied from a 28-3 deficit in Super Bowl LI to defeat the Falcons 34-28. The comeback was completed by a walk-off James White touchdown scored in the first overtime in Super Bowl history.
28-𝟯 years ago today. pic.twitter.com/A1fOrnRFHF
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) February 5, 2020
Daily highlight: The Celtics walked away with the win, but Cavaliers star Donovan Mitchell managed to throw down one of the dunks of the season.
THIS ANGLE OF DONOVAN MITCHELL’S POSTER 😳
— NBA (@NBA) February 5, 2025
(via @cavs)pic.twitter.com/o2T6orrtj0 https://t.co/4Tb37C1vIq
Trivia answer: Sean Taylor, Kellen Winslow II., D.J. Williams, Jonathan Vilma, Vernon Carey
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