Patriots Defenders Want Wilfork Back
File this one under “Duh.’’
Days after longtime Patriot Vince Wilfork announced the team would not pick up his option for the 2015 season, his teammates have begun lobbying for him to stay.
On Monday, safety Devin McCourty mentioned Wilfork while discussing his new contract with ESPN Radio.
“I think (Wilfork will) have to try and move on, but obviously with me returning, I’m going to do everything I can to get him back there and playing in New England,’’ McCourty told ESPN Radio. “It’ll be cool just to see what happens over the next month and hopefully he’s back there and helping out.’’
That same day, defensive end Chandler Jones tweeted this picture from the team’s victory parade.
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Unlike McCourty, Jones didn’t explicitly lobby for Wilfork’s return, but the sentiment is clear.
Of course, bringing Wilfork back is easier said than done. The nose tackle didn’t burn any bridges when he left — and his departure leaves a gaping hole on the interior defensive line — but he won’t come cheaply, and the Patriots have another, more glaring free agent need.
As of this writing, the Patriots are about $10 million under the salary cap with a few possibilities for getting further under the threshold. If the unthinkable happens and Darrelle Revis leaves, expect the dominoes to fall as far as other top free agents go.
The cornerback field is pretty barren after Revis, so the Patriots would likely use money they would have given him to shore up another position. The Patriots have yet to be linked to Broncos free agent Terrance “Pot Roast’’ Knighton, but could become contenders for his services should Revis move on.
The 335-pound, 6’3’’ Knighton has the size to plug the middle for the Patriots, his two sacks and 19 tackles are enticing and he’s also just 28 years old. He’s been a model citizen in Denver and was ranked ninth against the run among DT’s last season by Pro Football Focus. Considering his talent and youth, Knighton will likely cost a pretty penny – especially if Ndamukong Suh’s monster deal has inflated the market.
The 33-year old Wilfork is a candidate for a cheaper, incentive-laden deal. He could get such an offer from New England after testing the market, but considering the tone of his letter, it’s unlikely.
h/t – NESN
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