FOXBORO -- Vince Wilfork just finished his telephone conference with the media, and he made one thing perfectly clear - he never wanted to leave the Patriots and that he wants to retire with the organization.

Even if he had tested the waters of free agency, Wilfork said that he would have given the Patriots the opportunity to match any offer he got because he did not want to leave the organization.

As it turns out, things didn't go that far.

Wilfork reportedly signed a five-year, $40 million deal with the Patriots on Tuesday, which includes an $18 million signing bonus and $25 million of it is guaranteed. The contract makes him the highest-paid nose tackle in the NFL.

The Patriots initially placed the franchise tag on the 28-year-old Wilfork, which he said back in January that if that happened then he would equate that to a slap in-the-face.
But the two sides eventually agreed on a long-term contract.

"Yes there were ups and downs," Wilfork said of his contract negotiations. "There were times where I was frustrated. There were times where I thought we were very close and something fell apart. There were times I thought it was going to get done earlier than what it was. There were times when I thought it wasn't going to get done. There were all types of mixed emotions toward the whole thing but at the end of the day they kept their word to me - that they were going to give me a long-term deal."

The 6-foot-2, 325-pound Wilfork was upset when the Patriots "franchised" him, but he said he was later informed that the purpose of the tag was to buy more time to work out a long-term contract.

"Are they going to trade me? What's going to happen now," Wilfork said as to what were his first thoughts about being "franchised."

"But once we talked and I found out that the tag was getting put on because they were trying to reach a long-term deal, I was very positive that a long-term deal was going to get done...I'm happy to be in New England."

Despite playing a position that calls for him to face persistent double teams, Wilfork has been one of the team's most durable players since being drafted by the Patriots in the first round (21st overall) in 2004 out of Miami. He served as a team captain last season and earned his second Pro Bowl selection after recording 43 tackles, two passes defensed and one forced fumble.

The Patriots defense has ranked in the top 10 in the NFL in four of the six seasons that he has been with the team, and Wilfork is thankful that he didn't end up as another lost core member of the Pats defense when players like Mike Vrabel, Rodney Harrison, Richard Seymour and Asante Samuel, who were stalwarts of the Patriots' championship teams, have all either retired, left as free agents, or been traded in the last two years.

New England's defense has suffered because of it, dropping from fourth in total defense in 2007 to 10th in 2008 to 11th in 2009.

And it wasn't only their numbers that suffered. The Pats lost veteran leaders from their championship teams, and that showed last season. Wilfork's importance to the team goes beyond the numbers. His leadership in the locker room cannot be measured, especially considering that last season not all 53 players appeared to be on the same page.

Wilfork said he will be taking his leadership role to another level this upcoming season.

"Everybody has to be accountable," Wilfork said. "When you're on the field, you have to give me 100 percent. You have to weed out the bad seeds. If you can't give me what I'm giving you on the field, on don't need you on the field with me. That's point blank. That's how you win. You have to build trust."

The Patriots only have eight players left under contract who won a Super Bowl with New England. If Kevin Faulk re-signs, he would make it nine.

On the field, Wilfork's position with the Pats is as important as they come. Nose tackle is a key component of the 3-4 scheme because the player has to be able to occupy and fight off the center and guard on any given play.

Last season Wilfork, the best player on New England's defensive line, showed his importance to the defense when he moved over to defensive end for part of the season and was forced to play out of position because that's what was needed of him.

There are not too many players in the league that can match his strength and size in the middle. Yes the Patriots still need to sign a dominant pass-rushing force, but the record contract Wilfork now possesses is a testament to how important he is to the Patriots.