With NFL free agency in full swing and some of the big names going fast and furious to new teams, the New England Patriots have decided in some cases to just hold onto what they have.
While the biggest free agent in the market may have been DE Julius Peppers who signed with the Chicago Bears, the Patriots will keep one of the mainstays of their defensive line around as they inked DL Vince Wilfork to a 5-year/$40 million deal with $25 million guaranteed and he also receives an $18 million signing bonus. The contract makes Wilfork the highest paid 3-4 nose tackle in the NFL. It also gives Wilfork wanted he wanted long term security for his family and to stay in New England. Wilfork put this on his Twitter account once the deal was done. “Thanks to everyone who has supported us during our time here in New England it has meant a great deal to us. “With that being said we are pleased to say we will be here for MANY more years to come. My wife and I thank you and are getting back to our vacation now C ya in Foxboro soon.” In other news the team resigned unrestricted free agent LB Tullly Banta-Cain to a three year deal. Banta-Cain, an New England draft pick in 2003, played for the team through 2006 before spending 2007 and 2008 with San Francisco. He returned in 2009 as a free agent and helped immensely in linebacking corp and became the teams best pass rusher. The three year deal will pay him nearly $19 million with a $6 million signing bonus. The team also signed OG Stephen Neal to a contract extension and is in negotiations with RB Kevin Faulk and DL LeKevin Smith while it looks as if TE Ben Watson will walk and the team also released TE Chris Baker leaving them with no real current option at that position on the roster. In restricted free agent notes the team offered exclusive tenders to LB Gary Guyton and ST Brett Lockett for one year minimums. Guyton will earn $475,000 while Lockett will get $395,000. K Stephen Gostkowski also saw himself receive a second round tender meaning anyone who signs him will lose a second round pick for the kicker whose tender is for $1.759 million while LB Pierre Woods received an original compensation tender in which the team reserves the right to match any offer to him. If no other team gets involved with Woods, the team will have to decide by June 1 if they will pay him 110% of his 2009 salary or 41.669 million for 2010 or just release him outright. G Logan Mankins was extended the highest RFA tender of a first and third round pick which ensures the Patriots will come away with those draft picks if someone decides to sign Mankins, one of the NFL’s top young offensive linemen. Since 1994 the Patriots have tendered 50 free agents and according to the team only three have left including future Hall of Fame RB Curtis Martin in 1998 when he signed with the rival New York Jets after being lured away by former New England head coach Bill Parcells. In addition while DL Jarvis Green was expected to leave it is being reported that the club is still involved in negotiations as Green feels a pang of loyalty to the team that helped him become a good a player. The Patriots are also trying hard to keep free agent CB Leigh Bodden who has interest from Pittsburgh, Houston and Tennessee. Right now the Patriots are planning to meet with a free agent Bill Parcells has always loved former Buffalo WR Josh Reed who would make a nice compliment to Randy Moss and Wes Welker on the outside. Reed will be 30 in May. The team reportedly made an offer for former Arizona WR Anquan Bolden before he got traded to Baltimore over the weekend.
