Fansided

New England Patriots lacking veteran leadership with Vince Wilfork injury

By Jason Marcum

Nov 22, 2012; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12), safety Steve Gregory (28), and defensive tackle Vincent Wilfork (75) reach for a piece of a turkey while standing with NBC sports commentator Michele Tafoya after the game against the New York Jets on Thanksgiving at Metlife Stadium. The Patriots won the game 49-19. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 22, 2012; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12), safety Steve Gregory (28), and defensive tackle Vincent Wilfork (75) reach for a piece of a turkey while standing with NBC sports commentator Michele Tafoya after the game against the New York Jets on Thanksgiving at Metlife Stadium. The Patriots won the game 49-19. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 22, 2012; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12), safety Steve Gregory (28), and defensive tackle Vincent Wilfork (75) reach for a piece of a turkey while standing with NBC sports commentator Michele Tafoya after the game against the New York Jets on Thanksgiving at Metlife Stadium. The Patriots won the game 49-19. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 22, 2012; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12), safety Steve Gregory (28), and defensive tackle Vincent Wilfork (75) reach for a piece of a turkey while standing with NBC sports commentator Michele Tafoya after the game against the New York Jets on Thanksgiving at Metlife Stadium. The Patriots won the game 49-19. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports /

The New England Patriots were able to overcome the Atlanta Falcons at the Georgia Dome last night, but they may have suffered a huge loss after defensive tackle Vince Wilfork walked off the field with what appeared to be a n ankle injury, and was eventually carted back into the locker-room with what was later revealed to be a season-ending Achilles tear.

As Wilfork rode back into the locker-room, so too did one of last remaining veteran leaders the Patriots had. What tom Brady is to the New England offense, Wilfork was to the defense.

It’s just the latest shift from what traditionally is one of the older rosters in the NFL, to a newfound approach that has more youth injected into a franchise that’s still regarded as a contender, but also on the verge of being in more of a rebuilding stage

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