The Patriots will not be picking up Vince Wilfork's option for 2015, and he will be released.
That's the word from the big man himself, who posted a lengthy thank you to the fans, coaches and fellow teammates Thursday morning on Twitter.
Wilfork was confident in his ability to continue playing, and noted that he has plenty of gas left in the tank. That doesn't mean he wasn't susceptible to a typical Bill Belichick move, though. Cutting a beloved veteran on the heels of a Super Bowl win is squarely within his wheelhouse, so much so that the move seemed obvious from the get go.
"I will take my time, think things through, take into consideration many things, but mainly family and see where life goes from there," he said toward the end of a lengthy post.
Wilfork, 33, was owed a $4 million roster bonus in five days, which could have been the reasoning for Belichick's timing, though the door has not been completely shut on a return. According to NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport, Wilfork could return to the Patriots at a reduced salary, per a source informed of the team's thinking. That all depends on his options, though.
His three-year, $22.5 million contract which he signed last year was always looked at as one on the pricey side for a player in his early thirties, despite the fact that he was one of the best at his position -- Wilfork played over 766 snaps this season.
In the note, Wilfork mentions how he will always be a fixture in New England, and how he'll always call the area his home. Now, we'll see if his thought process leads him to retire on a high note, come back cheaper or end his career in another jersey.
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