Vince Wilfork has one more year with a $7.5 million salary on his current contract with the Patriots, but New England would like to change those terms.
Mike Reiss of ESPNBoston.com reports that the Patriots have had recent discussions with representatives for Wilfork about altering his contract. Presumably, the Patriots would like to reduce Wilfork’s number this year, either by getting him to accept a pay cut or getting him to take an extension that spreads some of this year’s $11.6 million cap hit into future years.
With Wilfork coming off a season in which he suffered a torn Achilles tendon, and heading into a season in which he’ll turn 33 years old, it’s possible that the Patriots could release Wilfork if he isn’t interested in altering his current deal.
Wilfork has been a great player in New England for his entire 10-year career, but even great players are often asked to take less money or shown the door, especially once they’ve suffered significant injuries and hit the wrong side of 30. Right now there’s no indication that the talks between Wilfork and the Patriots have grown acrimonious, but there’s no sign that they’re close to an agreement, either.