Sicilian

OP, you're confused because this has become the single most overblown story in the history of Patriots media. When stories get overblown, they rarely make sense, but it doesn't matter because it's more interesting than talking about the failures of the Red Sox.

DocHoliday

Whether or not you agree with the assessment of the Welker situation, I think anyone can (and should) agree that you should give some reps to Edelmann:

1.) See what you have just in case Welker won't be here
2.) To develop him further
2.a) to keep Welker fresh/healthy as he gets older
2.b) When injuries happen, you don't have to drop your game plan
2.c) If Welker is being covered by double team or a lockdown defender you still have a player to take up the slack

I don't understand why everyone has to make this about some dastardly narrative. Why don't you want more weapons?

The only issue right now is if it's costing us games. Whether they cost us the Arizona game is debateable, but so long as Welker is not taken out when it matters most I don't see any reasonable reason to whine about this.

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BSR

I think the above should be obvious to everyone but strangely it isn't. I'd also add that the two receivers have different skill sets and may be on the field when you are trying to attack different defensive alignments.

Instead people want to come up with silly theories about phasing out players being paid $9m.

The thing that really concerns me currently is the number of reps guys like Welker and Gronk are getting now while Edelman and Hernandez are out. You need to keep these guys fresh both in game and for the season and that will mean spelling them on occasion.

SeymourTrophies

Apparently, Denver was under the impression Welker was traded before their matchup with the Pats because they did not gameplan for him in any way.

My favorite reason to bench Welker was that Edelman was a better blocker. Welker is no slouch blocking, as we all saw when he sealed the edge on a big play in the Denver game. His blocking has always stuck out to me, and I will never forget him blocking a Giants player out of the play on Maroney's TD in the 16-0 game. If Welker sees more pine once AHern is back, I think it's more of a condemnation of Hernandez as a blocking TE than it is of Welker in any phase.

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PP2

Let's hope that's the case, but the only thing that prevents this being an absurd notion is that there's no conceivable explanation for him being held out so much in game 1, and this is further reinforced by his remark that he was happy to stick it in BB's face. As Bedard says, this remark was pretty much unsolicited, and out of the blue.

PP2

Have you counted the number of snaps Welker has played lately?

DocHoliday

.... That's the point. With Edelman injured Welker must play all his normal snaps.

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PATSYLICIOUS

In my mind, it's no more absurd than the other theories/explanations. They're all absurd to me really. Unless it was a disciplinary thing, that's about the only understandable theory

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Organized madness
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PP2

Only Brady, Gronk, and Lloyd played more snaps than he did on offense.. that can be scarcely considered "keeping him fresh."

Patriots Nation NY

Do you guys ever get "welkered" out? Seriously .. Truth is .. we do not know, we will never know ..