FOXBORO — Devin McCourty earned his captaincy last week, as he could be credited with an assist in keeping stalwart Vince Wilfork in a Patriots uniform.
The safety was in Florida with Wilfork when the nose tackle signed a new contract that could keep him with the Pats for three more seasons, a deal that served as a peaceful resolution to a contentious round of negotiations. The pact kept the face of the defense in town during a monumental offseason.
“I can’t tell the details of my negotiating skills,” McCourty said yesterday of his closing ability. “I’m the guy that brings in the Rutgers guys and keeps the vets.”
McCourty, a three-time captain, made sure to drive home the point that keeping Wilfork was every bit as important as any other move the Patriots have made in the last month.
“It was key,” McCourty, who assisted at “The Great American Milk Drive” at The Greater Boston Food Bank, said. “I joked with (Wilfork). I told him I went down to Florida to make sure he came back, so he kind of owes me a little percent of his contract. He’s the heart and soul of not just the defense but the team. Everyone in that locker room listens to Vince when he speaks. He’s not a guy that is just talking all the time or talking to talk. When he speaks, everyone listens.
“With him and (quarterback) Tom (Brady) in there, I think our leadership is in great hands. Keeping him and not letting him leave just goes to show the organization did a tremendous job of working it out and bringing him back. I think everyone else kind of jumped to conclusions and just said he was gone or would leave, but he was still under contract and it was great to see that both sides will be happy going forward.”
There’s an obvious level of excitement as everyone at Gillette Stadium focuses on the 2014 season, and a healthy Wilfork, fellow defensive tackle Tommy Kelly and linebacker Jerod Mayo add to the cause.
But the real hype has stemmed from the free agent acquisitions of cornerbacks Darrelle Revis and Brandon Browner.
McCourty knows it’s all part of the formula.
“It will be good to get back and get to work,” McCourty said. “I think everyone is excited. You see all of these names on paper, and it looks like it could be a great year. I think the key for us will be just coming in and putting in work. We’ll have a lot of guys here who will be focused on winning as many games as possible. I can’t wait for that. You’ve got all these competitive guys that have had great careers so far, and you put them together, I think we’ll have a good mix.
“I think it was key we were able to keep some good veteran players that have been here since I’ve been here that have shown me the way. With Tom, Vince, Mayo, (left guard) Logan (Mankins) and (special teams captain Matthew) Slater, guys like that, they’re the cornerstones of this team and will get guys going and showing them the way. It should be an exciting year.”
Decision due on Solder
Because rookie contracts are now so formulaic, Patriots left tackle Nate Solder is about to get his introduction to the business aspect of the game.
The Pats have until May 3 to pick up Solder’s fifth-year option for 2015. If the option is declined, Solder will enter a contract year.
“That’s one of those things I don’t really control,” Solder said last night before watching the premiere of the movie “Draft Day” with season ticket-holders. “I don’t know what the discussion is exactly going to be on that, and it hasn’t really been discussed with me at all. So I don’t know exactly.
“You know what, I hired a great agent (David Dunn), and that’s his job to worry about those things. I’m a football player. I’m not an agent. I don’t know the ins and outs of all the details, so I really heavily rely on him on these things.”
Johnny, Teddy in town
Quarterbacks Johnny Manziel and Teddy Bridgewater were in for official pre-draft visits, according to sources. Each is considered among the short list of candidates to be selected with the No. 1 overall pick in next month’s draft, and it would be a surprise if either fell out of the top 10.
Consider this an advanced scouting method. The Pats own the 29th pick.