ctpatsfan77

Aikman was talking on WFAN last night, and one of the things he said is that Jason Garrett, who was the QB coach for the 'lphins in '05 and '06, claimed that the Dolphins did not want to lose Welker, but the Pats made too good an offer.

If that's true--and I have no reason to believe otherwise--well, isn't it their own bloody fault for not offering him a higher tender* or signing him to a long-term contract before he became an RFA?

*I think it would have had to have been a first-and-third tender to keep the Pats away from him, and even then, I'm not 100% sure that, given last year's draft, they wouldn't have coughed up the picks.

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"Momentum was quickly snatched away by New England, who once again proved that any Patriot, at any moment, can make a play." —Inside the NFL, Packers v. Patriots

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JoePats

The other day said Francesa said the Saints should turn Reggie Bush into Wes Welker...haha.

MoLewisrocks

Actually that could be a little bit of face savings from somebody being touted as quite the OC on the fast track to HC now that he's in Dallas. Welker was tendered after Cameron came aboard, but the Saban administration he was part of didn't seem to appreciate Welker's potential value early on - much like the team in SD who'd had him first. And Huizenga retained the GM even Saban was rumored to intend to fire had he stayed. I recall Wes indicating at one point that they never really talked long term contract with him at all, just kept tendering him. And truth be told when you lack a QB capable of making the quick read and throw to that guy, it's probably tough to envision what he could be. So it's not just the level of tender they screwed up, the guy likely would have signed a reasonable long term deal at any point in 2005-2006 for the security of it had they just made a nice offer.

cstjohn17

When asked if the Patriots could go to the run if necessary he said without hesitation 'yes', and used Detroit as an example of a pass oriented team that could switch to a running attack. Easier for O Linemen, etc.

MoLewisrocks

Woodson has been saying the same thing on NFLN this week. They pass because they choose to, but they could run if they chose to too.

DaBruinz

Interesting.. Hmm.. what's Woodson's pedigree that he can make that statement? I mean, he's not actually someone who played at that level and could offer insight on something like that... More insight than say.. FANS who are just weekend GMs, right?

hwc

Of course, it didn't take much imagination. Welker was the leading receiver for the Fins last year, with 67 catches. They must of have had the same game film Belichick did, showing that the Patriots (the Fins main division rival) simply could not stop the guy without double coverage on every play. If you can force your main division rival to double your slot receiver, you have a pretty obvious favorable matchup.

The first-round tender would have cost the Dolphins bubkis: $1.8 million instead of $1.3 million. For proven NFL production at the 67 catch a year level and forcing the main division rival to game plan around the guy.

spacecrime

Disagree. Bad QB or not, Welker led the Dolphins in receptions. And they did screw up the tender. Low-balling your leading receiver by by not giving him a tender that would hold other teams at bay (first round tender) was a horrible mistake. Look at who the Pats have given a first round tender over the years.

For $500K they could have kept Welker.

sebman2112

It's nice to see some media members start to realize this. Obviously, some of us fans (you and myself included) have been saying this for some time now.

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PatSunday

In my opinion, Belichick, having been involved in coaching for 40 - 45 years, has the ability to choose and train players who have instinct while everyone else just scouts for those who have a strong arm, are tall, are big, or hyped by the media.

That's why we have had success with players like Deion Branch (5'9), Wes Welker (5'9), Ellis Hobbs (5'9) and Asante Samuel (5'10). Even Tom Brady was very skinny, awkward, and slow when he was drafted.

Granted, tall and long-limbed skilled players of equal skill can be more valuable in the same game, but not if they leave the team after three years. BB has the ability to scheme plays that allow his players to shine with the knowledge that they aren't going to be stars on a team that has 6'3 players in equivalent positions, where the coaching staff is not likely to care about finding a perfect spot for a player as much as filling a vacancy with somebody whose name has appeared in positive light on ESPN.com the previous year, in order to "cover his butt" by doing the things a good coach is seemingly supposed to do. A player and a coach know by now that this isn't going to be anywhere near a good of a fit as when the player played with the Patriots, but the player wants the additional money and the coach wants to earn an extra year of NFL Head Coach salary, too, by "doing the right things" in the off-season.