Vince Wilfork's Contract Option Not Picked Up by Patriots: Details and Reaction

Nose tackle Vince Wilfork has been integral to the New England Patriots' success over the past 11 seasons, but the defending Super Bowl champions have chosen to move on from the five-time Pro Bowler.

As seen in this statement released by the 33-year-old veteran on Twitter, the Pats have decided against picking up Wilfork's option:

Patriots defensive end Dominique Easley weighed in on the news on his Twitter account:

The former first-round pick has been New England's biggest constant on defense for more than a decade. Still, this is undoubtedly a business move by the savvy Patriots.

According to Mike Garafolo of Fox Sports 1, declining the option will save the Pats $8 million in 2015:

Bleacher Report's Chris Simms discussed who the Patriots should target to replace their defensive anchor:

Although Wilfork has won two Super Bowls with the Pats, he's declined from a performance standpoint, per Aaron Nagler of Sports Illustrated:

The Patriots have shown a willingness to make difficult and unpopular moves in the past, but they have managed to remain among the NFL's elite organizations.

Although Wilfork is set to become a free agent, ESPNBoston.com's Mike Reiss points out the possibility of the Pats bringing him back at a reduced price:

While we don't know how Wilfork would feel about a return, the Patriots are open to bringing the big defensive tackle back, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com:

That may not be ideal from Wilfork's perspective, but he has spent his entire career in New England and is aware that the team will almost certainly compete for a Super Bowl once again in 2015.

Wilfork will likely garner interest from other teams on the open market due to his experience and track record, but there is probably no better fit than the Patriots. 

If this is the end of the line for Wilfork and the Pats, though, he will be remembered as the lifeblood of the defense and perhaps one of the greatest defensive players to ever represent the organization.

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