Tag: Vince Wilfork

Tom Brady sends well-wishes to Vince Wilfork in Instagram comment

Tom Brady had nothing complementary things to say about Vince Wlfork

Former New England Patriots defensive tackle Vince Wilfork was announced into the team’s Hall of Fame on Tuesday. Congratulations poured in from all corners of the organization.

Tom Brady was among the many who sent congratulatory wishes. Brady and Wilfork were teammates for the majority of the tackle’s career. The two joined forces from 2004-2014 and were able to win two Super Bowls together as a result.

Wilfork went on to play for 13 seasons, last playing for the Houston Texans in 2016. In addition to the Super Bowls he won with New England, he also was a five-time Pro Bowl selection.

Brady added a comment on the team’s Instagram post: “Amazing teammate and friend and always did things his way.”

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With Wilfork’s nomination to the Hall of Fame, another key Patriots contributor is immortalized forever.

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Bill Belichick: Vince Wilfork ‘exemplified all the things that define football greatness’

Bill Belichick explained why Vince Wilfork is among the NFL’s all-time greats.

With Vince Wilfork set to join the ranks of the New England Patriots Hall of Fame, coach Bill Belichick released a glowing statement about the team’s retired star defensive tackle.

“Vince exemplified all the things that define football greatness. Vince’s rare physical ability was obvious, but it was his professional approach to the game, his competitiveness, toughness and dedication to the team that set him, and several of his teams, apart. Vince Wilfork is an all-time great player,” Belichick wrote in Wednesday’s statement.

Wilfork recorded 560 tackles, 39 tackles for loss, 16 sacks and 38 QB hits in 189 games played over 13 seasons. He finished his career with five Pro Bowl nods and two Super Bowl wins.

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Vince Wilfork thinks he is the best NT of all time: ‘All that credit goes to Bill Belichick’

Vince Wilfork had an explanation for his high-caliber playing career.

Former New England Patriots nose tackle Vince Wilfork was announced as this year’s inductee into the team’s Hall of Fame on Tuesday. With that in mind, he shared some final thoughts on his playing career.

Wilfork was drafted by the Patriots with the 21st overall pick in the 2004 NFL Draft. He would go on to have a long and successful career. He played 12 seasons, recording 559 combined tackles and 16 sacks in what was a 13-year career. He made the Pro Bowl five times, and won the Super Bowl two times as a member of the Patriots.

Speaking to assembled media on Tuesday, he gave an explanation as to why he believes he is one of the best defensive tackles ever, per Zack Cox of NESN.com.

“I believe I was probably one of the best true two-gap nose tackles that ever played the game, and I would put that against anyone. I mean, I played from left to right. I played five (technique), four, three, two, one on both sides. You don’t have any noses doing that, and when you can find one, you can let me know.

“So I’ve always regarded myself as one of the best defensive tackles and the best nose tackle to ever play the game. And people can fight me on it. People can have their opinions on it. But I’m just telling you where I stand, because I was that one guy that can go from left to right defensive end and anywhere in the middle. So I was a nightmare for offenses trying to figure out where I’m going to be, and all that credit goes to Bill Belichick.”

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It would be hard to argue with Wilfork’s resume, as he helped solidify stellar Patriots defenses during the first Patriots Super Bowl run. He helped stabilize the front end of the Patriots defense for several years. Throughout his time with New England, Wilfork played at a consistent level. Now, he is immortalized in Patriots history forever.

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Mike Vrabel falls short in Patriots Hall of Fame voting once again

This is the sixth time Vrabel has fallen short in the voting.

Tennessee Titans head coach and former New England Patriots linebacker Mike Vrabel has once again fallen short of being inducted into the team’s Hall of Fame, which was decided by fan vote.

Vrabel, who has now been a finalist six times, was one of three finalists for the Patriots Hall of Fame, along with offensive lineman Logan Mankins and defensive lineman Vince Wilfork, who ended up winning the vote.

“It’s my pleasure to announce Vince Wilfork as our 2022 Patriots Hall of Fame selection,” Patriots owner Robert Kraft said. “For more than a decade, Vince was a dominant defender in the trenches and anchored some of the best defenses in franchise history. His contributions on the field propelled the Patriots to four Super Bowl appearances during his 11-year career. He was a big man with an even bigger personality and a huge heart. He quickly became a fan favorite in New England. I look forward to presenting him his Patriots Hall of Fame jacket.”

Vrabel spent eight of his 14 NFL seasons with the Patriots, where he won three Super Bowls and was voted to a Pro Bowl and earned an All-Pro nod during the 2007 season. He has been the Titans’ head coach since 2018.

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Vince Wilfork to be inducted into Patriots Hall of Fame

Patriots fans voted Vince Wilfork into the team’s Hall of Fame.

New England Patriots fans voted Vince Wilfork into the team’s Hall of Fame as the 32nd inductee.

A 2004 first-round draft choice, Wilfork finished with two Super Bowl wins (XXXIX, XLIX) and five Pro Bowl nods. He played 11 seasons with New England before joining the Houston Texans for the final two seasons of his career. In his stint with New England, he was a defensive co-captain from 2008 to 2014. In 189 games played over 13 seasons, he had 560 tackles, 39 tackles for loss, 16 sacks and 38 QB hits.

“For more than a decade, Vince was a dominant defender in the trenches and anchored some of the best defenses in franchise history,” Patriots owner Robert Kraft said in a statement on Patriots.com. “His contributions on the field propelled the Patriots to four Super Bowl appearances during his 11-year career. He was a big man with an even bigger personality and a huge heart. He quickly became a fan favorite in New England. I look forward to presenting him his Patriots Hall of Fame jacket.”

The team has yet to announce the date and time of his induction ceremony.

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Vince Wilfork among finalists for Patriots Hall of Fame induction

the New England Patriots announced their Hall of Fame candidates on Tuesday.

The New England Patriots announced the three finalists for the team’s Hall of Fame on Tuesday. Offensive lineman Logan Mankins, linebacker Mike Vrabel, and defensive lineman Vince Wilfork are the finalists in this year’s class.

Mankins played nine of 11 NFL seasons with New England. He received several accolades over the course of his career. He was a first-round draft pick in 2005, and was named a three-time team captain of the Patriots. He earned six Pro Bowl selections and six All-Pro honors with the Patriots. He started 130 regular-season games and 17 postseason contests as a member of the Patriots.

Vrabel joined the team in free agency in the 2001 season, following time with the Pittsburgh Steelers. From there, he was a key part of three Patriots Super Bowl-winning teams. He played both inside and outside linebacker, and lined up on offense and special goal line receiving situations. All 10 of his catches went for touchdowns. Many may recall his touchdown reception against the Philadelphia Eagles in the Super Bowl XXXIX.

Wifork played a big part in solidifying the interior of the Patriots defense during his career. He was drafted by the Patriots in 2004, and subsequently established himself as one of the premier defensive tackles in the game. He made the Pro Bowl five times, and was a first-team All-Pro in 2012. He tallied 561 tackles in his career and 16 quarterback sacks.

Each of these individuals made their mark in Patriots history. Now it’s up to the fans to decide the 2022 selection.

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Bill Belichick strongly vouches for three former Patriots in Hall of Fame discussion

“Since there’s no criteria for the Hall of Fame, it’s really hard to even have a conversation about it.”

Bill Belichick should be considered a decent judge of NFL talent at this point in his career.

The New England Patriots head coach, who’s been in the league since 1975, has eight collective Super Bowl wins and he’s arguably the greatest coach ever. He’s seen a thing or two around the league and he has a pretty good understanding of which players should be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Former Patriots defensive linemen Richard Seymour and Vince Wilfork were recently named semifinalists for the Hall of Fame, while safety Rodney Harrison was left off the list — he was a semifinalist last year.

Belichick discussed the topic on Friday morning and began with some endorsement for Seymour and Wilfork.

“For me, those are the two best defensive linemen that I’ve coached,” Belichick said. “… In my Hall of Fame, those two guys are there. Without a doubt.”

When it comes to Harrison, Belichick was very precise in his praise.

“I think that Rodney Harrison 100% [belongs] in that conversation,” he said. “And I have coached some of the other safeties that have been enshrined in the Hall of Fame, and not taking anything away from them, but certainly Rodney Harrison belongs in that conversation. He certainly belongs in the conversation with other players who are already there.”

Belichick continued by discussing the confusing criteria to get into the Hall of Fame.

“Since there’s no criteria for the Hall of Fame, it’s really hard to even have a conversation about it because we’re not basing it on anything,” he said. “Your opinion of a great player, my opinion of a great player, somebody else’s opinion of a great player — like, I don’t know what that. means. Is it how many year’s they played? Is it how many All-Pro’s they had? Is it how many championships they won? Is it individual stats? You can make it whatever you want to make it. With no criteria, you can make a case for anybody.”

Due to this lack of criteria, maybe Belichick will make a push for Julian Edelman at some point in the future.

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Panthers legend Steve Smith next up for a shot at the Hall of Fame

Carolina Panthers fans know Steve Smith is deserving of a bust in Canton. We’ll find out pretty soon if the voters agree.

Smitty looks pretty sharp donning that Carolina blue jacket in the picture above, doesn’t he? So how about a gold one next?

Well, we’ll find out if Carolina Panthers legend Steve Smith will be adding a second jacket to his wardrobe within the year, as he’s up for eternal residency at the Pro Football Hall of Fame starting in 2022. He—along with other notables such as fellow wide receiver Anquan Boldin, quarterback Tony Romo, return man extraordinaire Devin Hester and defensive linemen DeMarcus Ware, Vince Wilfork and Robert Mathis—is now officially eligible to be elected to Canton, Ohio for the first time.

Smith was drafted by the Panthers in the third round of the 2001 NFL draft out of the University of Utah. He would go on to spend 13 seasons in Carolina, amassing 12,197 yards and 67 touchdowns in becoming the franchise’s all-time leading receiver.

His greatest year, perhaps, came in 2005, when Smith led the entire league in receptions (103), receiving yards (1,563) and receiving touchdowns (12). He still remains as the most recent player to achieve the triple crown of receiving.

In what can painfully be described as an unceremonious, bloody and full-of-guts departure following the 2013 season, Smith signed on with the Baltimore Ravens in 2014. Even as a “Sr.,” he proved he still had it, totaling 2,534 yards and 14 scores over his three years in purple and black.

After 16 years of proving to be one of the most dangerous, incendiary and colorful players in the game, Smith announced his retirement after the 2016 campaign. He currently sits at No. 8 on the all-time receiving list and is the only player of the top-nine on said list that has yet to be enshrined.

Smith and the Panthers organization have since patched up their once rocky relationship, as 89 would be inducted into the Hall of Honor on Oct. 6, 2019. More recently, he received one heck of a standing ovation at the team’s Fan Fest event at Bank of America Stadium this past Friday.

And hey, maybe there’s one more emotional standing ovation to be had for the pass-catching great before it’s all said and done.

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Here’s how Vince Wilfork thinks Tom Brady will be received by fans at Gillette Stadium

Tom Brady’s return will elicit some interesting reactions by fans.

Tom Brady’s return to Gillette Stadium in Week 4 is one of the biggest storylines in the NFL this year.

Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers hit the road to take on Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots after two very different 2020 seasons. Out of every small storyline that will surround the game, the return of Brady at his old stadium is likely the largest. The 43-year-old spent two decades with the team and delivered six Super Bowls, while making the playoffs every season he was on the field.

Some Patriots fans were upset with his decision, but most didn’t lose love for the greatest quarterback in league history. Legendary Patriots defensive lineman Vince Wilfork understands this and he discussed it Tuesday morning on ESPN’s “First Take.”

“I think it’s going to be a home game feeling for him. I really do,” Wilfork said, transcribed by NESN. “I think the fans are going to welcome him with open arms. I think he’s going to be embraced because of so much he’s done for that organization. You know, Tom is Tom — a New England Patriot or a Tampa Bay Buccaneer. He’s Tom, and people love Tom and people hate Tom. But he’s going to a place where he won a lot of football games, he started the Super Bowl runs. I really think they’re going to welcome him with open arms. I really do.”

Brady didn’t leave on bad terms and his desire to test his first year as a free agent put him in position to win another Super Bowl ring. It’s hard to believe the fans who moved on from their former quarterback could overtake the crowd noise of fans who will support Brady in his return.

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