Vince Wilfork talks ‘ongoing’

FOXBORO - Representatives for Vince Wilfork and members of the Patriots front office are engaged in “constant discussions” regarding a potential contract extension for the nose tackle, according to director of player personnel Nick Caserio.

In his first meeting with reporters in months, Caserio addressed the status of the Pro Bowler. He said about reaching a potential resolution: “Hopefully we will get to that point.

“It’s ongoing and, as far as pinpointing that this is going to be the final resolution, it is hard for us to say that. Vince has been a good player for us in our system, and we want to have him around here. Both parties are working on both sides to try to get something resolved.

Wilfork’s agent, Kennard McGuire, declined comment.

Wilfork, a 6-foot-2, 325-pound former first-round pick from Miami, is entering the final season of a contract that pays him $800,000 per year plus incentives. Instead of holding out, Wilfork showed up on time.

Last season, he had 85 tackles. Caserio, who is the voice of the personnel department now that Scott Pioli works for the Kansas City Chiefs, would not rate Wilfork or say whether he deserves to be paid like one of the NFL’s best linemen.

“How he stacks up relative to other players in the league may or may not come into play,” Caserio said. “But we know in our system he’s been a productive player, and some of those other players, you don’t know how they would fit in your system. He has been a good player for us, and we are cognizant of how he stacks up (in) the league.”

Wilfork took a day off Wednesday to be with his wife, Bianca, who gave birth to their third child. The absence was scheduled, as the family had planned to have doctors induce labor. Wilfork returned yesterday but did not speak with reporters.



(bostonherald.com)