Pardon me if I shed no tears for Vince Wilfork, who'll be paid $7 million to play nose tackle for New England next season.

Look, we all know the big fella (he's listed at 325 pounds, and I'm betting the "over") wants a long-term deal and the big chunk of guaranteed bonus money that goes with it. Can't blame him for thinking he's entitled to a new contract after six seasons of playing well for the Patriots, who drafted him in the first round in 2004.

But that's not the way the system works. Negotiations soon will be heating up on a new collective bargaining agreement. Wilfork should express his frustrations to the NFLPA, not the Patriots.

And how frustrated would you be, in this economy, if someone was going to pay you $7 million for a year's work?

Wilfork said recently in a radio interview he would consider it "a slap in the face" to be designated a franchise player by the Patriots.

He needs a slap up side the head to put him in touch with the real world.

It's not insulting when somebody agrees to pay you $7 million to play football.

And it's not conducive to congenial contract negotiations to be offended and angry when they do.