Robert Kraft: Vince Wilfork deal near

INDIANAPOLIS - Patriots [team stats] owner Robert Kraft thinks the organization and Vince Wilfork [stats] are “very close” to reaching an accord on a long-term contract, even in wake of the club placing the franchise tag on the two-time Pro Bowl nose tackle Monday.

On the other hand, Kraft thinks Randy Moss was way off base last weekend in his assessment of how the organization does business.

The Wilfork negotiations and Moss’ remarks that “the Patriots don’t really pay” players were two of the hot-button issues Kraft addressed with the Herald upon arriving for the NFL Combine.

With regard to the former, Kraft said he is pleased the discussions with Wilfork had taken a turn in the right direction.

“We have a budget we’ve set for next year. Our first priority is with Vince,” Kraft told the Herald. “I think we’ve had some positive discussions. We’re very close. I hope we can conclude it soon.”

Kraft indicated the team had a number of other issues on the table, likely free agents it has targeted, so it was important for the two parties to close the gap as soon as possible.

“I hope we can. Look, we love Vince. He and (his wife) Bianca have been a special part of our franchise. We love having them,” Kraft said. “I hope he’s here for a long time to come. We’re trying to do everything we can to make that happen.”

As for Moss, Kraft took issue with the Pro Bowl wide receiver’s perception that the Patriots don’t dole out top salaries.

“I think (his comments) were taken out of context,” Kraft said. “Do you know what he made over the last two years with us? He made over $20 million the last two years. We don’t pay for quality? I think you can see that (we do).”

Kraft was alluding to the three-year, $27 million contract extension the team gave Moss in 2007.cw0

When asked about Tom Brady [stats], and whether the Patriots were negotiating a new deal with the quarterback, who is entering the final year of his contract, Kraft responded: “He’s under contract.”

Speaking with a group of reporters earlier, Kraft indicated there would be a better time to address the quarterback’s contract situation.

“We’re so lucky to have Tom Brady,” Kraft said. “His situation will be dealt with at the appropriate time. There’s no one in our organization that isn’t a huge Tom Brady fan, and I know Tom Brady is a pretty big New England Patriots [team stats] organization fan.”

Approached by the Herald after leaving a labor committee meeting, Kraft was somewhat coy when asked if there was any progress toward a new Collective Bargaining Agreement.

“We’re working hard to try to make that deal happen,” he said.

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(bostonherald.com)