Tuesday Patriots Notebook 3/17: Wilfork In Houston, No Deal for Johnson, Newman Visiting, More Notes –
 The Super Bowl will be the last image of Vince Wilfork in a Patriots uniform as he signed with the Houston Texans on Monday. (USA TODAY Images) |
Wilfork Signs With Texans: The door has finally been closed on Vince Wilfork’s career in New England. The big man signed a two-year $9 million dollar contract with the Houston Texans. On the surface it seems to be something that the Patriots could have easily afforded. I’m sure we’ll be hearing much more on this in the days to come.
The next time we see Wilfork in New England will probably be at his introduction at the Patriots Hall of Fame after he decides to call it a career. He leaves behind an 11-year legacy of two Super Bowl wins, but much more than numbers can tell.
Wilfork released a statement following his signing with Houston and thanked the Patriots and their fans: “I've been very blessed and privileged to play up there and learn from the best coach that ever done it. Also, to play with one of the best quarterbacks that's in the game. From my teammates, there's nothing but love for them. They are brothers to me.”
“The fans always treated me with respect. We had a lot of fun. I had a lot of fun in New England, and I'm going to cherish all of that because at the end of the day, I've been there for 11 years, so it's hard to close that door on my teammates, my fans, my coaches, and the owner. We built relationships over the years with the fans, my owners, my coaches, and my teammates. That's something that's going to be missed.”
A superb player and person both on and off the field, Wilfork and his family completely ingrained themselves in the community and worked tirelessly for charities in the area. Always accessible, accountable and a fantastic teammate and teacher to the younger players…he will be missed.
Belichick’s Comments on Wilfork Leaving: With the announcement that Wilfork was leaving, the Patriots and Bill Belichick issued a statement praising Vince for all his work.
Among Belichick’s comments were the final ones where he praised Wilfork as the best DL he has ever coached, “There may have never been anyone at his position with as much strength, toughness, intelligence, instinctiveness and athleticism. He is the best defensive linemen I ever coached, an all-time great Patriot whose place on our team will be missed but whose remarkable career as a Patriot will be remembered forever."
Johnson a Slam-Dunk in NE? Not so fast: Just hours after it was announced that WR Stevie Johnson was ready to sign a deal with the Patriots by the end of business on Monday, he left town without signing a deal.
NBC’s Diana Russini reported Johnson close to a deal with the Patriots but it was then learned that Johnson is mulling another offer from the San Diego Chargers and will make his announcement on Tuesday.
Johnson 28, a big 6’2, 205 lb wide receiver is best known as a foil for the Patriots, tweeting to North Korea to bomb Foxboro and wearing a t-shirt saying Happy New Year which he displayed after catching a touchdown pass in a season finale here.
But he’s a talented receiver who had three 1000-yard seasons in a row for the Bills and would provide an outside the numbers threat and would compete for that role with Aaron Dobson if he were to sign.
Chandler Makes it Official, Signs Contract: New tight end Scott Chandler agreed to terms with the Patriots over the weekend and then made it official, coming into Foxboro to sign his new contract.
Chandler 29, last season in Buffalo played in 16 games with five starts and finished with 47 receptions for 497 yards and three touchdowns. He has 182 career receptions for 2120 yards and 17 touchdowns. He and Rob Gronkowski give Tom Brady a pair of huge bookend tight ends that are effective in run blocking, receiving and stretching the seams.
Asked by the Patriots.com Jackie Brittain about playing with Tom Brady, Chandler said, “Pretty excited about that,” he said. “Not very often do you get to play with the best quarterback ever. That had a big determining factor in my decision.”
He then repeated a Bill Belichick mantra that has to resonate well with the coaches, “I can do a little bit of everything as a tight end,” Chandler said. “I am a veteran guy. I am a guy you can count on to know what to do and to do my job.”
CB Terrence Newman Visiting the Patriots on Tuesday: Numerous sources, among them ESPN and NESN are reporting that veteran cornerback Terrence Newman is slated to visit the Patriots on Tuesday.
The 36-year old would be a stop-gap measure for the Patriots cornerback situation but Newman does have plenty of experience, 174 career games.
File this one under, bears watching…
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