Wes Welker Has No Plans to Re-sign
Wes Welker has no plans to re-sign with New England Patriots before free agency starts according to ESPN Adam Schefter. Negotiations talk was circulating for the past few days that Welker and the Patriots might have come into agreement for a long-term deal, but it was also reported that Welker was not so thrilled by the way he was treated in the beginning of the season with less play-action.
Jan 13, 2013; Foxboro, MA, USA; New England Patriots receiver Wes Welker (83) during the AFC Divisional Round playoff game against the Houston Texans at Gillette Stadium. The Patriots defeated the Texans 41-28. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/USA TODAY Sports
Whether Welker is “chasing the paper” or not, at this point, it does not really matter. The point is that he is entitled to test the open market and it does not mean he will not end up staying in New England. However, the fact that a deal was not reached gives a perception that he is not being a team-player. Is Welker valuing more the “paper” or building a legacy in New England?
It’s a situation that makes me wonder if it’s Welker’s idea of testing the open market or if it is his agent trying to get a few extra bucks in his pocket. Boston Herald Ron Borges did point out how Welker can turn a good deal into a bad deal and so did Mr. Robert Kraft earlier this year as he mentioned hoping that Welker’s agent doesn’t mess up the deal.
At the end of day, the impression is that Welker is fully tempted to max out dollar amount instead of building a legacy. We can only stipulate on the possibility that he could not fit in any other team or that he could not have the same production (118 catches for 1,454 yard and 6 touchdowns) as he has with the Patriots.
But when looking at the probabilities, Welker might not be utilized as well as he is utilized in New England. The Patriots molded Welker to fit into their offense system, and in exchange, it has revealed how talented Welker is as a slot receiver. His game dynamic is based on detailed-quick footwork, his ability to read defenses with Tom Brady and even create routes as the play develops which were not primarily designed in the playbook. Whereas with another team, he might be seeing just as a “small frame” receiver since he is not a deep threat receiver. It will depend on the style of offense system he might land should he choose to go to another team.
But hey, on Saturday he will have an idea of kind of deal might be out there. Make-up your mind already!
Follow Celia Westbrook on Twitter @celiawestbrook