"Go ahead and tell Vince Wilfork he's too fat and slow to be an every-down defensive lineman. Go ahead and do that, but do so at your own peril.

You'll be quickly reminded that without Wilfork the Patriots would not be in Indianapolis this week preparing to play the Giants in Super Bowl XLVI.

If you are deceived by Wilfork's appearance (he's listed at 6-foot-2, 325 pounds, but his weight is a lot closer to 400 than 300), you wouldn't be the first.

Even Patriots coach Bill Belichick was deceived by Wilfork's — shall we say — husky appearance."