He referred to the situation as “pretty frustrating.’’
Patriots owner Robert Kraft said Aug. 11 that the looming labor uncertainty in the NFL - 2010 is the final year of the collective bargaining agreement - and the number of quality players whose contracts are up after this season complicated negotiations because the franchise doesn’t know what the new CBA rules will be.
Wilfork wasn’t buying that.
“Not at all,’’ he said. “There are 31 other teams out there and a lot of them are making moves. They are in the same situation that we’re in. I understand what he’s saying, but by the same token, it’s not stopping the other teams from making moves or [doing] what they have to do.
“Trust me, I understand where they are coming from. We have a lot of guys on this team [whose contracts] are going to be up, pretty good players. I know that’s pretty tough for them. But at the same time, the labor situation is all over the NFL.’’
The Patriots have more than two dozen players entering the final year of their contracts, including Richard Seymour, Logan Mankins, and Stephen Gostkowski.
Wilfork acknowledged the Patriots have other players to consider, but he said the CBA situation hasn’t stopped teams from signing players to long-term contracts.
Wilfork referenced the six-year, $97.5 million extension Giants quarterback Eli Manning signed this month. Last month, former Patriots quarterback Matt Cassel got a six-year, $63 million deal from the Chiefs, whose general manager is Scott Pioli, the former Patriots vice president of player personnel. Around the same time, Baltimore defensive end/outside linebacker Terrell Suggs also got a six-year, $63 million deal.
