Wilfork sets big example for young Pats

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. - This is the third season that Vince Wilfork has been a defensive co-captain for the Patriots. But in a lot of ways, it's the first time the 325-pound nose tackle has had to earn the honor.

With injuries depleting the Patriots' defensive line, Wilfork has become more than just a Pro Bowl player.

"I don't know if I'm a player, I'm a coach, I'm a mentor, you name it," Wilfork said of his role in the team's 14-2 season, which has included a remarkable turnaround on defense - particularly against the run - in the second half. "It's been kind of fun, though, because a lot of years, you don't do this."

A lot of years, the Patriots don't need to plug in players with so little experience. Rookies Brandon Deaderick, a seventh-round draft pick, and Kyle Love, an undrafted free agent, have made contributions on the defensive line.

"Every step of the way, every time I've needed him, every time he feels like I need him," Love said of Wilfork's influence. "I might be kind of shy about asking him something, but he'll tell me before I ask him. I really kind of molded myself around his play in college, watching him. A lot of guys used to tell me, 'You play just like him.' And I started to watch him a lot more once people started telling me that."

Wilfork said he tries to be the approachable superstar for the Patriots. Though it can be intimidating to go up to Bill Belichick or Tom Brady or Matt Light with a question, he said players can come to him in a more relaxed setting.

"They come up and they ask questions because they want to get it right because they know how important it is to us," he said. "I'm always talking and teaching and coaching and mentoring, watching film. I'm proud to be someone like that, that they can actually look up to and ask me for questions and I can give them the right advice."

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Wilfork said when he first arrived in New England as a first-round pick in 2004, it was easy to spot the leaders. Richard Seymour, Willie McGinest, Ty Law, Tedy Bruschi and Rodney Harrison clearly were the players who not only set the example but enforced it. Wilfork said he learned a lot about leadership from Harrison, who would be willing to jump in for a scout- team rep on a special-teams drill in practice or spend extra time helping a younger player develop technique.

What Wilfork liked most about Harrison's style, though, was how unspoken it was.

"A lot of people may think that you have to talk all the time to be a leader," Wilfork said. "That's not what it's all about. If you come to work every day and everybody sees you working your tail off, you have no choice but to lead by example."

Pats notes: Despite a team-high seven interceptions and an invite to the Pro Bowl, rookie cornerback Devin McCourty does not expect the Jets to stay away from him Sunday. "I think any time you're a rookie, you're going to get tested no matter what," McCourty said. "I'm ready." . . . Bill Belichick, who last week sounded concerned about the rust on rookie LB Brandon Spikes after he was suspended for the last four weeks of the season, said Spikes has "gotten a little better" in practice this week. "The more you do it, the more it comes back," he said . . . Belichick also noted the urgency of this game and said he's expressed it to the rookies and younger players on the team. "We all understand that it's a one-game season," he said. "The season is going to end for somebody this week."