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

[Roy H.]

The Denver Broncos are involved in serious talks to sign New England Patriots wide receiver Wes Welker, league sources tell ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter. A decision is expected at some point Wednesday.

http://espn.go.com/boston/nfl/story/_/id/9048556/wes-welker-serious-talks-denver-broncos-sources

Some fans seem down on Welker, but man, that would be a HUGE shift in the balance of power in the AFC.

[Eja117]

A QB who almost always throws ints in the big games with a guy that drops the ball in the big games. Oh yeah. We're all shaking in our boots now.

[Roy H.]

A QB who almost always throws ints in the big games with a guy that drops the ball in the big games. Oh yeah. We're all shaking in our boots now.

It seems like that WR's current QB has come up fairly small in big games lately, himself.

If Welker leaves, New England gets significantly weaker, and the Broncos get stronger.

Of course, this could just be a negotiating ploy.  However, Welker would be perfect in Denver's system.

[nickagneta]

Was talking to my brother in law after the Super Bowl and he was down on Welker saying he is a system receiver and he wouldn't do great elsewhere. I asked him "What about Denver?"

He then said " Except Denver. If he goes to Denver that makes them the team to beat in the AFC as Manning will use him just like Brady. Manning's the only other QB in the league that will get as much from Welker as the Pats have."

Have to say, I agree.

[CelticG1]

Denver had a pretty good slot receiver last year too.

Id love to keep welker but im sure thebline of thought is that the ods are against him producing at the same level the next 3-4 years.

What I want to see is Gronk and Hernandez get healthy and stay healthy. Welker probably doesnt have the same year last year f those 2 along with edelman were healthy.

Also if we do lose him it really depends on where we go from there. The pats have a pretty good track record of letting guys go who end up fizzling out elsewhere and there are plenty of other things we could and shiyldd address other than our offense which has been out id this world over the years.

I mainly want to keep welker cause hes an awesome pro, extremelt entertaining, obviiusly he is very good and I just love watching him play. Its more for selfish reasons on mt part than thinking we NEED him more than anything else.

As for Peyton I just never worry about him. Theres just too much history of him or his teamsfailing/ choking for me to worry aabout

[Kane3387]

NE fans are funny. A guy gets 100 catches a year for five years in a row and it's never been done before but it's bc of the system?

You Pats fans are way too spoiled for your own good. Welker is the most important player on the offensive side of the ball after Brady.

You guys lose him and you better hope Edelman knows the plays or you get Amendola from the Rams and he is healthy b/c you will be taking a big step backwards otherwise.

Welker is a G! Period! Shut it down if he goes to Denver with Peyton.

[Snakehead]

With Welker, Decker, Thomas Denver's WRs would be STACKED.

That's a crazy amount of talent and nice diversity (quick slot, possession, speed playmaker).

Welker catches way too much flak from Pats fans.  Most of it is that he doesn't manage to do pretty much the only thing he can't do (catch some high balls thrown to his back shoulders.)  He doesn't get enough credit at this point and given the way both their star TEs have been injury prone, I think he would be greatly missed. 

Maybe if the Pats would get a sizable, deep receiver they wouldn't have to try to make Welker do everything and then have fans tear him down when he can't.

Denver had a pretty good slot receiver last year too.

What I want to see is Gronk and Hernandez get healthy and stay healthy. Welker probably doesnt have the same year last year f those 2 along with edelman were healthy.

1) Who?  Welker is way better than whoever you're talking about.  100 catches every year.  Whoever you're talking about I don't even know who it is and Welker is an All-Pro type WR.  He isn't "pretty good".

2) You could easily say the same thing about Gronk and Hernandez without Welker, neither would be as productive.  That's a flawed argument to make.  And early in the season when the Pats were playing games with Welker and putting Edelman in instead of him, Edelman didn't come close to Welker's production.

[celts55]

Must admit, I'm torn. While he did in fact catch many passes and was Brady's safety valve, he has in fact dropped lot more passes this year, and I still think he cost them the Super Bowl and maybe that last playoff game with key drops.
I'm going to try to seperate the game from my emotions. If he does leave, I will wait and see who the Pats replace him with before I deside how I feel on this.
I really believe they know Brady's window is closing and will find and find a replacement. I don't think they will go back to tha Caldwell days.

[Roy H.]

If this happens, I can see some potential parallels with Ray Allen.  A guy who has been a very productive player but feels underappreciated and thinks he hasn't been given the security he deserves, and then departs to leave for a rival.

[Fafnir]

It'd be a big loss, the Pats rely on having an absolutely elite offense. Even going down to just very good would set them back.

[Lucky17]

If this happens, I can see some potential parallels with Ray Allen.  A guy who has been a very productive player but feels underappreciated and thinks he hasn't been given the security he deserves, and then departs to leave for a rival.

Only if he leaves NE for less money.

If Denver makes him a godfather offer that the Pats won't match, I don't think there will be the same level of outrage.

[Roy H.]

If this happens, I can see some potential parallels with Ray Allen.  A guy who has been a very productive player but feels underappreciated and thinks he hasn't been given the security he deserves, and then departs to leave for a rival.

Only if he leaves NE for less money.

If Denver makes him a godfather offer that the Pats won't match, I don't think there will be the same level of outrage.

I don't know, man.  This is New England.  The outrage will be there.

[Roy H.]

The Denver Broncos are close to signing Wes Welker as a free agent, according to a source familiar with negotiations. Negotiations with the Broncos, initially reported by ESPN, are "almost done," according to the Yahoo! Sports' source.

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/nfl--source--wr-wes-welker-deal-to-join-the-broncos-is--almost-done--195416566.html

[Donoghus]

Certainly would be a loss for the Pats & its sounding more & more like he's gone.

It'll be interesting to see how the Pats do contruct their offense if he leaves.  Its certainly evolved from the Super Bowl years to the 2007 offense to the present day. Essentially 3 different types of offense in the Brady era. Ever evolving.  They've also established a running game they haven't had since the days of Corey Dillon which has taken some heat off the passing game. They could potentially trot out Ballard & Gronk next year in a double TE and split out A-Hern.

They'll need to bring a couple of true WRs in, though, if Welker jets (which sounds like its about to happen).

[Lightskinsmurf]

A QB who almost always throws ints in the big games with a guy that drops the ball in the big games. Oh yeah. We're all shaking in our boots now.

Lol right, look I like welker but I'm on record saying I want him to leave *Unless he signs a really friendly contract. We have other more important needs and we can't overpay a guy like welker who even tho he makes plays he is a notch below a guy id call a "Playmaker".

I still want victor cruz. The patriots haven't won any superbowls with welker so the fact people are saying we can't win without him is nothing short of laughable. Welker is the reason we don't have one more superbowl ring. Most of the catches he makes I think most of our guys can make. We will be just fine as long as we spend our money wisely.