Wilfork, Pats talking contract

JUPITER, Fla. - The Patriots [team stats] and Vince Wilfork [stats] have restarted discussions on a contract extension that the nose tackle hopes makes him “a Patriot for a long time.”

Speaking between innings at a charity softball game for the Heath Evans [stats] Foundation last night, Wilfork said his mood has brightened considerably in the last couple of weeks with the opening of talks he characterized as “extremely positive.”

“We’ve been communicating back and forth,” he said. “That’s the only thing I wanted. I don’t care if nothing moves. I just wanted to communicate, let them know that, ‘Hey, this is what we’re thinking and this is what they’re thinking.’ All of that has been positive.”

Wilfork didn’t say if the sides had exchanged specific contract proposals, but that was almost besides the point.

What mattered is they’re talking.

“Everything’s moving in the right direction,” Wilfork said. “There’s been a lot of communication between us and them. We’re both on the same level. Before we weren’t, but now we are. I believe it will continue, and if it does, I will be a New England Patriot for a long time. I truly believe that. Deep down in my heart, I believe that.”

Wilfork has one year remaining on the six-year, $9 million rookie deal he signed after being selected in the first round of the 2004 draft.

The Pro Bowler has since emerged as one of the best nose tackles in the game and perhaps the most indispensable member of the Patriots defense.

He was trying not to feel discouraged earlier this month when the one-year anniversary of his last contract discussions with the team came and went. But a fresh round of talks kicked off in the last 10 days, and Wilfork now believes the sides will eventually reach an agreement.

Wilfork wouldn’t disclose who initiated contact talks - “It was mutual,” he said. “One hand washes the other.” - but his frame of mind clearly has improved significantly as a result.

He’s intrigued by a market that saw defensive lineman Julius Peppers franchised by the Panthers for $16.683 million.

Although conventional wisdom has held that salaries will tighten amid a struggling economy - one need look no further than baseball for proof - some of the deals already struck suggest Wilfork will be compensated in line with other top-flight players.

“The economy is bad for everyone, don’t get me wrong, but this is big business,” Wilfork said.

“You have to do what you have to do. I think we’ve seen over the last couple of weeks that teams are still making moves, even though the economy is the way it is. I look forward to the future. I can’t complain about anything.”

Wilfork said that even if no deal is reached this offseason, he’ll happily play out his final year with the belief that something can be done before he reaches free agency.

“I know how they feel about me, and they know how I feel about them,” Wilfork said.

“I’ve said from Day 1 that I wanted to enter the NFL as a New England Patriot and leave the NFL as a New England Patriot. I’m sticking to my word and I don’t think that will change. I’m very happy, very positive and looking forward to the future.”

(bostonherald.com)