It Is What It Is
NEED TO KNOW
Follow WEEI.com football writer Christopher Price at twitter.com/cpriceNFL. In addition, get the latest WEEI.com updates at twitter.com/WEEI.
A WEEI.com Patriots Blog
WEEI.com Blog Network
RSS
Vince Wilfork proves he always has the back of his teammates 12.23.12 at 6:10 pm ET
By
Vince Wilfork had the back of one of his teammates Sunday in Jacksonville. (AP)

Vince Wilfork had the back of one of his teammates Sunday in Jacksonville. 

On a day that Tom Brady blasted his own performance and that of his offensive teammates, another Patriots captain – Vince Wilfork -also had a defining moment of leadership.

Late in the fourth quarter, and the Jaguars threatening to tie the game, Chandler Jones hit Chad Henne on fourth-and-goal from the Patriots 10. Patrick Chung picked off the pass at the goal line and returned it to the Patriots 28.

But, during the return, Jacksonville offensive lineman Steve Vallos hit Trevor Scott from behind toward the end of the play. Vallos knocked Scott from behind and face first into the ground. Wilfork saw it and took big time exception with it and retaliated against Vallos. Wilfork was flagged for an unnecessary roughness penalty for sticking up for his teammate.

“That was protecting my teammate, plain and simple,” Wilfork said. “You’re not going to sit right in front of me and take a cheap shot at my guy with me standing behind you, that won’t fly. Plain and simple. I’ll probably get penalized for it, I did, but at the same time, you’ll never see me letting my teammates just get cheap-shotted like that with me standing right there.

“It is what it is, it’s part of football. Some people might not like it, some people might like it, but I’m going to do everything I can to protect my teammates,” he continued. “And I was protecting my teammate. But it is what it is, and I don’t think twice about it. If it happened again, I’d protect my teammate the best way I could.”

Read More: Chad Henne, Jacksonville Jaguars, New England Patriots, nfl Print  |  Bark It Up!  |  Digg It
  • Jay McGlinn

    “A defining moment of leadership????!!” Seriously????!! Terrible,terrible play by Vince!!!! That is not leading and that is not the correct response by Vince after the game. Believe me, behind closed doors, Coach Belichick will let him know what a bad play that was. Anybody that thinks that was a good play needs to make sure that they are never in a position to LEAD people!! I love Vince Wilfork and I think he is a great leader for the Pats but THAT play was not good.

  • Anonymous

    What is your problem with the way Vince handled that situation?  I would take a teammate like that any day.  Maybe he should have counseled Vallos in private or over a nice latte.  Shut up and grow a pair.

  • Mcglinnj9

    Costing your team 15 yards with 3:23 to play because your teammate got PUSHED down from behind is a bad play. I’m sure that your intense preparation in T-Ball and Peewee league probably taught you to treat that situation much differently tough guy.

  • Sticks1121

    you are both turds

  • team captain

    jay mcglinn……I wonder if you ever played a team sport or served in the military?? this aint T-ball. You do what you need to do……..

  • JMSOREILLY88

    RIGHT ON,MY FRIEND I ONLY WISH I HAD PLAYED WITH YOU ON MY TEAM IN SCHOOL.

  • Anonymous

    Thank you all for your support, even you Sticks.  

  • Anonymous

    This is where I’m supposed to regale you with my athletic accomplishments since climbing out of the cradle.  Let’s just say that I’ve had teammates like you and couldn’t wait for them to quit because of bad language or some other personal affront.  Stick to the sidelines at soccer and dunk your croissant.

Latest on Twitter

2013 PATRIOTS DRAFT PICKS

2013 NFL DRAFT

Patriots Headlines
NFL Headlines
Tips & Feedback

Verify