Wes Welker signs with Denver Broncos

Re: I'm glad Welker is finally gone

MrNathanDrake said:

...and a dropped pass away from (probably) winning the Superbowl in 2012.



it was Welker who dropped that pass BTW.

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Outside of Brady & Gronkowski, Welker was the most integral player in getting us to that point in that season. And he played well in that game otherwise, as he did in SB42.

It was obviously a missed opportunity on his part, and it clearly shows how close we were to winning it all - but to blame the loss on him always has been and always will be complete nonsense.

Other than the above statement, I won't be talking about SB46 further. Can't do it.

Tunescribe said:

This actually made me laugh.

Count me among those (if, indeed, there are any others) who trust there is a method to this "madness" of letting Welker go. More free agency and the draft to go before much of an assessment can be made.

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It is a not madness it's just about getting younger at every position outside of Brady. We did it on D and now the offense is being reborn. It has to happen to remain competitive with out having to submit to a complete rebuild. You drive you car for so many miles then you get a new one either brand new or something with limited miles and wear and tear. That's what we did you only hope that the new car with similar features and power train will be as reliable.

Sometimes your 1981 Buick might have some value left but do you drive it till it dies on the highway leaving you stranded and late to work or do you trade it in on your own?

Jax said:

It is a not madness it's just about getting younger at every position outside of Brady. We did it on D and now the offense is being reborn. It has to happen to remain competitive with out having to submit to a complete rebuild. You drive you car for so many miles then you get a new one either brand new or something with limited miles and wear and tear. That's what we did you only hope that the new car with similar features and power train will be as reliable.

Sometimes your 1981 Buick might have some value left but do you drive it till it dies on the highway leaving you stranded and late to work or do you trade it in on your own?

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Notice that I put "madness" in quotes ... Anyway, if reports are accurate that the Pats offered Wes $10 million/two years, letting him go over $2 million (or $1 million if he reached the purported incentives) doesn't seem to make a whole lot of sense. Then again, none of us know what the 2013 blueprint is for this offense, which is my point.

I really wonder what would've happened had Welker taken the Pats offer instead of Denver's. Would they still have signed Amendola?

Tunescribe said:

Notice that I put "madness" in quotes ... Anyway, if reports are accurate that the Pats offered Wes $10 million/two years, letting him go over $2 million (or $1 million if he reached the purported incentives) doesn't seem to make a whole lot of sense. Then again, none of us know what the 2013 blueprint is for this offense, which is my point.

I really wonder what would've happened had Welker taken the Pats offer instead of Denver's. Would they still have signed Amendola?

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It will be interesting to see what is said. I do think Amendola was in the plans whether Welker signed or not but that's just my opinion I could be wrong. I just see as Welker at $5M or Edelman or a similar type at $2-$3 you pay difference for Welker. I don't see it as Welker or Amendola at this point though.

What the flying **** is this ****? 2 year deal for 12m? We don't have the money to pay that?

That ******* Amendola kid can't stay healthy for one ******* game.

Just heard this news, and I'd just like to say,

Unf***ing believable. That's all.

For tonight at least, here's my final thought on this situation:

I cannot recall a single cut/signing that BB made where he intentionally made the team worse. Yes, some of them might have been short-sighted (e.g., the mess he made at the TE position in 2009, and at safety in 2011), but they were not attempts at self-sabotage. [Yes, I understand that almost no team ever intentionally sabotages themselves (*cough* 2011 Colts *cough*, OT but *cough* Marlins *cough*).]

Do I agree with jettisoning Welker? No.

Do I believe that BB et al. must have felt that, in the grand scheme of things, letting Welker walk was the better choice? Yes.

I also think it's possible that those reasons had less to do with 2013 and more with 2014 and beyond. I could see Belichick taking a small hit this year if he expects larger gains down the road.

ctpatsfan77 said:

For tonight at least, here's my final thought on this situation:

I cannot recall a single cut/signing that BB made where he intentionally made the team worse. Yes, some of them might have been short-sighted (e.g., the mess he made at the TE position in 2009, and at safety in 2011), but they were not attempts at self-sabotage. [Yes, I understand that almost no team ever intentionally sabotages themselves (*cough* 2011 Colts *cough*).]

Do I agree with jettisoning Welker? No.

Do I believe that BB et al. must have felt that, in the grand scheme of things, letting Welker walk was the better choice? Yes.

I also think it's possible that those reasons had less to do with 2013 and more with 2014 and beyond. I could see Belichick taking a small hit this year if he expects larger gains down the road.

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In the grand scheme of things, our HoF QB won't be playing at a HoF level in "2014 and beyond." "Down the road" is post-Brady, effectively. Glad we're looking ahead to those days instead of pushing as hard as possible for a Lombardi right now. If ever a team needs to be in "GFIN" now mode, it's the 2013 Patriots.

randomk1 said:

What the flying **** is this ****? 2 year deal for 12m? We don't have the money to pay that?

That ******* Amendola kid can't stay healthy for one ******* game.

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No offense, but you're talking out your rear end on Amendola.

In 2011, he suffered a dislocated elbow and partially torn tricep. It was exacerbated by the Rams trying to rush him back early and it was re-injured in practice, forcing him to the IR and surgery.

Not sure how you can fault a guy for suffering a dislocated clavicle that nearly missed killing him(it dislocated clavicle missed his aorta by a couple millimeters) in 2012 or the Plantar Faciitis injury.

Now, before you go off again, please understand that I am disappointed that the Pats didn't re-sign Welker. I feel the situation could have been handled better.

Salva135 said:

In the grand scheme of things, our HoF QB won't be playing at a HoF level in "2014 and beyond." "Down the road" is post-Brady, effectively. Glad we're looking ahead to those days instead of pushing as hard as possible for a Lombardi right now. If ever a team needs to be in "GFIN" now mode, it's the 2013 Patriots.

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For better or for worse, though, the Patriots don't view things that way. Even in 2007, they didn't make any truly outrageous "2007 or bust" signings.

As BB said, even when everything goes right, winning a Super Bowl is hard. Is he willing to take a small future hit for a huge gain now? Probably. Is he willing to risk cap hell to win now? I doubt it.

Re: I'm glad Welker is finally gone

MrNathanDrake said:

...and a dropped pass away from (probably) winning the Superbowl in 2012.



it was Welker who dropped that pass BTW.

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Let's ignore the fact that Hernandez and Branch proceeded to drop passes after Welker did. Passes that could have also helped the Pats win the game.. But, yeah, it was only Welker's drop that mattered..

Im posting this in this thread to so people see it.

"The Pats offered a two-year, $10 million deal that could be worth up to $16 million through incentives, but Welker turned it down because he believed the sweeteners would be "extremely difficult to reach." The whole article is worth a read, and can be found at the link. "

Fantasy Football player news, injuries and analysis - Rotoworld.com

in bill we trust

I actually really hope this decision had some sort of personal aspect to it, whether it be from BB, Welker, or both. The idea that the Pats dumped Welker for a huge gamble in Amendola tit-for-tat with longer-term thinking in mind is totally idiotic. Maximizing the Brady window offensively should be a huge concern for this FO, and getting rid of Welker doesn't contribute to that on the surface of things.

I'd actually be somewhat relieved to find out there was a huge rift between BB and Welker that forced this situation, because otherwise it suggests the Pats don't value the closing Brady Window and the Super Bowl equity it provides as much as the ideal of long-term stability and a continued fixation on holding firm on their principles of player value.

Those principles are all good and well as long as TFB is delivering double-digit wins like clockwork. I sincerely hope this FO doesn't take that for granted, and as silly as that sounds, today's events make me question that for the first time in the BB era.

ctpatsfan77 said:

For better or for worse, though, the Patriots don't view things that way. Even in 2007, they didn't make any truly outrageous "2007 or bust" signings.

As BB said, even when everything goes right, winning a Super Bowl is hard. Is he willing to take a small future hit for a huge gain now? Probably. Is he willing to risk cap hell to win now? I doubt it.

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Brady was in his prime. They looked at their most important asset and gave him the weapons he needed. I'm not losing my mind here, because it's sooo early, but give this man his weapons.

Also, Welker signing for 6/per isn't putting the Pats in cap hell, so that's not relevant. That's the whole point, this was a GREAT deal for Welker. I'm still trying to wrap my head around the logic, and hoping it was a vendetta/ego issue.

DaBruinz said:

No offense, but you're talking out your rear end on Amendola.

In 2011, he suffered a dislocated elbow and partially torn tricep. It was exacerbated by the Rams trying to rush him back early and it was re-injured in practice, forcing him to the IR and surgery.

Not sure how you can fault a guy for suffering a dislocated clavicle that nearly missed killing him(it dislocated clavicle missed his aorta by a couple millimeters) in 2012 or the Plantar Faciitis injury.

Now, before you go off again, please understand that I am disappointed that the Pats didn't re-sign Welker. I feel the situation could have been handled better.

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So you are saying that in a 2 year span he has had multiple different injuries? I don't doubt his ability to play but with the amoung of targets he will get in NE i will believe it when i see it. There's a reason why Welker clone 1.0 had a tough time getting into the mix of things.

btw

DaBruinz said:

The Devil is in the details...

Not to mention that Amendola has to stay healthy.. Something he hasn't been able to do in his career.

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Here is Mike Reiss article on the entire situation..

Welker was the Pats 1st choice. When Welker refused the 2yr/$10 million with incentives to potentially $16 Million, the Pats moved on.. As did Welker, though Welker did come back, but the Pats had already reached an agreement with Amendola..

2013 NFL free agency -- New England Patriots quickly shifted from Wes Welker to Danny Amendola - ESPN Boston

randomk1 said:

So you are saying that in a 2 year span he has had multiple different injuries? I don't doubt his ability to play but with the amoung of targets he will get in NE i will believe it when i see it. There's a reason why Welker clone 1.0 had a tough time getting into the mix of things.

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Well, there is no Welker Clone 1.0 unless you're referring to Edelman who isn't a Welker clone unless you consider him a clone because he's white.

Edelman is faster in straight line speed, but not as quick in his cuts as Welker.

Again, had the new IR rules been in place in 2011, Amendola would have missed 6 games, been fine in all likelihood and that would have been it.

EDIT: If you're going to add a quote after the fact, make sure you realize that it was said without expletives and without making BS claims that "he can't stay ******* healthy for 1 game". Not to mention it was my initial reaction before I went and looked at why he missed the games.. But yeah. Hang your hat on that..

DaBruinz said:

Well, there is no Welker Clone 1.0 unless you're referring to Edelman who isn't a Welker clone unless you consider him a clone because he's white.

Edelman is faster in straight line speed, but not as quick in his cuts as Welker.

Again, had the new IR rules been in place in 2011, Amendola would have missed 6 games, been fine in all likelihood and that would have been it.

EDIT: If you're going to add a quote after the fact, make sure you realize that it was said without expletives and without making BS claims that "he can't stay ******* healthy for 1 game". Not to mention it was my initial reaction before I went and looked at why he missed the games.. But yeah. Hang your hat on that..

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Heh...Dabruinz i know you're the preeminent homer on here and now that Amendola is a Patriot there are obviously no injury concerns amirite?

Personally I'm fine with Amendola, there are always questions regarding players. I'm just pissed at Welker going to the broncos for that sum.

ensoul said:

Hopefully Reche Caldwell is still available.

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Yea this is a sick joke. While watching all this unfold the last two years I've concluded that Welker really pissed someone off in the organization [foot fetish presser or something similar? If so, Belichick has lost his mind and I don't trust his judgment anymore].

Lots going on behind the scenes that we will probably never know about, but there is no friggin way this was just about the Pats "placing a value" on Welker and not deviating from it, as a lot of posters are suggesting--$5M per for two years? LMAO. I've never heard of a more insulting offer. Pats simply didn't want him back for whatever reason. Welker's mainly about winning and the Broncos just got a steal.

JMarr said:

Yea this is a sick joke. While watching all this unfold the last two years I've concluded that Welker really pissed someone off in the organization [foot fetish presser or something similar? If so, Belichick has lost his mind and I don't trust his judgment anymore].

Lots going on behind the scenes that we will probably never know about, but there is no friggin way this was just about the Pats "placing a value" on Welker and not deviating from it, as a lot of posters are suggesting--$5M per for two years? LMAO. I've never heard of a more insulting offer. Pats simply didn't want him back for whatever reason. Welker's mainly about winning and the Broncos just got a steal.

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Read the Reiss article, it's very enlightening..

2013 NFL free agency -- New England Patriots quickly shifted from Wes Welker to Danny Amendola - ESPN Boston

The offer wasn't just 2yr/at 5M per year. There were incentives that could have raised it to 8M per year.