Vince Wilfork still feels the passion after all these years

FOXBOROUGH – Vince Wilfork has been at this for a long time. Ten years, to be exact.

For some players, the novelty and excitement of being in the league wears off as years of grueling practices and marathon film sessions and nagging injuries begin to pile up.

But Wilfork isn’t like those players. He’s still invigorated and excited over each day of work. He feeds off the passion of younger players and enjoys working with them and preparing for new a journey and seeing how it all comes together.

These dog days of long practices under the summer sun are his favorite time of year.

“You know when you lose that feeling it’s time to give it up. And you know what, I’ve been having this feeling for 10 years now,” Wilfork said. “It’s an exciting feeling to have, trust me.”

Wilfork said that he likes this year’s group of defensive linemen, which features newcomers Armond Armstead and Tommy Kelly at defensive tackle, but is now sans Brandon Deaderick and Kyle Love, who were recently released.

Losing Love, who started last year and was recently diagnosed with diabetes, upset Wilfork a little bit, but he was not surprised by the move. When you’ve been in the league as long as he has, you learn not to be shocked by anything.

“It’s always tough. I’m dead set and focused on what I can do to get better as a teammates and a person,” Wilfork said. “That’s where I’m at right now. I can’t focus on who has came and who has gone.”

Right now, Wilfork is focused on getting in shape and learning all the names that go with the new faces. He said he’s getting closer, but still hasn’t gotten them all down.

As far as physical health, Wilfork said he is still working to get into playing shape and will next few weeks of organized team activities and June’s minicamp to get where he wants to be.

It will be a grind, but that’s what he loves.

“You have to come to work. And that’s what I do,” Wilfork said. “I come to work every day with my hardhat and work my tail off. I won’t stop doing it. I’m going to continue doing that until I’m finished.”


(masslive.com)