Vince Speaks

Vince Wilfolk spoke on WEEI the other day. It was interesting to note that the team did not post his interview on their website. Throughout the season, Wilfolk and several other players appeared on the station and the interviews were always posted. That's another story for another time.

Wilfolk spoke strongly how he wants to get a long term contract. He is considered to be one of the elite nose tackles in the league. He has played under his original rookie contract of six years. In fact, the NFL no longer allows six year contract for rookies.

He was very adamant about not wanting the franchise tag. Although it would pay him an annual salary of the top five players at that position, he wouldn't get the large signing bonus or the long term security he is seeking.

He mentioned that there has been no discussion of a new contract since the beginning of the season. The window for discussion is getting smaller. Without a new Collective Bargaining agreement, the league will play without a salary cap for the 2010 season. There is a potential lockout once the 2011 NFL business year starts in February 2011.

Johnathan Kraft stated during the season that the uncertainty of the CBA has kept the team from developing long term plans with some of its players. Wilfolk brushed that aside and mentioned various high profile players throughout the league who have signed with their teams.

I feel that they will franchise Wilfolk which will result in a very unhappy player and a potential hold-out of him from mini-camps or training camp.

The team has a long history of letting free agents walk away. Wilfolk might be the next. He mentioned that wining is important to him, but he also said that a lot of teams around the league are winners. It might get quite nasty before it gets better.