FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – A recent Sports Illustrated article had a little fun with the subject of Vince Wilfork’s weight. He’s listed at 325 pounds, a weight that the magazine’s author says — several times — might be a little low.

Wilfork won’t say. In fact, there isn’t a big man in the NFL who will give you his true weight.

Regardless. Whether the 6-foot-2 Wilfork weighs in at 325 or 345 (his playing weight at Miami), this much is true: He has become a commanding presence for the New England Patriots.

And not just on the field, where he played well enough at nose tackle to earn his third Pro Bowl selection. As the Patriots prepare to play the New York Jets today in an AFC divisional playoff game at Gillette Stadium, it’s obvious that Wilfork is an unquestionable leader of the defense and in the locker room.

“When I think of leaders on our defense, I think of Vince and (linebacker Jerod) Mayo,” said linebacker Rob Ninkovich. “Those are the two guys who are leading us, getting us on the same page, getting us ready week in and week out for all these big games we’ve played.”

Wilfork, in his seventh season, isn’t necessarily a loud leader. And maybe that’s not surprising. Talk to him in the locker room before practice or after a game, or listen to him at the podium, and he’s extremely soft-spoken.

“A lot of football players are different off the field than on,” said Ninkovich. “I think that’s the case with Vince. Off the field he’s kind of quiet. But on the field he’s not afraid to say what he has to say.”

And others listen.

“There are times in a game where he will say, ‘Hey, get it together,’ ” said safety Patrick Chung. “And we’re like, ‘Oh, all right. Let’s go. Let’s do this.’ He’s a great leader.”

Coach Bill Belichick isn’t surprised that Wilfork has evolved into a leader.

“He’s played a long time here. He’s played in a lot of big games,” said Belichick. “He’s an outstanding player so I think he’s looked up to by everyone.”

Wilfork prefers to lead by example, as did many of his mentors. He said when he arrived in Foxborough, he immediately sought out Richard Seymour, the team’s dominant defensive end.

He talked to linebackers Tedy Bruschi, Ted Johnson, Mike Vrabel and Willie McGinest. He always had questions for defensive backs Ty Law, Tyrone Poole and Rodney Harrison.

“It was easy for me to come in and pick those guys’ brains,” said Wilfork. “I was never the shy type. I always wanted to know why we were doing that and where did I need to be and what can I do to get better. All those guys taught me to be a professional. They taught me what it takes to be a leader.

“A lot of people may think that you have to talk all the time to be a leader. 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.”

Wilfork spoke at length about Harrison, who would play on the scout teams to give the Patriots a specific look. “He’s probably one of the best safeties to ever play the game and it’s because of that, not from his playing,” said Wilfork. “His playing speaks for itself, but the person he was in this locker room and on the practice field means a lot to me.”

Wilfork has become that person to many rookies, including defensive tackle Kyle Love. Asked how much Wilfork has helped him survive his rookie season, Love said, “One hundred percent.”

He said Wilfork is there to answer any question — even if Love isn’t asking it. “Sometimes all it takes is a look,” said Love, making a bewildered look on his face. “And he knows, so he’ll talk to me.”

Love, who’s listed at 6-1, 310 pounds, said Wilfork was one of his idols while he was playing at Mississippi State. “I watched him a lot, I molded myself after him in college,” said Love. “A lot of guys told me I played just like him, so I started watching him even more.”

Love, said Wilfork, is typical of the many rookies the Patriots have this year — they aren’t shy.

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

“It’s been kind of fun.”

Veteran running back Fred Taylor said the best aspect of Wilfork’s leadership is he’s fair.

“He’ll make sure he coaches things that he sees or areas that he thinks need to be lifted,” said Taylor. “He’s not going to do anything that he wouldn’t do himself. I think that’s fair, being a leader, and he’s done a great job of it.”

On the field, Wilfork had one of his best seasons for the Patriots. He recorded 87 tackles — third on the team and second-best personally (he had 91 tackles in 2005) — along with two sacks and four quarterback hits. He also defended two passes.

While playing his natural nose tackle position much of the time, Wilfork also showed his versatility — and agility — by playing defensive end at times.

Perhaps as important, his presence freed up Mayo to have an outstanding season. His 193 tackles from inside linebacker ranks third in team history and led the NFL this year.

“It’s always hard when you have a guy on the line of scrimmage that’s tough to block,” said Belichick. “It makes it really tough to get up and get the linebacker behind him. The quicker you leave the defensive lineman to get the linebacker, then the harder it is on whoever’s blocking him to be able to keep him out of the play so that the runner can get up to the second level.

“A nose tackle is an inside linebacker’s best friend.”

Especially one as good as Wilfork.

Staff Writer Mike Lowe can be contacted at 791-6422 or at:

mlowe@pressherald.com