New England Patriots Update: 2-Time Super Bowl Champ Vince Wilfork will be a Free Agent
Vince Wilfork, who won two Super Bowls with the New England Patriots, announced through Twitter that he will be entering free agency once the new league year starts next Tuesday at 4 p.m. ET.
The 33-year-old defensive tackle revealed Thursday morning that the Patriots declined to pick up his two-year team option. Wilfork was due a $4 million roster bonus at the start of the new league year if the Patriots had picked up his team option. He would have made $3 million in base salary and counted $8.9 million against the salary cap. The Patriots and Wilfork could still reach an agreement in free agency.
"I'm in a good place. I have a great relationship with the Patriots organization. Please know how blessed my family and I have been to be able to play 11 years in New England for a amazing organization," Willfork said in his statement. "Can I still play football? Hell yea! Do I still love football? Hell yea!"
Wilfork added, "One major injury lots of gas still left in the tank....All I can say is I'm blessed, I'm thankful, I'm grateful...I will take my time think things through take into consideration many things but mainly my family and see where life goes from here..."
In 2014, Wilfork recorded 47 tackles and one interception. In his 11 seasons with the Patriots, he amassed 516 combined tackles, 16 sacks, four forced fumbles, 12 fumble recoveries and three interceptions. He has played in all 16 regular-season games in eight seasons.
Wilfork was selected in the first round by the Patriots in the 2004 NFL Draft.
