Am I the only one who does NOT want Welker back?

[MrNathanDrake]

He's going to be 32 years old in May.

His drops seem to come at inopportune times in playoff games.

He can't stretch the field. Pretty bad when your downfield threats are your Tight Ends.

Makes the offense predictable.

Gets hit hard, which often swings momentum to the opposing defense.

We've had numerous chances to win a Superbowl with Welker, but just can't seem to do it. (2007, 2011, 2012). Simply put, I think it's time to move on.





2009, 2010, and now 2012.... The Patriots got "Bullied" in their playoff loses. All of them at a home. I wouldn't mind moving on from these smaller, finesse WR's who get pushed around.

Welker is a great slot receiver. A great complimentry #2 WR. But he's not that #1 WR I want as the main option.


If the Pats are giving out big money to a WR this year, I'd rather they give out a little extra and get a WR with serious speed who can catch a deep ball and make our offense less predictable.

I also think we have to draft a WR in the 1st or 2nd round of the draft, regardless of Welker being signed or not. We can't go into next season with Deion Branch as the #3 WR.

 

[Brady2Moss]

He's going to be 32 years old in May.

His drops seem to come at inopportune times in playoff games.

He can't stretch the field. Pretty bad when your downfield threats are your Tight Ends.

Makes the offense predictable.

Gets hit hard, which often swings momentum to the opposing defense.

We've had numerous chances to win a Superbowl with Welker, but just can't seem to do it. (2007, 2011, 2012). Simply put, I think it's time to move on.





2009, 2010, and now 2012.... The Patriots got "Bullied" in their playoff loses. All of them at a home. I wouldn't mind moving on from these smaller, finesse WR's who get pushed around.

Welker is a great slot receiver. A great complimentry #2 WR. But he's not that #1 WR I want as the main option.


If the Pats are giving out big money to a WR this year, I'd rather they give out a little extra and get a WR with serious speed who can catch a deep ball and make our offense less predictable.

I also think we have to draft a WR in the 1st or 2nd round of the draft, regardless of Welker being signed or not. We can't go into next season with Deion Branch as the #3 WR.

Amen

Biggest problem with Welker is that he's not the number 1 receiver this team needs, but deserves to be paid as one. Time for us and him to move on.

 

[deters]

no your not the only one. I don't want him back unless we get him for less than $6 mill a year but that is highly unlikely, so I doubt he will return.

 

[PatriotDynasty_12]

Need a deep threat to compliment Lloyd on the outside. Hernandez, Gronk, Ballard can handle the middle of the field. I love Welks, but the $ that would be required to sign him, should be going to a deep threat this off-season if BB is serious about winning a SB

 

[TheSparks1]

Need a deep threat to compliment Lloyd on the outside. Hernandez, Gronk, Ballard can handle the middle of the field. I love Welks, but the $ that would be required to sign him, should be going to a deep threat this off-season if BB is serious about winning a SB

Forgot about Ballard. Good call!

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

some of you will change your minds if he does leave..i can bet that

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

Has Ivan's PC crashed?

 

[deters]

WR - Bowe/Jennings, Lloyd, 1st or 2nd rd pick, Edelman, Slater
TE - Nandez, Gronk, Ballard, Hoohoo

If we do acquire either one of those WR's and hit a home run on a WR in the draft, we will be set for the next 4+ years.

 

[Nunchucks]

Patriots offense relies far too much on Welker.

 

[patsfaninpa]

I'm really torn on it. In fact, I'm going to predict that we don't sign; Welker, Talib or Vollmer. I think we have an in-house replacement at RT in Marcus Cannon. Talib probably isn't worth what he's going to command. We talk about him like he's Mike Haynes. Hell, he's just a good player. Not, an all pro. Now, why I think we might not keep Welker.

First, I don't think we let him walk unless we have a trade or signing in place for another wr. We don't want to piss off TFB a la 2006. Maybe, sign Greg Jennings or trade for Percy Harvin. Don't want to get bogged down in the name to play his position. He won't be as productive. But, if he is truly a downfield threat. Does that not open things up for Gronk and AHern whom we've extended already. There's your inside receivers and chain movers. In theory, they should have more room to operate with "NEW WR" and Lloyd. Gronk runs down the seam. You still have 2 excellent options in the flat with Shane Vereen and Aaron Hernandez. Not saying it's the best thing, or the wrong thing. But, I think that's the route we're headed.

We still have a lot of cap space and maybe some extra picks if we trade Mallett. Don't want to get into an off-season mock. Just why we may not keep Welker.

 

[dannydyn]

I'd get rid of Lloyd before I get rid of Welker. At least WW can take a hit, and more importantly get substantial YAC.

Lloyd is an imbecile who collapses as soon as he catches the ball. He was also brought in to stretch the field, but I can count the number of deep catches he's made, on one hand.

 

[fxkane]

We're hardly the best team for locating top wide receivers. 99% of the time Wes Welker is Mr Competence. He is often the difference obviously between a win and a loss. He knows how to handle punts (no small talent). He often has the surest hands and the most receptions in an endless number of single games. And he certainly cannot be blamed for being Brady's most comfortable and safest target.

This last game has me scratching my head quite a bit, but I refuse to scapegoat perhaps the most clutch player in Pats history. If the price is too high so be it, but let's not set it too low because of one dropped pass in one of our least impressive performances of the season.

 

[Rob0729]

I want Welker back, but not at any price. I think if they can replace him with say Greg Jennings or another top notch WR and bring back Edelman, then they can afford to lose Welker. They need a solid to stud WR to replace Welker to make it worth while to let him leave.

 

[Rob0729]

I'd get rid of Lloyd before I get rid of Welker. At least WW can take a hit, and more importantly get substantial YAC.

Lloyd is an imbecile who collapses as soon as he catches the ball. He was also brought in to stretch the field, but I can count the number of deep catches he's made, on one hand.

Yet, Lloyd led the team in first down catches with 50 and was second to only Gronk in YPC. How he wasn't cut by now is beyond me.

I really don't get the irrational hate of Lloyd. The guy is a solid #2 WR. He definitely isn't Ochocinco 2.0.

 

[Sciz]

I'd love to have Welker back, just not at the $9-10M that he's expected to want.

 

[PatsFan2]

I want Welker back, but not at any price. I think if they can replace him with say Greg Jennings or another top notch WR and bring back Edelman, then they can afford to lose Welker. They need a solid to stud WR to replace Welker to make it worth while to let him leave.

This we agree on completely Rob...I think Greg Jennings would be perfect in our Offense his Route running is off the charts.

 

[JMC00]

I say let Welker go, Let Branch go outright and not even put him on the shadow roster. Maybe sign someone like Brandon Gibbons (McDaniels has some familiarity), resign Edelman and draft a couple of guys.

I like Wilfork#75's idea of getting Justin Hunter and Da'Rick Rogers (or Wheaton, Woods or Hamilton) if available when the Pats picks came up.

The Wes Welker driven offense just doesn't get it done in the post season. Let it be an offense driven by Gronk, two outside receivers and Hernandez in the slot.

 

[dannydyn]

Yet, Lloyd led the team in first down catches with 50 and was second to only Gronk in YPC. How he wasn't cut by now is beyond me.

I really don't get the irrational hate of Lloyd. The guy is a solid #2 WR. He definitely isn't Ochocinco 2.0.

I never said Lloyd is useless. But if I had to let one loose.... Lloyd would be the one. Sorry... WW has been more valuable and productive than Lloyd.

 

[PatsFan2]

I never said Lloyd is useless. But if I had to let one loose.... Lloyd would be the one. Sorry... WW has been more valuable and productive than Lloyd.

Seriously who could dispute that??? There were many games this season where we couldn't find Lloyd with a search warrant. What would be his cap if let go? I am sure we can find somebody in the Draft who can do what he does.

 

[JMC00]

Yet, Lloyd led the team in first down catches with 50 and was second to only Gronk in YPC. How he wasn't cut by now is beyond me.
.

Actually Welker did with 72 and Gronk had 45 in 11 games, so the argument could be that had Gronk not missed the 5 games Lloyd would have had less than 50 first downs as some would have went to Gronk.