Wes Welker signs with Denver Broncos / Amendola to Pats (Merged)

[Moranis]

http://espn.go.com/boston/nfl/story/_/id/9069558/wes-welker-agency-says-new-england-patriots-made-take-leave-offer

Welker's team insisting Patriots offer was take-it-or-leave-it and was non-negotiable as they tried to negotiate certain terms.

[Cman]

I don't understand.

Welker was great for the Pats.

He dropped a pass that he should have caught that would have clinched a superbowl.

There were many other plays that other people failed to make that could have clinched that superbowl.

There were many times Welker made great catches that ultimately extended the season to make those superbowl appearances possible. He's 32 with concussion history.

Pats want a younger guy for similar money with with similar skills.

Welker was going to try to cash in. Very understandable. 

He probably wanted some pay for past performance or some home-town, loyalty/fan favorite bonus.

The Pats have proven over and over they have a team policy of only paying for projected performance.

Thus two parties couldn't agree on a mutually acceptable contract in a mutually acceptable timeframe.

Welker moved to the Broncos and is saying all the right things; he has every right to be very positive about his new team just like new Patriots are always positive and saying great things about the Pats.



All of those things can be true at the same time, and there may be no villains.





Also, the idea of "cheapskate" owners is the stupidest argument possible. THERE IS A SALARY CAP. YOU CAN'T GO OVER IT. THE PATS WERE GOING TO SPEND THE SAME AMOUNT OF MONEY THIS YEAR NO MATTER WHAT. BEING CHEAP HAS ABSOLUTELY NO RELEVANCE. THE MONEY NOT SPENT ON WELKER WILL BE SPENT ON OTHERS; MONEY SPENT ON WELKER, IF TOO MUCH, WOULD PREVENT OTHER ADDITIONS.

TP, sums it all up for me.
Moving on....

[kozlodoev]

http://espn.go.com/boston/nfl/story/_/id/9069558/wes-welker-agency-says-new-england-patriots-made-take-leave-offer

Welker's team insisting Patriots offer was take-it-or-leave-it and was non-negotiable as they tried to negotiate certain terms.

On the other hand, Kraft insists that the Pats offer was for more guaranteed money, and would have been up to $8 million per year with incentives (the incentives being calibrated for performance similar to the last couple of seasons).

It's obvious that both camps are trying to spin it a little bit now, but to me at least one thing is clear: Welker tried to play the market for a big payday, and ended up at a place where he didn't really want to be, without really getting paid.

[Moranis]

http://espn.go.com/boston/nfl/story/_/id/9069558/wes-welker-agency-says-new-england-patriots-made-take-leave-offer

Welker's team insisting Patriots offer was take-it-or-leave-it and was non-negotiable as they tried to negotiate certain terms.

On the other hand, Kraft insists that the Pats offer was for more guaranteed money, and would have been up to $8 million per year with incentives (the incentives being calibrated for performance similar to the last couple of seasons).

It's obvious that both camps are trying to spin it a little bit now, but to me at least one thing is clear: Welker tried to play the market for a big payday, and ended up at a place where he didn't really want to be, without really getting paid.

There is no other hand.  Welker's team acknowledged that but claimed that they tried to negotiate the incentive limits claiming they were far too hard to meet.  Patriots wouldn't negotiate even that. 

[Snakehead]

http://espn.go.com/boston/nfl/story/_/id/9069558/wes-welker-agency-says-new-england-patriots-made-take-leave-offer

Welker's team insisting Patriots offer was take-it-or-leave-it and was non-negotiable as they tried to negotiate certain terms.

On the other hand, Kraft insists that the Pats offer was for more guaranteed money, and would have been up to $8 million per year with incentives (the incentives being calibrated for performance similar to the last couple of seasons).

It's obvious that both camps are trying to spin it a little bit now, but to me at least one thing is clear: Welker tried to play the market for a big payday, and ended up at a place where he didn't really want to be, without really getting paid.

There is no other hand.  Welker's team acknowledged that but claimed that they tried to negotiate the incentive limits claiming they were far too hard to meet.  Patriots wouldn't negotiate even that.

Exactly.

Why would a guy like Welker accept so many incentives?  Incentives should foremost be for troubled or washed up players that could be redeemed.  At the beginning of this last season, Belichick played games with Welker, not playing him and playing Edelman instead.  You're expecting him to trust that situation?

[Rondo2287]

http://espn.go.com/boston/nfl/story/_/id/9069558/wes-welker-agency-says-new-england-patriots-made-take-leave-offer

Welker's team insisting Patriots offer was take-it-or-leave-it and was non-negotiable as they tried to negotiate certain terms.

On the other hand, Kraft insists that the Pats offer was for more guaranteed money, and would have been up to $8 million per year with incentives (the incentives being calibrated for performance similar to the last couple of seasons).

It's obvious that both camps are trying to spin it a little bit now, but to me at least one thing is clear: Welker tried to play the market for a big payday, and ended up at a place where he didn't really want to be, without really getting paid.

There is no other hand.  Welker's team acknowledged that but claimed that they tried to negotiate the incentive limits claiming they were far too hard to meet.  Patriots wouldn't negotiate even that.

I believe Kraft that if he knew the difference in their guaranteed money was 2 million dollars they would have found a way. 

Welker's agent incorrectly calculated the market for his services making a deal very difficult from the start. 

[nickagneta]

http://espn.go.com/boston/nfl/story/_/id/9069558/wes-welker-agency-says-new-england-patriots-made-take-leave-offer

Welker's team insisting Patriots offer was take-it-or-leave-it and was non-negotiable as they tried to negotiate certain terms.

On the other hand, Kraft insists that the Pats offer was for more guaranteed money, and would have been up to $8 million per year with incentives (the incentives being calibrated for performance similar to the last couple of seasons).

It's obvious that both camps are trying to spin it a little bit now, but to me at least one thing is clear: Welker tried to play the market for a big payday, and ended up at a place where he didn't really want to be, without really getting paid.

There is no other hand.  Welker's team acknowledged that but claimed that they tried to negotiate the incentive limits claiming they were far too hard to meet.  Patriots wouldn't negotiate even that.

Exactly.

Why would a guy like Welker accept so many incentives?  Incentives should foremost be for troubled or washed up players that could be redeemed.  At the beginning of this last season, Belichick played games with Welker, not playing him and playing Edelman instead.  You're expecting him to trust that situation?

Incentives are also used with older players in football in an attempt to justify higher salary for production. Let's face it, except for QBs and offensive linemen, there aren't a whole lot of incredibly productive players in the NFL that are older than 31 or so.

[Rondo2287]

Honestly I have a beef with both Welker or NE.  It seems like they both went in with a hard stance on the negotiation and in the end I think both lost.

[Snakehead]

http://espn.go.com/boston/nfl/story/_/id/9069558/wes-welker-agency-says-new-england-patriots-made-take-leave-offer

Welker's team insisting Patriots offer was take-it-or-leave-it and was non-negotiable as they tried to negotiate certain terms.

On the other hand, Kraft insists that the Pats offer was for more guaranteed money, and would have been up to $8 million per year with incentives (the incentives being calibrated for performance similar to the last couple of seasons).

It's obvious that both camps are trying to spin it a little bit now, but to me at least one thing is clear: Welker tried to play the market for a big payday, and ended up at a place where he didn't really want to be, without really getting paid.

There is no other hand.  Welker's team acknowledged that but claimed that they tried to negotiate the incentive limits claiming they were far too hard to meet.  Patriots wouldn't negotiate even that.

Exactly.

Why would a guy like Welker accept so many incentives?  Incentives should foremost be for troubled or washed up players that could be redeemed.  At the beginning of this last season, Belichick played games with Welker, not playing him and playing Edelman instead.  You're expecting him to trust that situation?

Incentives are also used with older players in football in an attempt to justify higher salary for production. Let's face it, except for QBs and offensive linemen, there aren't a whole lot of incredibly productive players in the NFL that are older than 31 or so.

Welker has been quite consistent and beyond that, it's not like his salary is ridiculous.  There are receivers that have been productive past 30 for sure.  The ones that don't rely on raw athleticism and speed age well.  Reggie Wayne was buried by a lot of people going into this season as well... how'd that turn out?

Denver offered him one incentive from what I read: 500,000 for 100 catches a season.  That is reasonable for Welker, anything more?  With the games that have been played with him? I can understand why that would bother him on principle beyond the money that could actually be lost.

[crownontherocks]

Whats welkers bonus for dropping key passes from manning this year

I am going to miss him but for both partys it was time to move on