Vince Wilfork is and always will be a Patriots franchise legend. The former first-round pick spent 11 seasons in New England and helped the team win a pair of Super Bowls.
But based on news that the team will not be picking up a $4 million bonus for the Pro Bowl defensive lineman – news broken by Wilfork himself on Thursday via Twitter – there is a good chance that big No. 75 may have played his last game in a New England uniform.
After winning a Super Bowl as a rookie in 2004, Wilfork completed the potential championship career sandwich with the Patriots in February's win over the Seahawks in Super Bowl XLIX.
The Boston Globe not only has the news of Wilfork’s tenure in New England coming to a likely end, but how the loss of his leadership might affect negotiations with soon-to-be free agent safety Devin McCourty.
The* Boston Herald* gets reaction from former Patriot and current NFL Network analyst Willie McGinest, who says, “There is only one Vince Wilfork.” The Herald also looks at possibilities moving forward for both Wilfork and his former team.
The Providence Journal paints Wilfork's departure as a “surprise move,” while the paper looks at the decision the defensive tackle has at hand in terms of continuing his playing career elsewhere.
ESPNBoston.com's continuing series on potential free agent fits for the Patriots takes a look at the cornerback position. The site also passes on ESPN analyst and former New England linebacker Tedy Bruschi’s take on the Wilfork situation.
CSNNE.com gets set for the NFL’s “legal tampering” period that begins as of midnight tonight. Phil Perry continues a series looking at free agency with potential linebacker fits for the Patriots.
Patriots safety Devin McCourty is No. 2 on NFL.com’s list of the top 101 free agents.
