The Patriots put the non-exclusive franchise tag on Vince Wilfork on Monday, tendering him the one-year, $7.003 million offer accorded with the designation for defensive tackles. This is the sixth time in nine years the Patriots have used the tag -- it was also used on Adam Vinatieri (2002, 2005), Tebucky Jones (2003), Asante Samuel (2007) and Matt Cassel (2009). Only Jones and Cassel left the team in the year they were franchised, although all four players wound up taking off in the long run. The last four times the Patriots have used the tag, the sides have failed to reach a long-term deal.