NE doesn't care about you Wilfork!
 

Former New England cornerback Asante Samuel had some words of advice for nose tackle Vince Wilfork on Friday as Wilfork waits to see what his future holds with the Patriots.


“
The way [the Patriots] treat people is not something I agree with.

”
-- Former Patriots cornerback Asante Samuel

"I don't think they care about you, in my opinion," Samuel told the Boston Globe from Miami, where he was practicing with the NFC Pro Bowl team. "They didn't care about me. So do what's best for you and your family."

Having just finished playing the final season of his six-year rookie contract, Wilfork is looking for a long-term deal and a big payday. The Patriots could throw a wrench in the works by placing the franchise tag on him.

Samuel was in the same position Wilfork currently faces with the Patriots. The team slapped him with a franchise tag in 2007 after Samuel had played four seasons in New England and was vocal about his desire for a long-term contract that he deemed was fair market value. Part of Samuel's deal to play under the franchise tag reportedly was an agreement that if the Patriots won 12 games or Samuel played 60 percent of the team's defensive snaps, he would not be tagged the next season.


If tagged, Wilfork would make $7M
The franchise and transition tag numbers for 2010 have been released, and these are important from a Patriots perspective in regards to nose tackle Vince Wilfork.

If the Patriots and Wilfork don't agree on a contract extension by late February, the team is expected to place the franchise tag on Wilfork. That figure would be $7.003 million.

The franchise tag is the average of the top five salaries at the position from the previous year. Wilfork earned $2.2 million in 2009, but he's seeking a long-term contract that gives him more security. Under the franchise tag, assuming Wilfork signed the tender, it would be a one-year deal.

In the event that Wilfork is assigned the tag, he could still sign with another team, but that club would have to give the Patriots draft-pick compensation. Because of that, it is rare for a player assigned the franchise tag to be signed by another team.

--Mike Reiss

After the Patriots went 16-0 that season Samuel was a free agent and signed a six-year deal with the Philadelphia Eagles.

Samuel told the Globe on Friday he thought the way the team handled his situation would influence how they might approach Wilfork.

"The way they treat people is not something I agree with," Samuel said, "but everybody has their own opinion."

Wilfork has expressed his opinion on his contract status several times over the last few days, most recently telling the Globe on Friday he was done discussing it until he either hears from the team or something happens.

"I already talked about it," Wilfork said, "so I don't want to keep hammering at it."

On Thursday, Wilfork told the South Florida Sun-Sentinel that if things did not work out for the Patriots, it would be "a dream come true" to play for either the Miami Dolphins or Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Wilfork played collegiately at the University of Miami and is a Florida native.

"I love great weather. I love football. It doesn't matter where I play," Wilfork told the Sun-Sentinel. "I just want to have security for my family. I would love to stay in New England if I had the chance. I love New England because of my teammates, my family. My son, the friends and connections we've made up there, it's some great people up there. But if it doesn't work out I'll weigh my options, I tell you that."

On Wednesday, Wilfork said he would consider it a "slap in the face" if the Patriots placed the franchise tag on him.


KC cares about you Vince!

Asante is an ass. All he cares about is getting paid. He was overpriced and overrated, and any time I turned on an Eagles game this season it seemed like he was getting abused.

As for Vince... I'm tired of players pissing and whining. "Boo hoo, I'm only gonne be paid the average of the top five players in my position! Boo hoo, I'm only gonna make enough money in one year to live off for the rest of my life!" Cry me a f**king river, especially in today's economy. It's part of the f**cking CBA. It's in the rules. It's within the team's rights. F**k off.

NE has always been smart and let players go and let other teams over pay for them.

So if one of your employer's competitors offered to double your pay but your employer was able to legally keep you from leaving, you'd be okay with that? It's indentured servitude. Yes they are paid well compared to you and me, but they are underpaid compared to what other teams will pay.

That's some nice sour grapes there JD, Asante pulled down 9 picks and had a good year while the Patriots secondary was busy shitting its pants.

I doubt he wants anything to do with KC.

If the article is about how NE doesn't treat players right why would he sign with a team trying to be NE?

Exactly.

yep ... i bet NE tags wilfork and then look for a replacement. If they can draft or sign a replacement then they will trade or remove the tag.

if they can't they will keep wilfork for 1 more year and then do the same next year.

There is a difference in the way it's done, NE consistently has players saying they feel mistreated. The Colts and Eagles routinely walk away from players and I don't think they've had as many players say they felt mistreated as NE has combined, there's something else underlying this.

LMAO

I bet Tom Terrific hasn't been mistreated.

He's one of the ones that actually got paid so I'm sure he's happy.

They drafted Brace last year. I wonder if he's ready.

I actually thought he was going to turn out better than Raji. I am interested in seeing how he does once he gets his chance.

good point

if Brace is ready they might try and tag and trade on Wilfork. If Brace isn't ready or they are unsure of his ability they may keep Wilfork for another year or so.

You believe everything you read?

Let's just say the Pats asked for reasonable compensation far less that what the franchise tag calls for (not realistic). Multiple teams have contracts on the table and one of which are KC. If money is similar and Wilfork gets to choose where he goes, then KC has about a snowballs chance in hell of landing him. Vince has already expressed interest in playing in a warm environment (Florida), and KC winters combined with an open environment stadium wouldn't work in our favor. We'de have to offer a significant pay raise over the southern competition to have a chance.

Oh PLEASE let us step up and be that team ELEVENTY!!!!111@