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Vince Wilfork says he will sign with Texans
Free-agent defensive tackle Vince Wilfork will sign with the Houston Texans, he tweeted on Monday. Wilfork's contract will be for two years, NFL Media's Ian Rapoport reports.
Wilfork, 33, had spent his entire 11-year NFL career with the New England Patriots before the team declined to pick up his option earlier this month.
“The coaching staff in Houston has made this new exciting transition feel like home to us,” Wilfork said. “We will forever be Patriots in our hearts. Thank you everyone for everything.”
• Report: Texans sign wide receiver Cecil Shorts
Wilfork played all 16 regular season games for the Patriots in four of the past five seasons. He tore his Achilles tendon in the fourth game of the season in 2013. He was selected to the Pro Bowl in four consecutive seasons from 2009–12.
Patriots head coach Bill Belichick later released a statement about Wilfork's departure, calling him "the best defensive linemen I ever coached" and "an all-time great Patriot." From the statement:
"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."
Wilfork will be reunited in Houston with defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel, who held the same position in New England from 2001–04. Former Patriots linebacker Mike Vrabel is the Texans' linebackers coach, and former New England offensive assistant Bill O'Brien is the team's head coach.
- Dan Gartland
GALLERY: NFL PLAYERS WHO'LL BE IN A NEW UNIFORM IN 2015
The NFL's Old Faces in New Places
DeMarco Murray, RB
Here are some of the NFL players who'll be with a different team when the 2015 season opens, beginning with DeMarco Murray, who's moving on from the Dallas Cowboys to NFC East rival Philadelphia Eagles.
LeSean McCoy, RB
Old team: Eagles; New team: Bills
Ndamukong Suh, DT
Old team: Lions; New team: Dolphins
Jimmy Graham, TE
Old team: Saints; New team: Seahawks
Darrelle Revis, CB
Old team: Patriots; New team: Jets
Brandon Marshall, WR
Old team: Bears; New team: Jets
Darren McFadden, RB
Old team: Raiders; New team: Cowboys
Haloti Ngata, DT
Old team: Ravens; New team: Lions
Julius Thomas, TE
Old team: Broncos ; New team: Jaguars
Frank Gore, RB
Old team: 49ers; New team: Colts
Antrel Rolle, SS
Old team: Giants; New team: Bears
Nick Foles, QB
Old team: Eagles; New team: Rams
Sam Bradford, QB
Old team: Rams; New team: Eagles
Jeremy Maclin, WR
Old team: Eagles; New team: Chiefs
Torrey Smith, WR
Old team: Ravens; New team: 49ers
Andre Johnson, WR
Old team: Texans; New team: Colts
Byron Maxwell, CB
Old team: Seattle; New team: Eagles
Trent Cole, LB
Old team: Eagles; New team: Colts
Darnell Dockett, DT
Old team: Cardinals; New team: 49ers
Shane Vereen, RB
Old team: Patriots; New team: Giants
Brian Hoyer, QB
Old team: Browns; New team: Texans
Josh McCown, QB
Old team: Bucs; New team: Browns
Cary Williams, CB
Old team: Eagles; New team: Seahawks
Matt Cassell, QB
Old team: Vikings; New team: Bills
Kenny Stills, WR
Old team: Saints; New team: Dolphins
Jared Odrick, DT
Old team: Dolphins; New team: Jaguars
Jacoby Jones, WR
Old team: Ravens; New team: Chargers
Max Unger, C
Old team: Seahawks; New team: Saints
Mike Iupati, G
Old team: 49ers; New team: Cardinals
Rodney Hudson, C
Old team: Chiefs; New team: Raiders
Orlando Franklin, G
Old team: Broncos; New team: Chargers
Kiko Alonso, LB
Old team: Bills; New team: Eagles
Pernell McPhee, LB
Old team: Ravens; New team: Bears
C.J. Spiller, RB
Old team: Bills; New team: Saints
Nick Fairley, DT
Old team: Lions; New team: Rams
Mike Wallace, WR
Old team: Dophins; New team: Vikings
Percy Harvin, WR
Old team: Jets; New team: Bills
Davon House, CB
Old team: Packers; New team: Jaguars
Owen Daniels, TE
Old team: Ravens; New team: Broncos
Ryan Fitzpatrick, QB
Old team: Texans; New team: Jets
Chris Culliver, CB
Old team: 49ers; New team: Redskins
Jerome Simpson, WR
Old team: Vikings; New team; 49ers
Michael Oher, OT
Old team: Titans; New team: Panthers
Brian Orakpo, LB
Old team: Redskins; New team: Titans
Harry Douglas, WR
Old team: Falcons; New team: Titans
Ricky Jean-Francois, DT
Old team: Colts; New team: Redskins
A.J. Hawk, LB
Old team: Packers; New team: Bengals
Tyvon Branch, SS
Old team: Raiders; New team: Seahawks
Jordan Cameron, TE
Old team: Browns; New team: Dolphins
Buster Skrine, CB
Old team: Browns; New team: Jets
Shaun HIll, QB
Old team: Rams; New team: Vikings
Dwayne Harris, RB
Old team: Cowboys; New team: Giants
Scott Chandler, TE
Old team: Bills; New team: Patriots
LaMarr Woodley, LB
Old team: Raiders; New team: Chiefs
Reggie Bush, RB
Old team: Lions; New team: 49ers
Dashon Goldson, FS
Old team: Bucs; New team: Redskins
Trent Richardson, RB
Old team: Colts; New team: Raiders
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