Encouraging sign for Wilfork?

A while back, ESPN Boston's Mike Reiss wrote that the way it's shaping up, Vince Wilfork is "likely to be assigned the franchise tag" if a
deal can't be consummated with the Patriots. Appearing on Boston radio station WEEI, Wilfork told the hosts that being tagged would be akin
to "a slap in the face." He then added, "I want a long-term deal or I want to be free. Point blank."

Thursday marked the opening day that teams could place the franchise tag on certain players, and all tagging must be accomplished by Feb.
25. As Reiss notes, this doesn't mean that a long-term deal with Wilfork needs to complete by then, but momentum towards that goal
should be made. Ian Rapoport of the Boston Herald reports that a tag wasn't placed upon Vince on Day One of Tagging Season (as it was to
Matt Cassel last offseason), so perhaps this means they're negotiating.

In the unlikely event that Wilfork is not tagged or re-signed, he will be one of the top free agents on the market this offseason, especially
given the prevalence of the 3-4 defense, and the need for a nose tackle in that scheme. We previously speculated that the Broncos,
Bills, Cardinals, Chiefs and Dolphins would be interested. The South Florida Sun-Sentinel had word that Vince would relish a return to
Florida, either with the Dolphins or Bucs.

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(espn.com)