Wilfork and the Franchise Tag

[Fafnir]

http://sports.espn.go.com/boston/nfl/news/story?id=4863296

So it begins....

[Donoghus]

Yeah, this has been over a year in the making.  The signs have been out there.

I like Wilfork and would love to have him back but this, ultimately, comes down to business.  Patriots have been one of the best at it over the past decade.

The CBA allows the use of a "franchise tag".  It might not be what the player wants but, unfortunately for him, its part of the process.  If the Patriots can't negotiate a long-term deal with him, there's an awfully good chance he's gonna get slapped with it. 

What we ultimately might see happen with Wifork is the same thing happened with Asante before the '07 season.  I know its not exactly what Wilfork wants but its more of a middle ground if they can't hash out a long-term deal (which is looking more and more likely).

[Fafnir]

http://sports.espn.go.com/boston/nfl/news/story?id=4868868

He's so just getting tagged at this point...

[Donoghus]

If these players don't like the "burden" of the franchise tag, lodge a complaint with the union and push for it to be put out of existance for the next Collective Bargaining Agreement. 

Until then, its part of the labor agreement that their union agreed to.  They need to accept it.   Getting slammed with the "franchise tag" isn't exactly the worse thing when you consider the compensation tables that are used to determine the salary that goes with being tagged.  It's not chump change.

[Evantime34]

If these players don't like the "burden" of the franchise tag, lodge a complaint with the union and push for it to be put out of existance for the next Collective Bargaining Agreement. 

Until then, its part of the labor agreement that their union agreed to.  They need to accept it.   Getting slammed with the "franchise tag" isn't exactly the worse thing when you consider the compensation tables that are used to determine the salary that goes with being tagged.  It's not chump change.

Those just came out and if Wilfork was tagged as a dt he would make 7 million this year. He calls that "decent" money, I call that being paid like you are one of the top 5 at your position (franchised players are paid the average of the top 5 players at their position).

Wilfork will get franchised the question is what happens after that?
Possible outcomes (with 1 being the least likely and 5 being the most likely in my opinion)
1. Wilfork sits out the entire year and makes no money, then leaves after the year is over
2. Wilfork sits out until week 6, which is the longest you can sit out and still get paid, then leaves after the year is over.
3. Wilfork gets tagged and then works out a long term deal.
4. Wilfork sits out and then is traded
5. Wilfork plays out his contract (the Patriots agree not to tag him next year as part of the one year deal) then leaves in an angry huff after the year is over.

[Fan from VT]

It's also the smart thing to do before entering the unknown CBA of the future.

[boscel33]

he's gone.  that's why the pats spent two picks last year on nt's (brace and pryor).  bill will tag him then trade him for picks.

[Donoghus]

It's official. Per PFT

Pats officially tag Wilfork
Posted by Mike Florio on February 22, 2010 1:54 PM ET
As expected, the New England Patriots have announced that defensive tackle Vince Wilfork has been named the team's franchise player for 2010.

In a press release, the team explains that the move was made "in an effort to continue negotiating a long-term agreement."  Implicit in this observation is the fact that the team believes the current impasse won't be resolved before 4:00 p.m. ET on Thursday, February 25, the deadline for using the tag.

The Patriots also have expressed their desire to sign Wilfork to a long-term deal in the same release:    "A long-term agreement with Vince Wilfork has been the team's top contractual priority for some time.  Unfortunately, despite numerous conversations and proposals, the goal has not yet been realized.  Vince is a tremendous player for our team and remains a significant part of our future plans.  It is because of Vince's importance to this organization that we have assigned the franchise designation as we continue to work toward a long-term agreement.  We are hopeful that Vince will remain a Patriot for many years to come."

The explanation undoubtedly is aimed at persuading Wilfork to conclude that the decision to use the tag should be regarded as an honor, not an insult.  But Wilfork knows the difference between making $7 million in 2010 and hauling in $30 million or more in guaranteed money. 

With the latter comes lifetime financial security.

Wilfork's options are simple.  He can sign the tag and guarantee the salary completely, or he can wait.  If he signs, he's under contract and obligated to attend all mandatory offseason events, training camp, and the preseason.  If he waits, he can avoid all football activities until a couple of days before Week One of the regular season, and he'll still make the full $7 million.

Along the way, he can talk to other teams and, if he finds one willing to give up two first-round picks, he can sign an offer sheet.  The more likely approach is that a team that works out general terms with Wilfork would then approach the Patriots about a trade.

But coach Bill Belichick offered up some tortured logic in 2009 regarding the manner in which the process of trading for a franchise player unfolds, and we wonder whether the Patriots would agree to talk trade before Wilfork gives up his leverage and signs the tender offer.

[Fafnir]

I don't think the Patriots have any intention of giving Wilfork the type of money he's seeking.

[Donoghus]

I don't think the Patriots have any intention of giving Wilfork the type of money he's seeking.

I don't think they do either but this is the smart move by the organization.

[MBz]

It's also the smart thing to do before entering the unknown CBA of the future.

Exactly, it'll be interesting to see if any team is actually willing to go after him.

[Fafnir]

It's also the smart thing to do before entering the unknown CBA of the future.

Exactly, it'll be interesting to see if any team is actually willing to go after him.

Its incredibly rare for a team to give up two first round picks for any player.

Wilfork's good, but he won't get a Jay Cutler offer. Big defensive tackles get hurt too often.

[looseball]

Vince is 28 years old and 320 or so pounds. Guys that age and size can go downhill pretty quickly.  (More so on the defensive side of the ball than the offensive side.)

But then again, he's the best player on the defense.  I love his game, but my guess is he'll be traded (like Seymour).  The Pats are committed to getting younger.

[PLamb]

It's also the smart thing to do before entering the unknown CBA of the future.

Exactly, it'll be interesting to see if any team is actually willing to go after him.

Its incredibly rare for a team to give up two first round picks for any player.

Wilfork's good, but he won't get a Jay Cutler offer. Big defensive tackles get hurt too often.

With the entire league going farther and farther away from run based offenses and more and more towards passing offenses, the Pats need to explore whether the 3-4 with a run stopping nose tackle is even the way to go anymore

The nose tackle position as a whole against passing based systems is becoming a bit of a dinosaur anyway

Wilfork is no longer out there every down and it's foolish to pay him like he is going to be

Mayo is a perfect 4-3 middle linebacker

Switch to the 4-3, bite the bullet and trade Wilfork to a team in the hopes of getting a high draft pick and start drafting 4-3 based DTs,DEs and OLBs to compliment whats here

Just my 2 pennies

[Evantime34]

The pats are attempting to sign him to a contract that they believe to be fair value. Vince believes they are under valuing him.
I think he signs a one year tender with us that has a stipulation that we can't franchise him again. We then either pay the man or let him walk.

The Pats should give him a deal that gurantees him a lot of money now (frontloading) while the salary cap is not in place. A such deal could start with him making a ton then taking a 50% decrease in the second year of the deal (50% is the largest decrease allowable under the current rules).