Patriots Place the Franchise Tag On Welker

[skinnydog]

Re: Bedard says Welker has been tagged

Don't forget they got Mayo done early.

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

Re: Bedard says Welker has been tagged

The Pats have extended a number of players before their contracts were up. Brady, Warren, Light, Koppen, Vrabel are some examples.

My point is that you can't just blame the teams for not getting contracts done. Players share an equal responsibility to make a deal happen.

Also consider the Pat's situation if they did not have the tag at their disposal. Vinitiari, Mankins, Wilfork and Asante were all tagged at one point or another. Some times extensions can be worked out. Sometimes they can not. Without the tag, they walk.

Without the tag it would be more interesting and see how really bad a team will go to retain a player and if they aren't THAT worried then he walks and the fun frenzy begins.

While a no franchise movement might hurt the Pats one way,it would help in other ways,it very well could make the FA offseason a big 32 team lottery and that would be interesting to see where they all land and how it goes against the cap limits.

 

[MoLewisrocks]

Re: Bedard says Welker has been tagged

Don't forget they got Mayo done early.

You mean Jerod Belichick? LOL But he got what could not be characterized as a discount deal ($9.7M AAV and $18M fully guaranteed on what could be a 5/$50M deal with incentives and he got it a year and a month early when the franchise tag for LB's this year is $8.8M (the average of the top 5 over the last 5...). Ty Warren did an early deal and got $6M AAV as a DT...and then nursed an injury and went back to school to get his degree and didn't even live up to that discount. Then of course Seymour got a bump after holding out in year 5 of his #6 pick 6 year rookie deal and then got a top of the market extension but for only 3 years because they were never quite sure he was all in and they ended up flipping him in year 3 of that extension. And of course we have Mankins whom they tortured via RFA who held out halfway into an actual season and called them liars and said he was done playing here and was then tagged and rewarded with another top of the market deal within weeks (which he needs to start living up to soon...).

Which just goes to show around here you never know...

 

[MoLewisrocks]

Re: Bedard says Welker has been tagged

Without the tag it would be more interesting and see how really bad a team will go to retain a player and if they aren't THAT worried then he walks and the fun frenzy begins.

While a no franchise movement might hurt the Pats one way,it would help in other ways,it very well could make the FA offseason a big 32 team lottery and that would be interesting to see where they all land and how it goes against the cap limits.

You have some strange ideas about what constitutes more interesting, let alone fun...

 

[RIpats88]

Re: Bedard says Welker has been tagged

pats will get a deal done with welker...this is just what they do..they did it with Wilfork and they did it with Mankins

but unlike mankins, I expect Welker to be professional and show up to camp and not hold out..because he doesnt seem like the type of player to hold out and hurt his team..

 

[patfanken]

Re: Bedard says Welker has been tagged

Is this the thread where we all demand we give the player whatever he wants regardless of the consequences? I HATE this crap that the "franchise tag" is an insult BS. IIRC Welker has earned around $12MM over the last 5 years. Offering him $10MM for one season IS NOT an insult. Its a great recognition to his importance to his team. Its a compliment. In fact I've found it refreshing that Avril and the kid WR from Philly have been quoted as being "honored" and "blessed" with the franchise tag. They "get it".

Again it becomes an issue of do you pay a player for past performance, or do you pay him for what you expect him to accomplish over the next few years. I think its reasonable to think that Welker, at his size and age can, can be a consistent producer for the next 2 years. Beyond that your in a crap shoot. I've said it before. When it goes for a smaller receiver, who rely on speed and quickness, it goes fast (see Troy's last season). It would be imprudent for the Pats to tie up any significant money in Wes Welker beyond the 2013 season.

I'd be willing to pay him $18MM guaranteed and put it into a 4 year contract, so the cap hits would be mitigated the first 2 years, and any dead money hit would occur when the cap dramatically expands in 2014 If he wants more than that, then I'd let him try to make a deal on his own.

Again, people will be saying "look what he's DONE in the past", when the real issue is "what is he going to DO in the future"

 

[Christopher Patriot]

Re: Bedard says Welker has been tagged

This greatly disappointing we don't want to be tied up with what we can offer a deep threat receiver or entering the Mario Williams sweepstakes.
Now let's look at this with some perspective Bruschi, Harrison, Brown, Faulk, all willing to take hometown discounts to remain with the team, if he wants to stretch the dollar best thing to do is a sign and trade I'll go on record to say a second would be a blessing so we can maximize the cap to strengthen the defense.
Now if he signs a 4 year contract as was stated above that's best case scenario.
Wes Welkers don't grow on trees but the money he wants i'd pay for the 27 year old welker, but not the 31 year old edition.
a valid deep threat is of more importance, What Welker does is phenomenal but we can get good results with hernandez and possibly Edelman working the slot.
I just don't want us to take a step back because we want to appease WW.
He will be great the next 2 years after that as the above poster mentioned
After that is when he's another Brandon Stokely.

 

[Ring 6]

Re: Bedard says Welker has been tagged

Is this the thread where we all demand we give the player whatever he wants regardless of the consequences? I HATE this crap that the "franchise tag" is an insult BS. IIRC Welker has earned around $12MM over the last 5 years. Offering him $10MM for one season IS NOT an insult. Its a great recognition to his importance to his team. Its a compliment. In fact I've found it refreshing that Avril and the kid WR from Philly have been quoted as being "honored" and "blessed" with the franchise tag. They "get it".

Again it becomes an issue of do you pay a player for past performance, or do you pay him for what you expect him to accomplish over the next few years. I think its reasonable to think that Welker, at his size and age can, can be a consistent producer for the next 2 years. Beyond that your in a crap shoot. I've said it before. When it goes for a smaller receiver, who rely on speed and quickness, it goes fast (see Troy's last season). It would be imprudent for the Pats to tie up any significant money in Wes Welker beyond the 2013 season.

I'd be willing to pay him $18MM guaranteed and put it into a 4 year contract, so the cap hits would be mitigated the first 2 years, and any dead money hit would occur when the cap dramatically expands in 2014 If he wants more than that, then I'd let him try to make a deal on his own.

Again, people will be saying "look what he's DONE in the past", when the real issue is "what is he going to DO in the future"

I have not seen any person suggest that he should be paid based on what he has done in the past rather than what he is expected to do in the future. I'm also not quite sure why there is this theory that Welker has an expiration date in 2014.

 

[Rich<3TheWoodhead]

Re: Bedard says Welker has been tagged

I have not seen any person suggest that he should be paid based on what he has done in the past rather than what he is expected to do in the future. I'm also not quite sure why there is this theory that Welker has an expiration date in 2014.

The theory is belichikian in regards to a players value vs cost. People are assuming welker cost will outway his production. I certainly hope that is not the case but a 5'8" 185 pound WR with 100rec a season takes a huge beating. So it's rational to suggest he will be on the decline and not worth the cost.

 

[MoLewisrocks]

Re: Bedard says Welker has been tagged

Is this the thread where we all demand we give the player whatever he wants regardless of the consequences? I HATE this crap that the "franchise tag" is an insult BS. IIRC Welker has earned around $12MM over the last 5 years. Offering him $10MM for one season IS NOT an insult. Its a great recognition to his importance to his team. Its a compliment. In fact I've found it refreshing that Avril and the kid WR from Philly have been quoted as being "honored" and "blessed" with the franchise tag. They "get it".

Again it becomes an issue of do you pay a player for past performance, or do you pay him for what you expect him to accomplish over the next few years. I think its reasonable to think that Welker, at his size and age can, can be a consistent producer for the next 2 years. Beyond that your in a crap shoot. I've said it before. When it goes for a smaller receiver, who rely on speed and quickness, it goes fast (see Troy's last season). It would be imprudent for the Pats to tie up any significant money in Wes Welker beyond the 2013 season.

I'd be willing to pay him $18MM guaranteed and put it into a 4 year contract, so the cap hits would be mitigated the first 2 years, and any dead money hit would occur when the cap dramatically expands in 2014 If he wants more than that, then I'd let him try to make a deal on his own.

Again, people will be saying "look what he's DONE in the past", when the real issue is "what is he going to DO in the future"

Part of any equation about what a player projects to do is based on what he has done. Otherwise you're just wild ass guessing. Welker hasn't said a peep about his lack of a contract or being tagged. And he made $18-$21M depending on incentives we don't know about in the last 5 years. And he went to 4 pro bowls in 5 seasons and was a 2 time all pro including last season. While Avril, who is singing a different tune today, said for weeks he would be pissed and would definitely consider holding out if tagged. And Troy lost it after that first knee injury. Was never the same from then on. Welker not only rebounded from his ACL, he played better and led the league not only in receptions but nearly in yards. Hell, he scored a 99 yard TD which is more than Fitz or Johnson did. Because he was driven to. That's how he's wired. And it's the speedy, gifted athletes who fall off a cliff. Like Moss. And Stinko. Not the mentally and physically tough, instinctive guys who can make up for losing a half step by seldom taking a mis-step. Kinda like the big armed, athletic scrambling QB's vs. the cerebral and disciplined pocket passers.

I'm beginning to think you spend so much time doing your remedial historical pats way tutorials over on jets sites you've started to lose sight of present day reality and what the pats way actually entails these days. Tedy Bruschi isn't walking through that door any more saying please, I have no agent, under pay me... His replacement, Jerod Belichick, is already onto his second contract after playing through almost 5 of his 6 years on a top ten rookie deal that guaranteed him $18M up front before he ever set foot on an NFL field and now making $9.7M per...

This isn't some HS squad. Thankfully you don't actually run the team or influence how it is run because you increasingly don't grasp football or the business of football at this level. And you are increasingly reminding me of someone I used to know... He thought Welker was a crap shoot mistake signing and wanted Belichick to cut him once Moss and Stallworth were signed, dead cap be damned.

 

[IcyPatriot]

Patriots receiver Wes Welker tweeted the following tonight:

"Glad that I will be a Patriot in 2012. and hopefully '13,'14,'15,'16,'17,'18.........."

Welker tweets on tag - New England Patriots Blog - ESPN Boston

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Re: Bedard says Welker has been tagged

His replacement, Jerod Belichick, is already onto his second contract after playing through almost 5 of his 6 years on a top ten rookie deal that guaranteed him $18M up front before he ever set foot on an NFL field and now making $9.7M per...

4 of 5, actually.

This isn't some HS squad. Thankfully you don't actually run the team or influence how it is run because you increasingly don't grasp football or the business of football at this level. And you are increasingly reminding me of someone I used to know... He thought Welker was a crap shoot mistake signing and wanted Belichick to cut him once Moss and Stallworth were signed, dead cap be damned.

In my book, whatever guaranteed money Welker gets from the Pats, he's already earned.

 

[ATippett56]

Patriots & the franchise tag - Boston.com

There are less than two hours for the Patriots to officially place the franchise tag on Wes Welker for the 2012 season. If you're holding out hope that the two sides are hammering out a last-minute long-term deal, it's safe to say you should stop hoping; the two sides are far apart and New England will tag Welker.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

Re: Bedard says Welker has been tagged

s.
And you are increasingly reminding me of someone I used to know... He thought Welker was a crap shoot mistake signing and wanted Belichick to cut him once Moss and Stallworth were signed, dead cap be damned.

I for one am sad to see Mo commit the Banable offense of comparing a fellow poster to NEM

 

[Huckleberry1]

Re: Bedard says Welker has been tagged

I have not seen any person suggest that he should be paid based on what he has done in the past rather than what he is expected to do in the future. I'm also not quite sure why there is this theory that Welker has an expiration date in 2014.

Because it's the only thing they can come up with to argue Welker shouldn't be given a deal he has shown he deserves, and since they can't argue he will disappear next season after the monster season he had this year they have to throw in a year for him to put on 40 pounds and blow both knees out. It is STUPIDITY, plain and simple, and those arguing that Welker should get a Leigh Bodden deal can only rely on their fantasies because reality rebuts them at every turn.