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

[borg]

The only way this makes sense to me is if he and his agent are fairly certain they can get more cash from another team. I would think Denver and Indi would be very interested in his services. If he walks you can be sure the pats have plans b,c and d already in place. This is going to get interesting.

Remember when Caldwell was their plan B. That BB always has the bases covered.
Remember when Monty Beisel was plan B. BB nailed that one too

 

[goheels22002]

Everybody does it. Just agents rarely ever get caught doing it.

Exactly how do you know that?

 

[PittPatriot]

His position isn't what needs to be replaced, if he leaves, his production does, however that comes. Lloyd alone won't do it. We have players who can play underneath in Gronkowski and Hernandez.

No, they need to replace everything he brings to the table.
The position, the production, the toughness, the grit, the "Patriot Way."
Wes is everything I like about the Patriots. I want my sons to be like him (only smarter and more eloquent).

 

[VJCPatriot]

You're mad that he's seeking money after he played 5 years for us on an 18m contract, EXTREMELY out performing it, got pissed that he didn't get a real contract offer, and wants to see what the market values him at?

That makes Welker the bad guy?

Welker is by all accounts one of the best team players we have, one of the only guys who will never quit on a Sunday, and he's now a prick? You know him so well.

The team will more than gladly take him back after this "stunt" if he accepts our offer, and I'll think even more highly of him if he does because we know for a fact that someone else will offer him more than we are, so he'll be playing at a market value discount, yet AGAIN.

AGREED. Since when is it a 'stunt' to test the free agent market to see how much money you would be offered? That's just common sense. I'd like Welker back at the right price/contract. But that doesn't mean there might be another team who will offer more. Then it becomes Welker's choice. Does he come back to the team who knows and give us a slight discount or does he leave for bigger dollars?

 

[grux]

Remember when Caldwell was their plan B. That BB always has the bases covered.
Remember when Monty Beisel was plan B. BB nailed that one too

Great point. I hope BB and co. have learned their lesson. It would be tragic if Brady renegotiated his contract and we sign a bunch of jags.

 

[Rob0729]

Remember when Caldwell was their plan B. That BB always has the bases covered.
Remember when Monty Beisel was plan B. BB nailed that one too

In fairness to Belichick, the Branch situation was an once in a lifetime situation where the Pats screwed up by allowing Branch to test the waters of free agency while under contract and Tagliabue forced the Pats to trade Branch because he feared that the league would implode if Branch won his grievance vs. the Pats. No one in a million years would have predicted the Branch situation would have ended like it did.

Also, Beisel was not a plan B. He was just a bust of a free agent pick up. All teams have those. Not just the Pats.

 

[chasa]

Welker wont be nearly as good as he is, once hes on another team.

He was Okay as a dolphin
He was cut by the chargers
And he was a HOF with the pats.

Good luck to him and the extra 2-3 million a year he makes in Cleveland or back in miami.

Branch regrets not staying with Brady, and i think welker will too.

 

[PatriotsWin!]

Love Welker, and hope we can strike a deal that will make him a Patriot for life but not if he's seeking a 5yr/ LEGIT $8 million (e.g. no funny money at the end of the contract). I hope any contract he signs is (effectively) a 3 year deal. Welker won't last much longer with the beating he takes, unfortunately. While he is a big part of our offense, the Pats are capable of replacing him without a major drop in offensive production.

 

[PittPatriot]

Welker wont be nearly as good as he is, once hes on another team.

He was Okay as a dolphin
He was cut by the chargers
And he was a HOF with the pats.

Good luck to him and the extra 2-3 million a year he makes in Cleveland or back in miami.

Branch regrets not staying with Brady, and i think welker will too.

I think Welker's legacy (minus a Super Bowl ring) is pretty set. He is one of the top 5 best slot receivers in NFL history and while he may not make the top 50 of all time list, he will be remembered up with Stanley Morgan and Randy Moss in Patriots lore.
Wes has given us everything he could…and I don't blame him if he were to choose another team if it meant a few more million in guaranteed money for his future.

 

[PatriotDynasty_12]

If Welker isn't in New England...Cinci makes too much sense...

-Have over $40 million in capspace
-They have AJ to stretch the field and a solid tight end in Gresham..just missing that slot game
-Green Ellis is there
-They're a Super Bowl contender with him and some other upgrades this off-season

 

[naF staP]

Welker wont be nearly as good as he is, once hes on another team.

He was Okay as a dolphin
He was cut by the chargers
And he was a HOF with the pats.

Good luck to him and the extra 2-3 million a year he makes in Cleveland or back in miami.

Branch regrets not staying with Brady, and i think welker will too.

Pretty sure the Broncos will make a huge push for Welker. Manning doesn't have the long deep ball anymore, a shorter passing game lead by Welker would pretty much make Manning and the Broncos very happy people.

They are already making some cuts and asking for players to redo their contracts. Could they be trying to make room for a run at Welker?? I would pretty much bet they are and I would expect them to have a great SB chance this coming season should they get Welker.

As a Patriots fan, this would be horrible. I would rather see him go to the Jets then Manning and the Broncos!

 

[ctpatsfan77]

This is shaping up as one of those years where the Patriots take a major step backwards. This will occur if they lose most (if not all) of their good
free agents and replace them with second rate players. Another lost
year for Brady?

I think it's a bit early to make that pronouncement.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

In fairness to Belichick, the Branch situation was an once in a lifetime situation where the Pats screwed up by allowing Branch to test the waters of free agency while under contract and Tagliabue forced the Pats to trade Branch because he feared that the league would implode if Branch won his grievance vs. the Pats. No one in a million years would have predicted the Branch situation would have ended like it did.

OTOH, he did get a first-round draft pick out of it, which was far more than anyone could have reasonably expected in those circumstances.

 

[Don Kipines]

Welker wont be nearly as good as he is, once hes on another team.

He was Okay as a dolphin
He was cut by the chargers
And he was a HOF with the pats.

Good luck to him and the extra 2-3 million a year he makes in Cleveland or back in miami.

Branch regrets not staying with Brady, and i think welker will too.

Let's not forget that he had 111 catches with Matt Cassel throwing him the ball in 2008. The guy is no slouch.

Look, this situation is what it is. It's bad for the Pats if he leaves. On the other hand, they can't pay him $11 million a year. This whole thing depends on his market. If some other team really values him that much, the Pats' hands are really tied.

 

[PatriotsInGA]

Pretty sure the Broncos will make a huge push for Welker. Manning doesn't have the long deep ball anymore, a shorter passing game lead by Welker would pretty much make Manning and the Broncos very happy people.

They are already making some cuts and asking for players to redo their contracts. Could they be trying to make room for a run at Welker?? I would pretty much bet they are and I would expect them to have a great SB chance this coming season should they get Welker.

As a Patriots fan, this would be horrible. I would rather see him go to the Jets then Manning and the Broncos!

Correct me if I'm wrong, but don't the Broncos use Eric Decker in the slot? I know Welker is better, but they already have that role filled. No sense in making the Forehead gel with a new WR at this point in his career.

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

god if he goes and lloyd is in the dog house...we are screwed

 

[patsinthesnow]

god if he goes and lloyd is in the dog house...we are screwed

Gronk-Hernandez-Wallace-Austin

It could be ours.

I'm scared what this place will be like if Welker leaves a week from now.

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

I don't want ammendola..he will miss 4-5 games with some type of injury....ugh

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

Gronk-Hernandez-Wallace-Austin

It could be ours.

I'm scared what this place will be like if Welker leaves a week from now.

Wallace isn't coming here...MIA is about to pay him loads of $$.

And i would expect this place to be doom and gloom. if it's true we are taking a step back on the O side of the ball. yeah we may sign ammendola..but he will be injured at some point as usual. and then lloyd might not be back.

What's worse..our WR situation if welker goes or our DBs

 

[chasa]

Let's not forget that he had 111 catches with Matt Cassel throwing him the ball in 2008. The guy is no slouch.

Look, this situation is what it is. It's bad for the Pats if he leaves. On the other hand, they can't pay him $11 million a year. This whole thing depends on his market. If some other team really values him that much, the Pats' hands are really tied.

and lets not forget that when Cassel has a competent coach calling the plays he can put up really good numbers.

I dont think welker is a 100 catch player once he leaves the pats, and i think any team that pays him anything more then 8mil a year is overpaying.