Welker 3/06 rumor of the day: Will go to Free Agency

Brady2Moss · Mar 6, 2013

Ivan said:
Great idea, give huge money to a defensive back who can't stay healthy for 4 games and is one strike from a year suspension. Matt Millen, is that you? Time to re-sign Chad jackson, he's fast.

No lets pay 8-10 million for a slot receiver because it's helped us win a Super Bowl, the defensive backs we've had haven't been an issue at all and Talib's addition hasn't been the first time the defense has looked competent in 5 years!

The fascination with Welker is amazing on this board. Anyone can replace 70% of his production in the Patriots scheme if they can stay healthy for 16 games.

Ivan · Mar 6, 2013

JoeSixPat said:
I'm not sure what the talk about "testing" free agency is all about.

Welker's agent no doubt has already spoken with representatives of every team interested in Welker. The notion that Welker would formally move on to free agency indicates that those offers are higher than what the Patriots have on the table.

At that point it comes down to whether he wants to play for a team like the Browns or some other team further away from a Super Bowl, or pick up another ring or two with New England for less than the highest offer.

Denver is the most likely landing place.

Ivan · Mar 6, 2013

Brady2Moss said:
No lets pay 8-10 million for a slot receiver because it's helped us win a Super Bowl, the defensive backs we've had haven't been an issue at all and Talib's addition hasn't been the first time the defense has looked competent in 5 years!

The fascination with Welker is amazing on this board. Anyone can replace 70% of his production in the Patriots scheme if they can stay healthy for 16 games.

Talib is an average CB with serious character questions and an inability to stay on the field, Welker is the most productive player in football at his position for the past five seasons and has helped the Patriots to the most productive offense in NFL history. You should stick to Madden, it suits you better.

ralmat55 · Mar 6, 2013

JoeSixPat said:
I'm not sure what the talk about "testing" free agency is all about.

Welker's agent no doubt has already spoken with representatives of every team interested in Welker. The notion that Welker would formally move on to free agency indicates that those offers are higher than what the Patriots have on the table.

At that point it comes down to whether he wants to play for a team like the Browns or some other team further away from a Super Bowl, or pick up another ring or two with New England for less than the highest offer.

So true. But, word that he's going into free agency tells me he's already made that decision, and a lot of us are not going to like it.

SHOWTIME15 · Mar 6, 2013

TyronePoole said:
Gronk injuries are the only thing that stopped this "dink and dunk offense" from winning the last two superbowls imo.

its a valid opinion, but Gronk's presence didn't help the pats beat the giants in the regular season game from 2011 or the Jets in 2010. Heck even last year the pats lost to Seattle and Arizona with Gronk healthy.

I think getting rid of welker will force brady to spread it out more...brady seems to lock on him too much.

BTTA · Mar 6, 2013

Brady2Moss said:
Talib's addition hasn't been the first time the defense has looked competent in 5 years!

Someone posted an analysis of last year's defense as having been stronger when Talib wasn't on the field than when he was. I don't have the time or interest to go find it but it did make me think twice about the assumption many of us carry that is reflected in this statement.

ctpatsfan77 · Mar 6, 2013

TommyBrady12 said:
its a valid opinion, but Gronk's presence didn't help the pats beat the giants in the regular season game from 2011 or the Jets in 2010. Heck even last year the pats lost to Seattle and Arizona with Gronk healthy.

I think getting rid of welker will force brady to spread it out more...brady seems to lock on him too much.

In none of those games, however, did the Patriots have both tight ends healthy, except the JEST game, where they had an unhappy Moss to deal with.

Bhelmet · Mar 6, 2013

betterthanthealternative said:
Someone posted an analysis of last year's defense as having been stronger when Talib wasn't on the field than when he was. I don't have the time or interest to go find it but it did make me think twice about the assumption many of us carry that is reflected in this statement.

I will take the last game as my sample size. Talib was playing - Bolden in check as well as the rest of the pass D. Talib goes out - not long afterwards - it all went to hell. I do not want to overpay for the guy, but I do not care what the "stats" say - I saw it with my own eyes.

Jimke · Mar 6, 2013

Kenneth Sims said:
So true. But, word that he's going into free agency tells me he's already made that decision, and a lot of us are not going to like it.

Greg Bedard seems to think that this is a negotiating ploy. I think
that Saturday is the key day, not March 12th. Agents can begin to
talk to teams on Saturday. This means not only can Welker seek bids but the Patriots can also check out future replacements. I hope if Welker bolts
that the Patriots have his replacement in place instead fo delaying to
get the best dollar deal.

ctpatsfan77 · Mar 6, 2013

Ivan said:
Denver is the most likely landing place.

How? They only have $9M in cap room, and that's not counting the rookies + injury replacements.

Kevin · Mar 6, 2013

The reports about Wes and his concerns about being phased out of the offense should be looked at a little bit more.

I am a "nobody" but considering I went to ten training camps last year, I think I saw enough to notice that Julian Edelman completely outperformed Wes Welker.

Remember how Brady says that every year he feels like he has to compete for a job? And how Belichick always supports this statement?

Well, it's true. Welker had a horrible camp. He had a dropped pass in probably 8 out of 10 practices I went to, and multiple drops at a handful of them. He was bad. Real bad. I remember thinking it must've been all in his head and I talked to friends and family about how Julian Edelman would have increased role in the offense. Don't draft Welker in fantasy, etc. Julian Edelman totally outperformed him in every single practice I saw.

Well, I was right. Hernandez and Edelman were clearly the new players in the slot role. But then they got hurt and that forced Welker to get an increased role.

I don't think it had anything to do with the Patriots punishing him, it had to do with the fact he had a bad training camp. A really, really bad training camp.

Wes obviously wants to play, maybe he's concerned that would happen again. Or maybe because he is a prima donna receiver and in his mind he does no wrong.

Bhelmet · Mar 6, 2013

Jimke said:
I hope if Welker bolts
that the Patriots have his replacement in place instead fo delaying to
get the best dollar deal.

They better have a contingency plan - the state of receiving corps is not that strong outside the TE's. Our missing pieces cannot just come from the draft - unless we find guys talented physically and mentally. Hopefully, they have planned for the worst.

Rob0729 · Mar 6, 2013

Let's wait for this one to play out. As Bedard pointed out, this could be just leverage and positioning to squeeze out a million or two more out of the Pats. Saying he will stop negotiating and go into free agency and actually doing it are two different things.

ralmat55 · Mar 6, 2013

Ivan said:
Talib is an average CB with serious character questions and an inability to stay on the field, Welker is the most productive player in football at his position for the past five seasons and has helped the Patriots to the most productive offense in NFL history. You should stick to Madden, it suits you better.

I've never played Madden in my life for what it's worth. Talib is an average corner only because of character and injury questions. When he's on the field, he's not an average CB at all and exactly what the Pats defense needs to improve as evidenced last season.

Of all of the Pats big free agents, the one who they have the most capable replacement for is Welker in Aaron Hernandez. Frankly, if the Pats could find a good outside receiver in free agency or the draft, this offense could actually be better just like the offense improved in 2010 when Randy Moss was traded.

But, since the Pats brass have a bee in their bonnet that Brandon Lloyd is making too much money and are going to let him go after slandering him on the way out the door, they will have to acquire 2 outside receivers, and I don't like the chances of them doing that in one off-season, so I changed my mind about wanting Welker to return.

I wonder what Reche Caldwell is doing.

PatsWickedPissah · Mar 6, 2013

TommyBrady12 said:
Jennings + Amendola >>> Welker

Look Welker has great stats, but this dunk and dunk offense has to go.

Right.
It's not like dink & dunk got us 3 Lombardis or anything

Jimke · Mar 6, 2013

Bhelmet said:
They better have a contingency plan - the state of receiving corps is not that strong outside the TE's. Our missing pieces cannot just come from the draft - unless we find guys talented physically and mentally. Hopefully, they have planned for the worst.

The Patriots had years to plan for this and missed the boat.

Uncle Rico · Mar 6, 2013

Kevin said:
The reports about Wes and his concerns about being phased out of the offense should be looked at a little bit more.

I am a "nobody" but considering I went to ten training camps last year, I think I saw enough to notice that Julian Edelman completely outperformed Wes Welker.

Remember how Brady says that every year he feels like he has to compete for a job? And how Belichick always supports this statement?

Well, it's true. Welker had a horrible camp. He had a dropped pass in probably 8 out of 10 practices I went to, and multiple drops at a handful of them. He was bad. Real bad. I remember thinking it must've been all in his head and I talked to friends and family about how Julian Edelman would have increased role in the offense. Don't draft Welker in fantasy, etc. Julian Edelman totally outperformed him in every single practice I saw.

Well, I was right. Hernandez and Edelman were clearly the new players in the slot role. But then they got hurt and that forced Welker to get an increased role.

I don't think it had anything to do with the Patriots punishing him, it had to do with the fact he had a bad training camp. A really, really bad training camp.

Wes obviously wants to play, maybe he's concerned that would happen again. Or maybe because he is a prima donna receiver and in his mind he does no wrong.

Excellent post -- until the last sentence (I'm not sure why people have to take shots at Welker or the Pats every step of the way here; it's business folks, on both sides.) I managed to get to one camp session last year and thought Edelman stood out in receiver drills, though I'm certainly no expert. Taking the season on the whole: I thought Edelman looked great and was poised to take not the Welker role but the Branch role in the offense. In the end I also felt Welker proved he is special for what the Pats ask him to do; and I don't think the Pats offensive failings in the playoffs have to do with his presence, but instead the absence of guys like Edelman and Gronk (and the limited ability of Lloyd).

Ivan · Mar 6, 2013

Kenneth Sims said:
I've never played Madden in my life for what it's worth. Talib is an average corner only because of character and injury questions. When he's on the field, he's not an average CB at all and exactly what the Pats defense needs to improve as evidenced last season.

Of all of the Pats big free agents, the one who they have the most capable replacement for is Welker in Aaron Hernandez. Frankly, if the Pats could find a good outside receiver in free agency or the draft, this offense could actually be better just like the offense improved in 2010 when Randy Moss was traded. I

But, since the Pats brass have a bee in their bonnet that Brandon Lloyd is making too much money and are going to let him go after slandering him on the way out the door, they will have to acquire 2 outside receivers, and I don't like the chances of them doing that in one off-season, so I changed my mind about wanting Welker to return.

I wonder what Reche Caldwell is doing.

The Madden comment wasn't directed at you, it was for Brady2Moss. Unless talib wants to take a cut rate deal for 2 years i wouldn't sign him. Right now the Patriots have the worst WR corps I have ever seen. I have little hope it will be very good this season.

Bhelmet · Mar 6, 2013

Jimke said:
The Patriots had years to plan for this and missed the boat.

This is their last chance with Brady - they have to understand that.

Deus Irae · Mar 6, 2013

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