Money and a long term contract usually makes that go away pretty quickly.

I like welker, but if 118 catches for over 1300 yards isn’t enough attention for him do you think throwing a long term big dollar deal is the answer?

I think it’s all BS. 

9.4 million dollars worth of disdain huh? What the F!

If that’s the case, then it’s time for him to  shuffle off to parts unknown.

i hope he doesn’t believe that he’ll be as successful elsewhere.  Really talented but also owes some amount of his success to the chemistry he has with his QB.  Nothing he should take for granted.  Let’s hope he’s mature / smart enough to understand that

agreed, look at his numbers in Miami before he came here

Really Jason Cole?… He is mad because he only had three receptions in week 1?… shut up man; non story here folks.

long term with peyton is how its gonna end up home(er)boy

The words “somewhat mild disdain” also make this story sound like not that big of a deal… the fact is, the Patriots realized that whatever they were tweaking early on wasn’t working, and they started going to Welker more.  He’s obviously an important cog in that Patriots machine.  That said, he still had yet another costly drop in a big game on a catch he should have made.  I think the Patriots will get a deal done with Welker because he is valuable to this team in more ways than just being productive on the field, but Welker has to start getting it done in big moments as well.  If they can have a healthy Gronk out there with him, then they won’t need to rely on him as much, but that’s been a big if lately.  The bottom line though is that they wouldn’t be in those big moments without Welker’s contributions, so I say go and sign the guy.  If he is demanding too much money… I will understand if he’s not here next season.

Please let me feel $9.4 million worth of disrespect so I can feel mild disdain too!

At contract time, there’s stress.  There’s almost always “mild disdain” and if that’s all there is, it’s a non-story.  More important is what the Pats actually DO.  I have to say that I’m not 100% sure that the difficulty in throwing downfield is all the fault of the receivers.  I am and always will be a TB fan – and his presence and short throwing game is magnificent – but regardless of who he’s throwing downfield to, he doesn’t often connect.  I wonder if he still has the same deep throwing skill he once had. YES part of it is the receiving corps, but the short to medium game has worked well for years, and when WW, Gronk and Hernandez are all healthy it’s an amazing sight. This is the bread and butter for the offense.  Yes I’d love to see TB connecting deep now and then, but until we’re sure that can happen, let’s keep these guys together. 

I don’t think there’s any question his deep ball is just slightly off from where it used to be a couple years ago, but there’s also no question he’s still well above average in that department; look no further than the Houston playoff game–he hit several deep throws to receivers not that gifted in the height department in stride, and he also did the same to them in their previous match-up too actually.  One thing TB does sometimes that affects his deep throws is putting slightly too much air underneath them, but obviously that wouldn’t be as big of a problem if he had a deep threat that could go up and get one for you.  I agree though, I think they should still keep the group they have now together; if they can stay healthy, there hasn’t been anyone out there who has shown an ability to stop them on a consistent basis.  I always have and will continue to stand by this–when the Patriots are fairly healthy on offense, they’re the best offense in the league.

Welker’s a warrior! No tougher S.O.B. in Football! Sign him up! 

I’m a huge WW fan. However, I think he is getting paid what he’s worth
(9.4million). I mean he’s great short, underneath receiver but he’s not a game
changer!  If he wants a huge payday, I
think he will have to go elsewhere, unfortunately.  He will probably get a slight raise to like
11million per for three years but about it

I have an odd feeling that what seemed like a done deal right after Brady restructured, may in fact become a big mess.  Welker is a strange cat in many ways.  Logically, you would think once he saw what Brady had done, he would have seen his payday in front of him and sit down with the Pat’s and hammer out a deal.  Not so sure now.  He will get some very attractive offers in my opinion.  The Patriots may have blown this when they tagged him and left him out there last season.  As Welker said at that time, “a leap of faith”.  I don’t think he appreciated that whole sequence of events.  It is going to be a big story.

Won’t happen. I’m no homer. I try to take an unbiased approach. If you read my posts you’d know that. Show some class.

curiously….how do these “reports” and “sources” appear?. funny how everything goes away as soon as a contract is offered and signed, just saying…GO PATS!!!

I like Welker, but I think his days as a Patriot are over. It appeared he Pats were fazing Welker’s role out last year before the tight end injuries happened. My guess is his touches will go to a younger (26) Eddleman. That’s assuming they resign him. I get this feeling the Krafts can’t get beyond the huge drops in the Pats last Super Bowl, and then the drop in the Ravens game this past season. If I’m writing the checks I probably would agree with the Krafts,.. wish Welker good luck, and move on. 

I’d rather see the Pats use the cap money they saved on Brady to get a big tough receiver.  The last two years they get to the big games and can’t fight through the tough defenses.  Think about it…if they had another big receiver  like Gronk who goes up and wins the battle for the ball to pull down those big catches instead of the smurfs they had left after he was out injured do you think the outcomes would have been different?

i think it’s a mistake on his part not to resign with the pat’s’ without tb throwing to him he’s not going to have the success he’s had with another team. which makes him a boder line hall of famer

Ya think? Shut up Wes, take the money and appreciate another chance at a Ring!!!! Or go fater the bigger money in a losing environment and never win anything…

“after”…

I know…you just scratch your head…I get it…they want to feel “worthy” in the eyes of their peers…there’s bragging rights, a pecking order but when these comments are made public, I wanna take them down a few notches and make them work as an MBTA bus driver….

 Besides, why would Welker go to Denver???  Manning likely has 1-2 years left in the league and is a ticking time bomb with regards to injuries.  I would think he’d either Stay in NE or go to someplace like Indy and play with a younger QB in Luck – especially if the deal is long term. Meanwhile, with the likeliness of the Pats dumping Lloyd, they will be in need of impact WR’s and Welker is already a proven thing.  Pay the man and let’s move on.

They didn’t blow anything…they did what they had to do…yes, Wes is a different cat but he’s an idiot in many respects…that’s my translation…once again proving that the band is bigger than the individual…Pats will survive and contend again without him…he will find a home someplace else and become a non-story, just like he was in Miami…where’s he gonna go? The Giants? They won’t pay him and risk cap space for the future…they ain’t stupid…the Ravens? No room there either…Maybe Green Bay…Pittsburgh….doubt the Rooneys will fork over that kind of bread..

 Although, “Fater” kind of worked too!

Yeah, Denver is a great place to throw huge money at him…meanwhile they’ll have ZERO defense and lose games 38-35 every week….

Denver had a pretty good record last year after they worked the kinks out the first few weeks.

Really? Green Bay. They have Randall Cobb at 600k per year and Nelson at 3.5 million a year and they are younger and more versatile. Yeah. That makes sense. Stick to ping pong.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m01PTKnmaL4

I had a mild disdain watching The Giants win the Superbowl at the Patriots expense, all thanks to Welker.  Go drop balls for somebody else when it matters.

I think that Welker is forgetting that he bottled it the last two years in the post season. Two dropped catches. One in the Superbowl against the Giants and one against the Ravens in the Championship Game this season. He owes us by agreeing to any deal the Patriots are willing to offer him. Show some loyalty Wes!!!!

another made-up story, for idiots who who would even read it

Brady made you what you are Wes.  You dont get anywheres close to these catches anyplace else in the NFL.  Thank Brady for restructuring his contract.  Thank the fans for not dwelling on your Super Bowl and AFC Championship DROPS!!!  And shut your mouth.  Be grateful you have been given this opportunity.

I have mild disdain for Welker making 9 Million and dropping what should be NFL caliber easy catches in the most important games….DUDE shut up.

Right now, it’s all about the posturing. WW (and his agent) and Pats’ mgmt. Yes, WW “needs” the Pats but the Pats need him too (with a thin WR corps.). I believe, a deal gets done. But not after some back & forth.

Well, if he goes he goes, they’ll replace him. They usually find offensive pieces that fit, defensive backfield is another story.

I have disdain over his two dropped passes at the worst time, and its not mild.  If the price is too high move on.

Pro Players are DIVA’s and “Want Respect” – $$$$$ is seems is the only answer. Just look at Ortiz.

what a shock to find homers on a home town website. get a life troll. no response is needed Bruinman86

I dont buy this story at all

I agree. Wes has turned into a short, white Randy Moss

I am a huge Welker fan, but it is hard to feel sorry for the guy. He makes more while drinking gatorade than I do all year for that full time job that doesn’t give me months off. The tag should have told him, “We couldn’t work a deal out, but we don’t want you leaving either.” How he takes it beats the crap out of me. Just want to point out to Wes a little fact: count the number of guys with rings AFTER leaving the Pats in the Hoodie era. It’s a short list. 

That defense was covered up by the fact Manning was putting up big numbers. But as soon as the playoffs came around, they wilted.

did they win the game???  if so what is he whining about.

did they win the game???  if so what is he whining about.

Feeling disdained for $9.4 million ? How about not one, but 2 Super Bowl losses, key drops in both, and this year’s playoff game.Forget the rest of the team, the ownership and the fans who pay for it all . Its just all about Wes. Poor Wes. For one, I’m tired of hearing about it.Move on. Lets sign both Hartline and Amendola for a little more $$ than one Wes. Both can stretch the field more, make the tough catches and are both YOUNGER !

SHould have franchise tagged this cry baby. Oh they treated you bad. boo freakin woo

they tried to cut him out of the picture, but dont hit me loyd did not work out.

deep wide out needed apply to foxboro place………….

5 years after football this punching bag wont know his name…

Wow — a story based on an unnamed ”source with a passing understanding of Welker’s situation” is just so credible. I might be concerned if this actually came out of Welker’s mouth, but of course it didn’t. 

Good points all around.  But if the Patriots’ plan and  intentions were to eventually retain his services and pay him, and they fail to do that because of the way last year unfolded with the tag and failure to negotiate, then in fact that is a blown opportunity.  They always have the upper hand in any negotiation and they had (have) it in this one.

Not that the Patriots care about this, and it has never affected how they operate,  (like the Red Sox mistakengly do) but if he walks they will take a big PR hit. 

Who really knows, maybe they never intended to keep him at the salary he is looking for. 

I love welker i would hate to see him leave,and if he did leave i would follow his career best i could. Everyone is so hooked on Brady taking less for welker, well i’m not sure they would deal that way.but i wouldn’t be surprised if deal was if welker leaves we have enough money for someone better then welk.

Bad Media HypeCollapse
I’d rather see the Pats use the cap money they saved on Brady to get a big tough receiver.  The last two years they get to the big games and can’t fight through the tough defenses. I totally agree. The Pats have Hernandez, Edleman, Jeremy Ebert, & I think Woodhead could be a good slot reciever. The pats need outside speed and size like Mike Wallace and they should draft another reciever.

This article quotes Jason Cole of Yahoo Sports, the people who brought you Chris Chase. It does not quote Wes Welker. Consider your sources before you buy into a story like this one.

http://www.csnne.com/blog/patriots-talk/source-welker-patriots-closing-multi-year-deal

Same attitude Vinatieri developed after getting franchised twice and bolting.  Pats won’t overpay.  Sounds like he’s gone. 

This cutey will leave us and how can we blame him for doing so after the manner in which he has been treated.

We haven’t won a championship since 04-05. Maybe it’s time for a new direction. We have 3 excellent tight ends and Brandon Lloyd going into next season. We have a bevy of running backs. Demps could be a big contributor on offense and special teams. We need Chandler Jones to be who we thought he was. We need to fix the secondary and we need a #1 receiver. We can get a guy for the slot. We created Wes Welker not the other way around.

It doesn’t matter.  We have a dollar system and figure in mind, and he will either take it or go.  At least he won’t be cut here because he took too much money and he fails outside the system, which is possible elsewhere.

I really think Wes Welker wants to see what he can get on the free agent market and he would not be happy otherwise. So let him do that and move forward with a Danny Amendola and a strong draft and free agent signings.

I’m disappointed about the Welker drops, too. But, he was one the main reasons why the team was even in those big games in the first place (e.g., ask Tom Brady who he thinks is the best player on the team). Not only does he stay healthy unlike the other big targets on the team, he had tied the Super Bowl record for receptions in spite of the big drops. It’s telling how we, as fans and haters, gloss over the fact the other key players made mental errors leading up to Welker’s big drops (e.g., Brady’s intentional grounding safety).  Like anyone else, he’s human, not a God.  Yet, this guy already carries a heavy load, draws a lot of attention from defenses, and still gets this team into the big games.

I like it when we can see through the “maze”…thanks for watching my back…

They’re softer than the Pats on D….besides, all this talk about Wes leaving seems to be for naught…they’re reporting now that a long term will be finalized before the 9th…

Aren’t they shedding some salary? Why the insult? It’s an opinion jerkoff….God help us on these pages…get a life.

NP.

Yeah, kinda like the Pats….at some point, our team has to win a 21-17 post season game…if they can re-sign Wes without breaking the bank, great…but I’d like to see a serious effort be put into getting some depth in the defensive backfield and pass rush…

Looks like all this chatter is moot anyways…I just heard that it appears they are in agreement that a long term deal will be done before the deadline….it’s more about the guaranteed $$ than it is the length….which lines up with how Brady negotiated his deal…his deal gives the Pats the opportunity to re-sign Wes AND to go after some other help…

Are these words of Welker’s or Cole’s imagining what Welker is feeling? Reporters always trying to start something.

I can’t imagine Wes Welker using a phrase like “somewhat mild disdain”.  I think that this blogger is putting his own interpretation into the story so that someone will pay attention to him.  I hate bloggers.

http://www.csnne.com/blog/patriots-talk/source-welker-patriots-closing-multi-year-deal

Welker isn’t the reason why we haven’t won since 04-05. This offense has been rated within the top 2 the past two season (largely due to Welker). Yet, the defense has been ranked at the bottom and has left something to be desired — and I doubt that any of that is Welker’s fault. As far as the other targets: Gronk, Hernandez, and Edelman have all battled injuries the past two years.  And, this offense isn’t going to move with just Lloyd.  Even if you wave goodbye to Welker and if the defensive issues aren’t worked out, the team isn’t going anywhere (and would be lucky to make the AFC Championships with a tough Denver/Baltimore). Yes, we created him but we need him just as much as he needs us.

Yeah, I’m surprised that this is even a story. I mean, couldn’t it have been implied that he wasn’t happy sitting on the bench at the beginning of last season. Sure, he seemed to have taken the high road and didn’t blast the Pats (other than joking about sticking it to “Bill” when he rebounded)… but how would anyone else feel in his shoes, as productive/reliable as he has been in the past.  After all, maybe the benching was a good thing for both sides in that it re-lit the flame (for the season) after the Super Bowl drop. Who knows? But, duhh, why wouldn’t he have had some disdain?!?!?!

Maybe I’m dreaming here, but I’d love to get him at a 3 year $27 Million dollar deal with say….$14 Million Guaranteed.

get over it home boy…pats are new 1990s buffalo bills …cant win the bg one

sounds like you are discribing the mighty pats  defense lol

sounds like the pats —wilt in the playoffs

I’m not going to disagree at this point. The proof is in the results. If they fix a few things they could easily remedy that. Question is will they?

Bad media… you’ve got it right… The PATS need to turn the page and build around the three tight ends… mix in the backs and Edelman… and put some big, fast, strong receivers in the mix who will burn teams that try to shut down the PATS possession receivers.

team needs to dump ww and lloyd… put the $15 M cap savings into other areas…

Wrong. The Bills never won anything….the Pats have how many rings? Case closed. Thank you your Honor.

When have Hernandez, Edelman and Gronk been healthy these past two seasons? Someone here even mentioned using Woodhead to replace Welker. Yet, even Woodhead (I love him just as much as Welker) went down that the beginning of the AFC Championship game. So, sure, just get rid of your only stable/healthy receivers… and just use guys who get injured or bring in new guys that don’t even know the system!  That sounds like a brilliant plan!

True enough but I’m including Ballard in the mix too … You hope that of the there TEs two will survive to playoffs. Pats have made a financial commitment to these players and need to move on. In the past eight seasons they have only two AFC championships to show for it… team needs to revamp and reload.

Also the team doesn’t have to run from the slot on every play… they can start Ridley in a two back set, then split him out to H-bak or the slot… they can run or pass off of that kind of formation.

If opponents try to clog the middle on the possession game, a fast and big outside man can burn them in 1 on 1 coverage…

Through the Grapevine,I’ve heard that Denver won’t be signing Welker…Actually,if Denver is smart,they’ll be looking at Ryan Swope to run the slot…

That’s because Green Bay has been light years ahead of Belichick when it comes to drafting and developing elite and money players for the last several years…..If you hit on receivers in the draft,it means wonders for your organization…There are some really,really good receivers to be had in the second thru fourth rounds this year,and BB better have his head screwed on straight….James Jones was sitting out there until August of 2011,waiting to be taken(I screamed for this guy right on this very message board),but BB decided to go after a non downfield threat in Ocho cinco….How many touchdowns did James Jones have this year?? 14!! BB needs to get his head screwed on straight and stop reaching on guys like Tavon Wilson and Jake Bequette,and start drafting actual talent…

Chandler Jones needs some help on the other side…..The answer is not Ninkovich…Ninkovich would be so much more effective using his tools at middle linebacker….He gets stuffed on too many plays to be a hand in the dirt,edge setting pressure pass rusher…Watch the tape….He’s kind of a defensive swiss army knife though,and does have a knack for anticipation in the run game,tackling,and stripping the ball…I will give him credit for that..

I agree….However,,if Wes comes back and plays for 7 or 7.5 million,I would be all over that…He’s unbelievably reliable in every way….The key is surrounding him with guys who can get downfield,make plays,and that can run,so Welker can have more space to work with…Technically,,if he had some real help,he could actually put up better numbers than he already is!! Hard to believe,but if you look at scheme,,its absolutely possible…This years draft is the key…

If the pass rush is insane,it constantly takes the opposing qb out of his progressions,and usually offsets his mechanics as well,allowing the defensive backs to actually make plays,let alone cover for a shorter amount of time….Looking back at the last several years,I don’t even think that having Revis on one side,and Peanut Tillman on the other would blanket over the fact that the corners have to cover receivers for five seconds on most passing plays….Watch how good the secondary looks with the same personnel,but having a great pass rush…

I bet he won’t get Brady Money….I can see 4 years 28 mil,guaranteeing most of the first three years…Maybe give him 7.5 per…He’s shown that he can stay healthy,,,he’s earned it…

 Yeah, but it’s the offense that gets snuffed in the SB and AFC losses… held to two TDs or less… Defense is usually good enough (though, sure, we’d like it to be more of a shut-down unit) … That’s why the Offense has to be revamped if the Pats are ever again to win big in the post season

I couldn’t agree more. The guy is amazing when it comes to health and that has to play a role in the price tag.

I get what you’re saying, and a lot of that sounds all good on paper. However, “financial commitment” and “hope” doesn’t automatically equate to health and reliability.  Even with a mediocre defense, I believe they would’ve won at least 1 of the last 2 Super Bowl had they not lost so many key players late in those respective seasons.  

With the players they’ve had in place the past two season, the Pats have basically been the most productive offense in the NFL. They’re the last offense in the NFL that needs to be “revamped.” LOL!  I mean, they can change it around all they want, but it won’t make a dimes worth of difference [in getting over that Super Bowl drought] if essential players continue to go down late in the season.  It doesn’t matter how much good things look on paper and how much they try to reinvent the wheel… they have to stay healthier at the end of the season.

How is it that the Giants and Ravs, for example, can carry four big-play receivers on their roster? When Ballard went down in the last SB with the Pats, Coughlin still had three big targets on the field.

And what did the Pats have? Small slow Wes Welker whom the Jints shut down ( and who dropped a key pass); Hernandez; a disabled Gronk and a can of tomatoes…  Look at the Ravs this season.. same deal.Four big targets. And the Pats? Small slow Welker; tired Hernandez and a toe dancer (Lloyd).

If we can get WW for $6-7 M… then fine (but sooner or later he’ll retire) … otherwise, as I suggested the Pats have a lot of good personnel to play possession ball already signed for decent money and on the roster… now get the the big, fast receivers to keep opponents from stacking the box by a Welker- Lloyd salary dump.

The time has passed to build around Wes, much as I admire him… too many needs to tie up big money on this role player.

They’re regular season offense isn’t what has been on the field in those two games. This year, their AFC Championship game plan against the Ravens was built around Gronk (as Brady admitted).  And, it had to be completely thrown out of the window.  For starters, Edelman had already been out.  They lost Woodhead early on in the game. Also, Ridley got knocked out of the game. It has been Murphy’s Law for them.  And, in spite of all of that, we led the would-be Super Bowl champs at half time playing mediocre football with lots of injuries.

 Well okay… but what about the year before? And before that?  Were the wins from ’01-04 just plain luck?

Probably not… is the drought since 2004 all bad luck? … probably not … as BB says “Injuries are part of the game” … Other teams are passing the Pats by because they can evaluate players better and spend their money more wisely … they also have better game planning…

In theory the Pats can do better and maybe even win it all… I think we can expect them to make the playoffs in 2013… Sure.. but I think recent experience shows they  really have to revamp on all fronts if they want to be champs again… Right now they’re in a rut …

I’m not debating other teams’s rosters. Every receiving corp has their strengths and weaknesses. Which ever receiving corp you would put together for the Pats, I’m sure a year later someone will be able to pick it apart and tell you how you were wrong for picking them  This is all just Monday Morning Quarterbacking anyway.. And, FWIW, the Pats receiving offenses have been ranked ahead of the Giants’s and the Ravs’s the past two seasons.

bransonruns— thanks for sticking with the exchanges …

Gets back to the old  story: are you happy winning a bunch of regular season games or championships?

Pats have the stats… the Jints have two SB rings in four seasons… as for the Ravs… love their receiving corps … not sure they can repeat …

Personally, I’d like to see the Pats build for championships …

LOL! Ah, okay, Strawman… 
Injuries might be part of the game, but they also put you at a MAJOR strategic disadvantage when you have so many key ones (5+ in some cases) as the Pats have had the past two years (especially against Super Bowl contenders late in the year).  

Again, you build your dream offense for the Pats… I’ll randomly pull 4-5 of them off of the field come AFC Championship time… and we’ll see if your team Pats wins?

And, every team can always do better.  That’s moot. But, it doesn’t mean the Pats have to reinvent the wheel just because they can.

Yea, no hard feelings. Fun debate!

I’m of the school of thought that you need to be the best regular season team you can be and the best playoff team you can be. I don’t separate the two or fight against one or the other.  Take a team like the Bears, who went 10-6 and didn’t even make the playoffs last season.

I don’t think the Patriots problems have been because they’ve had the wrong offensive personnel on their roster (i.e., there’s never been a perfect/infallible offensive corp in the history of the NFL; you can always find weaknesses). I think it’s because of just what they say — lack of execution. And, personally, I throw in Murphy’s Law (e.g., injuries).

At least we agree that they can get better….

I think someone is stirring the pot

Is this REALLY a STORY???

been a decade j-as-   LoL

Well, Pats fans do like you Wes, but we also have some “mild disdain” for you over the fact that you sh!t yourself in the playoffs. The media needs to stop acting like the Patriots are done if they lose Welker. Do people forget that they have Ballard, and can thus move Hernandez to WR, while signing a low profile but competent guy like Ramses Barden. The offense may actually improve if that were the case, since they have had trouble with physical defenses in the past due to their midget WR’s getting busted up at the line.