No tag day for Vince Wilfork

FOXBORO - D-Day for Vince Wilfork [stats]’s contract situation turned into Z-Day.

As in, zero.

The first 24 hours of the franchise tag window came and went, and nothing happened. The Patriots [team stats] did not slap their two-time Pro Bowl nose tackle with the tag yesterday, though they have until Feb. 25 to do so.

The fact that such a move did not happen could mean the two sides are negotiating, or at least, open to negotiating.

Neither Wilfork’s camp nor Patriots representatives would update the situation. Wilfork has said he would consider the franchise tag “a slap in the face.”

Wilfork, who was drafted by the Patriots in the first round in 2004 and then signed a six-year deal, wants his first big-money, long-term deal. The Pats would like to hold onto Wilfork, but no agreement on a new deal has been reached.

If the team makes Wilfork its franchise player, he’ll make $7.003 million in a one-year contract, with the total being the average salary of the top five players at his position in 2009.

Wilfork vehemently objected to being franchised, though he has not specifically said what action he would take.

“I want a long-term deal or I want to be free. Point blank,” Wilfork recently told WEEI. “(The $7.003 million) is decent money for most people out there. What I do, it’s OK, but I don’t look at myself as an OK player. It’s just basically a slap in my face and an insult to me to basically tell me I’m an OK player.”

Wilfork, who had 43 tackles while battling injuries this past season, decided against holding out during training camp. He wanted to do the right thing and play out his final year, then be rewarded.

While Wilfork said he would like to return to the Patriots, he is also open to playing for a team in Florida such as the Dolphins or Buccaneers.
It is not clear what kind of deal Wilfork is seeking.

Redskins defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth last year signed a seven-year, $100 million deal with $41 million guaranteed. A player nearly as productive, Kris Jenkins of the Jets, signed a five-year, $30.25 in 2008.

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(bostonherald.com)