Vince Wilfork on Achilles injury: 'I can't leave the game like this'

During an interview that aired on Showtime’s “60 Minutes Sports” Wednesday night, New England Patriots defensive tackle Vince Wilfork discussed the right Achilles injury that landed him on injured reserve and what his future may hold.

Throughout the segment, Kraft spoke highly of Wilfork, at one point calling him the “heart and soul” of the defense and an “inspiration,” though the defensive tackle knows that his relationship with Kraft will do him no good when his contract expires following the 2014 season.

“No,” Wilfork said. “It’s a business.”

At one point Wilfork was presented with a statistic that says nearly 66 percent of players who suffer an Achilles injury do not come back or return at a lesser level. Now 32, Wilfork knows that the odds are against him, and acknowledged that the road back may be difficult, but he remains determined to play again.

“I can’t tell you what the body’s going to tell me when I take the field,” he said. “Maybe the body is going to say, ‘You know what, Vince, it is enough.’ If it do that, I’m going to have to listen to my body. If it’s up to me, I’m playing. I can’t leave the game like this. I can’t.”

At one point, Kraft and Wilfork shared the details of their meeting after the defensive tackle tore his Achilles' tendon. Though he was in pain and upset with his current reality, Wilfork looked up and offered an apology when he first saw Kraft.

“Sorry, boss man,” Wilfork said, according to Kraft. “I’m sorry that I let you down.”


(masslive.com)