After the New England Patriots decided not to pick up his option earlier this month, defensive tackle Vince Wilfork signed a two-year deal with the Houston Texans on Monday.
Despite the two sides parting ways, Patriots head coach Bill Belichick released a statement lauding Wilfork and calling him “the best defensive lineman (he) ever coached.” That’s high praise from Belichick, who has coached in the NFL for 40 years.
Here is Belichick’s full statement, via Patriots.com:
"Few players reached or will ever reach the special level of Vince Wilfork. He is a great champion and one of the classiest people I have ever been around – just a kind, genuine and giving person who was all about our team, football, winning and bringing joy to others. 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."
The Patriots picked Wilfork in the first round of the 2004 draft and he spent 11 productive seasons with the franchise. He won two Super Bowls with the team and also was named to five Pro Bowls. In 158 games, Wilfork registered 516 tackles.
Now the 33-year-old Wilfork heads to Houston where he will reunite with Romeo Crennel, the current Texans’ defensive coordinator who held the same position in New England when Wilfork was drafted. He’ll likely set up in the middle at nose tackle between All Pro J.J. Watt and 2014 top pick Jadeveon Clowney.
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Sam Cooper is a contributor for the Yahoo Sports blogs. Have a tip? Email him or follow him on Twitter!
from Yahoo Sports http://ift.tt/1wVf9Gv
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