Vince Wilfork answers challenge, wins team night off

FOXBORO - Thanks to the efforts of Vince Wilfork [stats], the players earned a rare night off following practice yesterday.

Every so often, Patriots [team stats] coach Bill Belichick will pose a challenge. If it’s met, there’s a reward at the end.

Yesterday, the challenge was for the 325-pound nose tackle to catch a punt, while having two footballs already tucked in his arms.

Wilfork, who returned punts in high school, came through, as he managed to coral the ball, and rolled to the ground in delight as his teammates swarmed him.

“Nothing tonight. Everyone can go home and sleep in their own bed,” a happy Tom Brady [stats] said. “Vince has been our go-to guy for the last few years. He had two balls in his hands, so he had to catch it.”

Brady said it had been a long time since Belichick had given them the night off on a practice day, but Wilfork delivered.