Vince Wilfork News

When the Patriots lost to the Jets earlier this season, receiver Wes Welker was sidelined with a knee injury.

Because my buddy Chris Gasper did such a good job laying out the Jets' and Patriots' differing approaches , I thought I'd pass along an update on one of his favorite players, Leon Washington .

With apologies to Southeast Missouri State fans, Dan Connolly didn't come from a collegiate powerhouse.

There was a time when anything and everything the Patriots [ team stats ] defense did to Peyton Manning made him cringe.

Vince Wilfork and Jake Ingram talk shop. Plus, news and notes from the New England locker room and Wednesday's practice.

BEST TED GINN NEUTRALIZER : Kicker Stephen Gostkowski , who knocked one kickoff out of the end zone, but when the Patriots [ team stats ] were called for offsides he was asked to kick off again from his 25-yard line.

The simple question receives a simple answer. Why doesn't Colts quarterback Peyton Manning get sacked? "Because he gets rid of the ball," Patriots [ team stats ] coach Bill Belichick said.

In today's blitz, Vince Wilfork dismisses contract talks, learn who Tom Brady talked to regarding his knee surgery, a former Patriot talks about the Colts secondary and Pat Chung's wallet gets a hit.

The words bring a sour look to Vince Wilfork's face. Contract year. Is it true that the six-year deal Wilfork signed prior to his rookie year expires this winter? Yes, it is.

At $1,100 an ounce, 210 pounds of gold is worth about $3.7 million. Patriots placekicker Stephen Gostkowski, whose rookie contract expires this year, could get that much or more as a signing bonus next year.

When the Patriots lined up on defense against the Dolphins, something looked a bit off about the defensive line, and not just because Jarvis Green wasn't on the field.

Even the Pro Bowlers know the reality. With the Patriots [ team stats ] , any player may be asked to play any position.

Patriots tackle Vince Wilfork had a quick reaction when he first lined up against Miami's strange formation: Huh? "It was shocking," he said.

Vince Wilfork turned 28 today, another sign that, in his sixth season, he is a tried-and-true veteran.

The best ideas are often the simplest. The Wildcat formation appears simple: Simply snap the ball into the hands of the star running back to whom the quarterback would have handed the ball to anyway.

"Well, they give you so many different looks that I am not sure more time is necessarily better, sometimes it just confuses the issues.

It's due to grow again now that the player who moved into Seymour's spot, Jarvis Green , is recovering from knee surgery.

Brandon Meriweather is starting to get noticed, though that's not hard to do when you pull in two interceptions in one game, including one for a touchdown.

The "old soul'' owns a playful spirit. On Thursday, Patriots linebacker Jerod Mayo stood behind a herd of reporters who were asking questions of teammate Gary Guyton.

Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Graham What players and moments have been the best and worst so far for the New England Patriots ? ESPNBoston.com blogger Mike Reiss has handed out midseason awards for the Patriots , who are on their bye week.