'Tis the season for a Wilfork extension?

Hi Mike, I am very concerned about the lack of progress on an extension for Wilfork. I like Ron Brace as a player. However, until you have proven yourself against NFL caliber centers and guards, you remain a huge unknown. What have you heard as to the reasons for a lack of progress? Is it entirely related to the collective bargaining agreement or the demands of Wilfork's agent?
A: John, my feeling is that these things generally don't happen at the snap of the fingers. It takes some time. I think the Patriots wanted to focus on free agency and the draft, so it makes sense that the sides didn't negotiate over the last few months. Now, with the NFL calendar opening up, I think there is time to get the talks going. And if the talks haven't started or made progress by the time training camp starts, then I might be looking at things differently. But I don't think it will get to that point. I'd be surprised to learn that both sides don't agree Wilfork has outperformed his contract, so to me, it's just a matter of the sides carving out the time to talk and reaching an acceptable middle ground. I don't think we're at the point where Wilfork's demands are excessive and talks have broken off. Or to the point where the Patriots are saying the collective bargaining agreement is an issue, so they don't want to do an extension. Maybe I'm misreading it, but that's my view of the situation.

How certain are you that Wilfork is a top priority of the Pats? I only ask because it seems like an extension with him would not have been that hard, and it might get more expensive the longer they wait. Am I wrong about this?

A: Andrew, I don't know for sure. I'd be surprised if it wasn't a top priority. My assumption is that during the 2008 season, with two years remaining on his contract, Wilfork was offered something similar to what Ty Warren previously signed with two years left on his deal. I'll also assume that it wasn't the type of deal Wilfork was looking for. As is the case with most negotiations, the leverage often shifts as the process plays out. Had Wilfork signed a presumed deal last year, he would have done so with little leverage -- two years left on his contract, nowhere to go. This year, after he incurred the risk to make it through another season healthy and did so, the leverage shifts a bit more to his side. He has just one year left on his contract, and can demand a bit more. I don't think this is anything contentious or anything like that. It's just business. The one thing that I would say, and this is just my opinion, I think it's going to be hard for Wilfork to show up to training camp if the sides aren't actively working toward a deal. I did the research last week and only three first-round draft choices from 2004 are still playing under their original rookie deals -- Wilfork, Benjamin Watson, and Philip Rivers. A total of 18 first-rounders were either extended, traded and extended, or became free agents and signed new deals. That is one indication to me that a player of Wilfork's quality has outperformed his contract.

Do you really think the Pats intend to extend Wilfork? It may be in the Patriots' best interest to let Wilfork depart via free agency next year. They have Ron Brace (the only true nose tackle in the draft, according to some) to replace him at a fraction of the cost; Wilfork's departure would allow the Pats to sign some other free agents (if next year is uncapped, a playoff team must lose a free agent before it can sign one); and the loss of Wilfork will almost certainly bring a third-round compensatory pick the following year. In addition, if next year is uncapped, the Pats will be able to use two franchise tags -- so they could keep Wilfork that way if they really need to. As a fan, I would love to see Wilfork return, but trying to be objective, I think it comes down to whether or not the Pats think Brace can get the job done. Walter, Shrewsbury

A: Walter, I do believe the Patriots would like to extend Wilfork. The question is how much they feel comfortable extending their budget/salary cap to do so, and how much Wilfork is looking for in an extension. I see all negotiations as a two-way street. They'll have to meet in the middle. The presence of Brace might allow the Patriots to hold a bit of a harder line, but there is still some risk in projecting Brace as a replacement. Wilfork has proven he can do it. Brace has not.

(boston.com)