Franchise tag could be coming for Wes Welker

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Franchise tag could be coming for Wes Welker | ProFootballTalk

 

[Kid~Brady]

I hope this isn't the case. We need him

 

[resdubwhite]

It all sounds a bit far fetched.

 

[UK_Pat37]

He won;t be allowed to walk for free...the tag will be put in place. Whether or not we sign him I do have questions over though. Being the wrong side of 30 and given the Patriots struggle at WR...and yes, despite Wes' great year, they struggle with no real size or bulk at the position when they come up against aggressive defenses...do the Pats get what they can, whilst they can? I wouldn't expect any picks higher than a 3rd for a player that's a product of the system but if he wants paying, I don't think we should be paying him.

Hate to be cruel but, as I said, product of the system. There are a lot of Free Agent targets and depth in the draft...with Gronk and Hernandez both due big pay days, they need to make the right decision for the team. I'd rather tie up the two TEs, draft a receiver and bring in Lloyd with Branch on a Vets minimum than pay Wes...call me crazy...

 

[Snarf]

Welker holding out halfway through the season?

What a load of baloney. Wes will be playing game 1.

 

[Kid~Brady]

He won;t be allowed to walk for free...the tag will be put in place. Whether or not we sign him I do have questions over though. Being the wrong side of 30 and given the Patriots struggle at WR...and yes, despite Wes' great year, they struggle with no real size or bulk at the position when they come up against aggressive defenses...do the Pats get what they can, whilst they can? I wouldn't expect any picks higher than a 3rd for a player that's a product of the system but if he wants paying, I don't think we should be paying him.

Hate to be cruel but, as I said, product of the system. There are a lot of Free Agent targets and depth in the draft...with Gronk and Hernandez both due big pay days, they need to make the right decision for the team. I'd rather tie up the two TEs, draft a receiver and bring in Lloyd with Branch on a Vets minimum than pay Wes...call me crazy...

Call you crazy? ..... your beyond crazy my friend to want to keep Branch over Welker.

 

[DarrylS]

The wide receiver franchise tag is about 9.5+ million, the Patriots will do everything in their power to avoid that cost.. otoh if they do Welker would be a fool not to take it.

He will be back..

 

[patsderoer]

He won;t be allowed to walk for free...the tag will be put in place. Whether or not we sign him I do have questions over though. Being the wrong side of 30 and given the Patriots struggle at WR...and yes, despite Wes' great year, they struggle with no real size or bulk at the position when they come up against aggressive defenses...do the Pats get what they can, whilst they can? I wouldn't expect any picks higher than a 3rd for a player that's a product of the system but if he wants paying, I don't think we should be paying him.

Hate to be cruel but, as I said, product of the system. There are a lot of Free Agent targets and depth in the draft...with Gronk and Hernandez both due big pay days, they need to make the right decision for the team. I'd rather tie up the two TEs, draft a receiver and bring in Lloyd with Branch on a Vets minimum than pay Wes...call me crazy...

I'll just call you insane. Without Welker this team doesnt make the playoffs. Welker led the league in receptions and was second in yardage.
Product of the system my ass. He makes the system work.

The Pats struggled on offense because of Gronks injury, if Gronk was 100% they would have put away more easily both Ravens and Giants.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Something that irks me is that two ideas are conflated every time talk of the franchise tag comes up:

* Teams frequently use the franchise tag to prevent another team from swooping in and making a megadeal.
* Just because a player is tagged (or receives an RFA tender, for that matter) DOES NOT mean that they have to play out the season under that one-year deal. (see: Wilfork, Vince; Gostkowski, Stephen)

 

[UK_Pat37]

I'll just call you insane. Without Welker this team doesnt make the playoffs. Welker led the league in receptions and was second in yardage.
Product of the system my ass. He makes the system work.

The Pats struggled on offense because of Gronks injury, if Gronk was 100% they would have put away more easily both Ravens and Giants.

We said that about Branch too didn't we? Brady and Wes compliment each other nicely but that's it.

I'm not saying we should...but he isn't going to get paid big money...and if he wants it, I'd rather tag him (and, if he kicks up a fuss, trade him), tie my money up in the two TEs and fish for WRs in free agency and the draft.

For the right price I would love to keep him...but I have doubts as to how many good years he has...and it isn't more than a couple.

You can't fault the logic...and it's not like we haven't seen a decission like this made before....Branch was a classic example.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

We said that about Branch too didn't we? Brady and Wes compliment each other nicely but that's it.

I'm not saying we should...but he isn't going to get paid big money...and if he wants it, I'd rather tag him (and, if he kicks up a fuss, trade him), tie my money up in the two TEs and fish for WRs in free agency and the draft.

For the right price I would love to keep him...but I have doubts as to how many good years he has...and it isn't more than a couple.

You can't fault the logic...and it's not like we haven't seen a decission like this made before....Branch was a classic example.

The only similarity between the situations is that both play WR.

 

[MoLewisrocks]

We said that about Branch too didn't we? Brady and Wes compliment each other nicely but that's it.

I'm not saying we should...but he isn't going to get paid big money...and if he wants it, I'd rather tag him (and, if he kicks up a fuss, trade him), tie my money up in the two TEs and fish for WRs in free agency and the draft.

For the right price I would love to keep him...but I have doubts as to how many good years he has...and it isn't more than a couple.

You can't fault the logic...and it's not like we haven't seen a decission like this made before....Branch was a classic example.

You weren't here then or a football fan. Belichick didn't let Branch walk. He got backed into a corner where he was given no choice. He never intended to lose Branch, but because they couldn't agree on a deal long term and the player held out and his agent pushed the envelope in such a way the league was going to force a trade, we lost out on probably a coupe of more rings. Branch was a classic example of faulty logic.

 

[UK_Pat37]

You weren't here then or a football fan. Belichick didn't let Branch walk. He got backed into a corner where he was given no choice. He never intended to lose Branch, but because they couldn't agree on a deal long term and the player held out and his agent pushed the envelope in such a way the league was going to force a trade, we lost out on probably a coupe of more rings. Branch was a classic example of faulty logic.

Wasn't I?

I never said the situation is the same right now....

...however the Patriots won't over pay for someone. We both know that much (I'm assuming both having been fans for all of Belichick's tenure here). If Welker wants paying and a long term deal and the Patriots won't give that to him then we could find ourselves in a very tough situation, similar to that with Deion. The most we could do is tag him, and then we have a disgruntled player. I also never said we would let him walk.

The basis of the comparison is the Pats will not over pay to someone they don't think they have to...and I'm not 100% sold we have to over pay Welker. This could all be irrelevant as they could snap him up to a deal prior to free agency and they could agree terms. We just don't know.

The team could eat his tag for a year easily, but I bet you they rather wouldn't. As I said, my logic is perfectly fine...but I'm not saying that's what's going to happen. It's a scenario worth looking at.

FYI, don't look at my join date and where I live and assume how long I've been a fan I've watched every single Superbowl Brady and Belichick have participated in.......

 

[BadMoFo]

Well, duh, of course he's gonna get tagged, but only if he doesn't get a long-term deal and there's no reason to think he won't.

The only way I can't see Wes back is if he feels he needs a change of scenery because of all the criticism over the drop.

 

[Ivan]

The Patriots always find a way to pay the players they want to keep the most, the ones they feel are way overpriced leave. Welker deserves big money and he will get it, the only question is how long he is under the tag. I think Welker sill sign the tag without issue and they will get a deal done by the deadline for it. If anything i think the drop will only enhance his determination to come back and help them win the Super Bowl next year.

Some players are special, Brady, Wilfork, and Mankins are examples, Welker is in the same class, he isn't going anywhere.

 

[mgteich]

Comparing the situation with that of Mankins might be instructive for you. Welker will NOT sign the tag early. After all, there is ZERO incentive to do so.

The Patriots always find a way to pay the players they want to keep the most, the ones they feel are way overpriced leave. Welker deserves big money and he will get it, the only question is how long he is under the tag. I think Welker sill sign the tag without issue and they will get a deal done by the deadline for it. If anything i think the drop will only enhance his determination to come back and help them win the Super Bowl next year.

Some players are special, Brady, Wilfork, and Mankins are examples, Welker is in the same class, he isn't going anywhere.

 

[strongside]

If Im a team with a young QB like Caroline/Cinci/Rams/Colts I would do whatever I can to bring welker in. He is the ideal security blanket for a young developing QB.

 

[letekro]

I highly doubt he is ever signed to a long term deal. After the franchise year, he will be a 31 year old slot receiver. Maybe the best 31 year old slot receiver ever to play, but the quicks are the first thing to go and I don't think you'll see them sink a long-term investment in this guy. Upgrade the outside, find out if Edelman can somewhat adequately fill Wes's role, and if not, draft somebody who has the skill set. I would prefer them to sink the money into Gronk and Hern if we're talking about possession receivers.

 

[Deus Irae]

Comparing the situation with that of Mankins might be instructive for you. Welker will NOT sign the tag early. After all, there is ZERO incentive to do so.

Mankins was not franchised. Cassel was franchised. He signed the tender pretty much right away.

 

[PatsFan2]

Edelperrson can fill in for Welker....*ducks out of the way*.j/k