There's something to what you say, but part of the distinction is that Welker plays for a team that has 2 exceptional receiving TE's and partially because of it, maximizes the effectiveness of an excellent slot receiver. His YAC is also maximized by having perhaps the most accurate QB of his generation. Not catching balls in stride most of the time, like he would if he played for the Jets, will cut into those stats.
First it was Moss, then it was the TE's... Somehow it's never just Welker being that good. Hasn't been since he was undrafted as a FA...
Mo, if Welker were 28 and in this position, I'd be on your side. Hey if Welker was 28 the deal would be already done. But he isn't. So while he HAS BEEN the top slot receiver in the game for the last few years, who is to say that he will continue to do so.
If Welker were 28 they'd be looking at a 5 year $10M per extension or nothing.
AND what is the price for being the top slot receiver in the game worth anyway. Is it $6MM/yr,. $8MM/yr or $10MM/yr???? I don't know.
Could have fooled me since you keep insisting you know what it isn't. Boldin averaged $7M per on his 4 year deal with the Ravens and half way through it he's never approached Welker's numbers, which have approached those of the guys at the top end of the overall WR range - which is now $12M+.
While 10 years is long NFL career, these players while have 30-40 years of potential earnings after they hang them up. Giving up, say $6MM today, and reaping the benefits of retiring a beloved sports figure in this region is a good deal.....in the long run. In the end John Elway made a lot more money with the car dealerships he eventually sold than he ever made as a Bronco.
John Elway was paid market value, albeit illegally, to remain a Bronco. He wasn't asked to give up anything, otherwise he might not have been able to afford those dealerships. I think you miscalculate what local sponsorship and advertising pays former or even present day athletes. Not to mention the limited number of opportunities that exist for former athletes.
This part of your post is vastly overly dramatic. First of all there is NOTHING the Pats have to be "ashamed" of. That money is important to them....or rather to the OTHER players who would be getting that money if the Pats don't have to give it to Welker. Are they any less deserving?
Why would they hope the doesn't get injured more, without the contract, than they would if they gave him something LT. Don't you have that backward?
They have to hope he doesn't get injured this year because they must envision a need for him, otherwise they wouldn't have tagged him other than to trade him. Kind of like the Asante situation. That one didn't ultimately work out for them production wise (when it mattered and a player who had already likely moved on lost focus repeatedly in the last game of the season), although it did still work out financially for Asante.
Are you saying that Brady would sacrifice maximizing a play to go to Welker out of spite??? Really, MO???
No, but I'm saying don't be surprised if Brady isn't as intent on maximizing Welker's value as he was Randy's in 2007. Stallworth and Gaffney were there then but he hardly noticed them. It's a matter of trust and comfort - and maintenance thereof.
Cry me a freakin' River, Mo. When are you taking this drama to Broadway? Have you sold the screen play yet?
The Pats are paying Wes Welker $9.3MM to give them his best effort for the ENTIRE 2012 season. And the DAY that they felt that he wasn't giving his FULL effort because of a contract issue is the day they should cut his sorry ass. Its also the day Welker would be cutting his own throat financially, because NO team will pay big bucks to a guy who would quit on them the day he was unhappy with his contract. (well maybe the Jets )
It's $9.515M and while I don't doubt he will give his best effort, human nature dictates that the closer he gets to the end of the deal and possible FA the more concerned Welker will become about his future. That's just is human nature. It would be no different for you if an employer was asking you to do a physically dangerous job for a year at a premium as a contract worker with the understanding that if you did get hurt and couldn't do that job again as a result, that was the risk you took. Maybe you'd decide not to do it on those terms (although unlike Welker you'd have that option because concepts like the franchise tag don't exist in the real world and you could go to work for someone willing to pay you a little less to do that job full time and long term.)
And as for no team paying big bucks to a guy who would quit on a team the day he was unhappy with his contract, we did sign Moss track record or doing just that and all. And eventually he became unhappy even here... Other teams do that even more often than this one has. Teams will pay for disgruntled talent. Happens all the time. Coaches often believe that change of scene and their own superior coaching prowess will work wonders on malcontents...not that Welker has ever shown any signs of being one.
Like I have said many times before. I sincerely hope that Welker retires as a Patriot. However I'm not willing (nor are the Pats) to overpay him for that privilege just because he was underpaid in his his prime years. Those dollars are too valuable in respect to the rest of the roster.
No one is asking anyone to overpay him regardless of the fact that he was underpaid in his prime years. He's only 31. No reason to believe he doesn't have at least 2 more prime years in him barring injury, and that's the same caveat that applies to every guy they sign to any deal. Overpaying him for past performance would be advocating a 5 year $50M with more than half guaranteed.
There are no bad guys in this negotiation. Both sides are doing what they think is best for themselves, and that's the way it should be. Your claim that the Pats are screwing Welker in any sense has no merit, except as an emotional appeal.
