Report: Texans No Longer in the Running for Vince Wilfork

Earlier this morning, we mentioned the report from the South Florida Sun Sentinel's Omar Kelly that the Colts are among veteran nose tackle Vince Wilfork's top three targets, along with the Texans and Ravens.

Wilfork had a visit scheduled with the Texans on Sunday night and Monday, but according to John P. Lopez of CBS Houston and Sports Radio 610, Wilfork has left without a deal and the Texans are no longer in the running for the veteran nose tackle, leaving it down to the Colts, Texans, and Patriots.

Five-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Vince Wilfork most likely will not sign a free-agent contract with the Houston Texans, narrowing his choices to three teams — Indianapolis, New England and Baltimore, Sports Radio 610 has learned.

Wilfork and his wife visited Texans coaches and officials Sunday and Monday, with the Texans wooing him, but a deal could not be reached.

According to Brett Kollmann over at Battle Red Blog, more information was given on air on Sports Radio 610 in Houston, which made it clear that the difference came down to money, as Wilfork wanted more money than the Texans were willing to pay.  It's curious, therefore, why the Texans would bring Wilfork all the way there for a visit if they weren't close on the money in the first place, but that's just a side note.  A more relevant question to ask is this: how much money does Wilfork want?  We can't really answer that, but it does sound like it's more than the Texans wanted to pay.

It would make sense for Wilfork to be interested in all of the three teams that Lopez mentioned.  The Colts need a nose tackle, are having a "reUnion" of sorts for former Miami players, and should be a contender.  The Ravens also need a nose tackle after trading Haloti Ngata and should also be a contender, and similarly the Patriots need a nose tackle (after parting ways with Wilfork) and should be a contender.

The veteran would really help the Colts out when it comes to run defense, which is where he has excelled over his eleven-year career.  For an Indianapolis squad that has been completely dominated on the ground in each of the last three games against the Patriots, they need to focus on defending the run better, and adding Wilfork would certainly do that.  While he's not the player he once was, he would still be the best nose tackle on the Colts' roster and would provide significant help up front against the run.  He'd be the closest thing to the true nose tackle that a 3-4 defense needs that the Colts would have since Chuck Pagano brought his defense to Indy.

It certainly doesn't sound like any decision is imminent, but at least according to one report out of Houston, it sounds like the Texans are out of the running for the veteran nose tackle, narrowing his choices down to the final three - a group that includes the Colts.