The news that Vince Wilfork has asked the Patriots to release him is not surprising.
Wilfork is coming off a torn Achilles tendon and is on the wrong side of 30 and he also is primarily a run stuffing nose tackle, a position that is not as important as it once was as the NFL has evolved into a pass-happy league.
The Patriots reportedly approached Wilfork about restructuring his contract to create more space under the salary cap but he refused to give up any money. Releasing Wilfork will save them $7.5-million for 2014.
Seeing a veteran like Wilfork become a victim of the salary cap is not easy news to process. Even in a league that constantly reminds everyone that it is a business, Wilfork's departure will end an era in which he anchored a defense that won one Super Bowl and played in two others.
Fellow defensive tackle Tommy Kelly was not as adamant about restructuring and in doing so saved the Patriots almost $1-million for 2014.
The Patriots now have only Kelly, Armond Armstead (who did not play in 2013), and Chris Jones as defensive tackles. Acquiring at least one more big body will likely be done through free agency or the draft.
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In addition to adding Darrelle Revis, the Patriots are also close to adding cornerback Brandon Browner.
Browner is a physical defender who would be an excellent complement to Revis in the secondary and would put players such as Logan Ryan, Kyle Arrington, and Alfonso Dennard in roles that are better suited to help them be successful.
News broke last night that Browner had signed with the Patriots but then it was announced that nothing was finalized. Browner will have to sit the first four games of the 2014 season for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy.
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Focusing on the other side of the ball, free agent receiver Julian Edelman is scheduled to take a visit to the 49ers facility today.
Edelman emerged as Tom Brady's top target in 2014 and his loss would not be good news for an offense going through a transition after Wes Welker left as a free agent last off-season, Aaron Hernandez was arrested for murder, and Rob Gronkowski once again was lost to injury.
Retaining Edelman is key to keeping the Patriots passing attack a championship caliber weapon. Getting Gronkowski back from his ACL injury will also be critical as will the development of 2013 rookies Aaron Dobson, Josh Boyce, and Kenbrell Thompkins and a healthy productive season from last off-season's big free agent signing Danny Amendola.
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