With so much current focus on whether the Patriots will find a way to keep cornerback Darrelle Revis, they’ve decided not to keep defensive tackle Vince Wilfork.
Wilfork has announced that the team told him Tuesday the his option for 2015 won’t be picked up.
“I’m in a good place,” Wilfork said in a message posted on Twitter, one that he calls his “only” statement on the matter. “I have a great relationship with the Patriots organization.”
Wilfork makes it clear that, after 11 NFL seasons, he won’t be retiring.
“Can I still play football?” Wilfork wrote. “Hell yea! Do I still love football? Hell yea!”
He adds that New England will always be his home, noting that he won a Super Bowl ring as a rookie and in his last season with the franchise.
“One major injury lots of gas still left in the tank,” Wilfork said. (What kind of gas is he talking about?)
“I will take my time think things through take into consideration many things by mainly my family and see where life goes from there,” Wilfork said.
Surely, a demand will exist for his services. There aren’t enough competent defensive tackles to go around for 32 franchises.
Wilfork didn’t mention a possible return to the Patriots, but didn’t expressly rule it out. If an aggressive market for his services doesn’t emerge, maybe the Pats will swoop back in and extend the relationship to a 12th year.