Vince Wilfork is fat, but he isn't happy. Time for the Dolphins to turn that frown upside down?
One of the league's premier nose tackles, Wilfork is also one of only two 2004 first-round draft picks who have played out their rookie contracts. All he wants is a long-term deal (well, that and giant slabs of raw meat hung in his locker at snack time), but the Patriots refused him during the season, indicating they believe his salary will be too large to work with until a labor deal is reached.
Now those evil-doers have backed themselves into a corner, which gives the Dolphins a shot: the Pats could offer him a long-term deal, certainly, but it will cost them; they could slap the franchise tag on him, which would be like poking a bear; or they could let another team pay him his $8-$10 million, which will cost them on the field.
Yesterday, the Boynton Beach-born, University of Miami-bred Wilfork said he'd be happy to play for the Dolphins, who have a desperate need at nose tackle now that Jason Ferguson's gotten himself old and gimpy. GIGGETY HE KNOWS OUR NAME!
"Florida is home to me. Who wouldn't want to play at home?'' Wilfork said with a smile before explaining that matters such as divisional rivalries and allegiances are trivial.
"Look here man, it's a business and guys go play across the map and everywhere. Whatever is the best situation for me and my family, that's what it will be. Trust me -- whatever decision I make will be for the best of me and my family."
For the Dolphins, such a deal would be a perfect fit. Why waste a draft pick on a project when the Dolphins could acquire a Pro Bowler in his prime? Wilfork said that though ideally he'd remain a Patriot, the length of his contract was more important than geography.
"Of course I would [be upset if New England force another year with the franchise tag]. I want a long-term deal," Wilfork said when asked about his situation following the team's 33-14 loss to the Ravens in the wild-card round of the AFC playoffs. "That's something me and my wife [Bianca], we want. We're going to try to get a long-term deal done, that's first and foremost."
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Of course, we know Wilfork could be using the Dolphins for leverage here; though the Patriots clearly need to retool after yesterday's hilaaaaarious loss to the Ravens, it seems unthinkable they'd let the league's best nose tackle go their AFC East rivals.
But we also know what Bianca wants, Bianca gets, and you should never count out Bill Parcells -- and Steve Ross' money.
Janie Campbell is a Florida sports fans who'll need a fainting couch if this comes to fruition. Her work has appeared in irreverent sports sites around the Internet.
