State of the DTs: Wilfork Eager for Payday; Pats "Braced" to Lose Him

[This article is one of eight in B/R contributor Jack Harver's "State of the DTs" series, introduced here .] Coming off a career year, both statistically and as a team leader, Vince Wilfork might have expected the New England Patriots to be willing when he broached the subject of a contract extension this offseason. Wilfork had a personal best 66 tackles (45 solo) and two sacks while starting all 16 games on a defense that lost several veterans to injuries.  Safety Rodney Harrison end Richard Seymour, and linebackers Adalius Thomas and Tedy Bruschi all missed starts; Harrison and Thomas finished the season on injured reserve. But the Patriots' front office, not a group disposed to depend too heavily on any one player, responded to Wilfork's upcoming contract year stoically.  They have held firm in negotiations thus far, clinging to the bargain $800,000 salary owed to Wilfork in 2009 and not willing to overspend to keep him a Patriot. And in April, perhaps mindful of Wilfork's contract ... (link)