Robert Kraft blasts Welker's agent

[JMarr]

Thank GOD you are her to finally explain exactly went down!! I wasn't really sure how the NFL should work, but now it becomes very clear. Your knowledge of the inner working of the Patriots proves very helpful.

Its nice to finally have someone explain why time and again the patriots have struggled, why they have left us with the last decade of piss poor football that we have been forced to suffer through. It becomes obvious, with your explanation, that BB's capricious nature leads him to randomly punish, then cut his star players to show who is truly in charge.

Furthermore, it lays wide open the Patriots idiotic way of paying players. I mean what morons would ever think of paying a player what he is worth in the open market..IDIOTS...they should pay them whatever it takes to keep them here regardless of what they are worth!!!!! Yes it all becomes so clear, once again.. Thank YOU FOR YOUR INCITE, KNOWLEDGE, and WISDOM!!!!

What a horrible post. I don't know of many people on this forum that don't acknowledge that the Pats are [and have been] probably the best run organization in football. That doesn't change the fact that they probably screwed THIS ONE up. Royally. [as did Welker and his agent probably].

Everyone "lost" here.

 

[IcyPatriot]

Kraft should just admit that they screwed up. They were playing the low-ball game and Welker simply said screw-you... it was a titanic screw up but at least the Patriots are trying to make up for it now. I hope the Patriots learned a lesson; i.e. not to nickle and dime valuable players.

 

[Bruins29]

They were playing the low-ball game a

Better than Welker-balls in your mouth game which you and your minions have been playing all week

 

[TheBostonStraggler]

4 mil signing bonus
2 mil 2013 guaranteed salary

3 mil roster bonus next march
3 mil 2014 guaranteed salary

If cut before the roster bonus is due he receives 6 mil and the Broncos eat 2 mil in dead money from the bonus.

Thanks for the confirm Mgcolby.

I am not a salary expert/cap expert (I'll defer to anyone with some credentials in that area). From the modest amount of what I do know, this just plain SUCKS for WW.
WW held out for the chance to get to the free market and sign a big $$$. Given his incredible and consistent production I don't think anyone should fault WW for making a business decision/thinking 'I have a payday coming if I hit the free market'. And while I realize it ends up 2013 is a buyer's market, a one year deal for 6 million guaranteed compensation, plus what is in effect a club option 2nd year for 6 million guaranteed(that makes him an attractive prospect for being cut under many scenarios) is all that WW/his agent could muster?? All the teams out there with young and/or struggling to get their feet QBs, none of them wanted this incredible pass catching machine for three years?? Paying him good up front money but still able to spread it out over these 3 years??

Due to his age and the way the Denver contract is structured, it appears quite likely that the best contract of WW's career will be his one year franchise tender from 2011. Either WW outright chose this route with eyes wide open, teams were REALLY not enamored with WW ability (certainly not as much as many Patriot fans were), the market really crashed for 2013, or his agent(s) is a useless lop and/or acted improperly (I already think agents are scum but at least they are expert advocates for getting their clients maximized paydays). I wouldn't mind seeing the process of WW's signing/his agent quietly investigated by the NFLPA (isn't the NFLPA supposed to be there to look after its membership -- whether against ownership or agents??). Again I understand I may be out in left field on this issue but something just doesn't add up here.....

 

[TheBostonStraggler]

Oh, so now there was an offer?

Gee, I really believe this guy now! He drips credibility.

LOL, agreed. Yet he's an agent. Even if he wouldn't have contradicted himself, anyone basing an argument on what an agent says is walking on paper thin ice.

 

[hwc]

Again I understand I may be out in left field on this issue but something just doesn't add up here.....

I think it was Reiss who had the little tidbit that the Broncos knew about the Patriots deal with Amendola when they were negotiating with Welker's agent. Welker and his agent didn't know.

In other words, by the time Denver made an offer to Welker, they knew that he no longer had any leverage. The lack of much interest from around the league just made it worse.

 

[TheBostonStraggler]

I hear ya B*C I think he moonlites as a used car salesman.

I think his life is what Kurt Russell's character in the movie 'Used Cars' was based on ("trust me").
Used Cars - YouTube

 

[TheBostonStraggler]

I think it was Reiss who had the little tidbit that the Broncos knew about the Patriots deal with Amendola when they were negotiating with Welker's agent. Welker and his agent didn't know.

In other words, by the time Denver made an offer to Welker, they knew that he no longer had any leverage. The lack of much interest from around the league just made it worse.

I hear that. No doubt the market played a role in WW getting a lousy contract as well as it appears Denver did its homework. Yet I thought the reason a big name player goes with the big name Agent/Agencies is because they have Plan B and Plan C and even Plan D lined up? They are so big/powerful they can pick up the phone and get an audience with any team? They can go out and sell their client to teams that might only have tepid interest? They have the contacts in the media to play the game, get the drum beat rolling, make the buyers feel like they will lose the chance at their client if they don't step up with an attractive offer? They know a Danny A. may sign with the Patriots and know that it will change the playing field. They know how to keep things close to the vest and negotiate very skillfully.
Yet at first glance it seems like the big Agent/Agency had only Plan B for WW: A crappy one year deal at 6 million guaranteed (he got a million better than Talib money. Congrats to the most productive receiver over the last fe years! ) with one additional year that is almost at the whim of the Broncos. Hey, maybe this is the best there was or maybe WW was perfectly ok with the deal. Maybe the big Agent did all he could and told WW that the market isn't their for him. If so then I am out in left field. I just can't remember the last time a player leading the league at almost a historical level, at such a high profile position, with extensive playoff experience, no significant injury history to speak of, who was coming off of being franchised......and that player signs such a short, very modest up front, middle-ish, club friendly deal.
Again, I am not fluent at NFL contracts or salaries. But the WW deal seems really out of the ordinary .......

 

[Uncle Meat]

...that the money grubbing little punk was demanding.

LOL, this is the most ridiculous description I've ever heard.

Do you have ANY IDEA the kind of money Welker was making for FIVE YEARS straight before they franchised him last year? Obviously, you have no clue. He was making jack squat in New England while catching in the neighborhood of 120 balls a year.

It's really unreal that you would characterize him that way...unreal.

 

[Observer]

Given the relatively small amount of money involved, it is more likely that there was more than money involved. It is interesting because he was clearly franchise tag worthy last year yet somehow he is worth not even 6 million now? Pats clearly didn't see welker as high priority and welker probably felt unwanted. Both sides should be happier now so I don't know why Kraft is clarifying stuff. A deal could surely have been worked out earlier if he and the pats wanted to.

 

[Bella*chick]

LOL, this is the most ridiculous description I've ever heard.

Do you have ANY IDEA the kind of money Welker was making for FIVE YEARS straight before they franchised him last year? Obviously, you have no clue. He was making jack squat in New England while catching in the neighborhood of 120 balls a year.

It's really unreal that you would characterize him that way...unreal.

Ivan was being sarcastic. If you read his posts, he is behind WW and thinks this was a major team screwup.

 

[Huckleberry1]

LOL, this is the most ridiculous description I've ever heard.

Do you have ANY IDEA the kind of money Welker was making for FIVE YEARS straight before they franchised him last year? Obviously, you have no clue. He was making jack squat in New England while catching in the neighborhood of 120 balls a year.

It's really unreal that you would characterize him that way...unreal.

Really?

It's about time you stopped washing Welker's nutsack and got some RE AL IT TEE. Welker could have had Deion Branch money anytime he wanted but didn't care about being a NEW ENGLAND PAY TREE OT and instead was just a little diva b.tch who cared more about living in grotesque opulence than winning a LOM BAR DEE. The Patriots went to the wall for him and Welker just spit in their face at every turn. Now he's off to denver where he has absolutely no chance at ring but can count his cash every day from here until the end of his football life in 2 years. Good riddance, I'm glad the greedy little punk is gone and can't wait for the Jersey burning party before the Broncos game.


Go root for the jets you Dolphin fan.

 

[DocHoliday]

Really?

It's about time you stopped washing Welker's nutsack and got some RE AL IT TEE. Welker could have had Deion Branch money anytime he wanted but didn't care about being a NEW ENGLAND PAY TREE OT and instead was just a little diva b.tch who cared more about living in grotesque opulence than winning a LOM BAR DEE. The Patriots went to the wall for him and Welker just spit in their face at every turn. Now he's off to denver where he has absolutely no chance at ring but can count his cash every day from here until the end of his football life in 2 years. Good riddance, I'm glad the greedy little punk is gone and can't wait for the Jersey burning party before the Broncos game.


Go root for the jets you Dolphin fan.

 

[Uncle Meat]

Really?

It's about time you stopped washing Welker's nutsack and got some RE AL IT TEE. Welker could have had Deion Branch money anytime he wanted but didn't care about being a NEW ENGLAND PAY TREE OT and instead was just a little diva b.tch who cared more about living in grotesque opulence than winning a LOM BAR DEE. The Patriots went to the wall for him and Welker just spit in their face at every turn. Now he's off to denver where he has absolutely no chance at ring but can count his cash every day from here until the end of his football life in 2 years. Good riddance, I'm glad the greedy little punk is gone and can't wait for the Jersey burning party before the Broncos game.


Go root for the jets you Dolphin fan.

LOL, nice work.

 

[DaBronxPats14]

I think his life is what Kurt Russell's character in the movie 'Used Cars' was based on ("trust me").
Used Cars - YouTube

TBS Good Stuff! lol