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

[Roy H.]

I sure will miss wes welker. He came through big when we needed him most.

That's a heck of a throw right there.  Any time a receiver needs to make a leaping, off-balance, over-the-wrong shoulder type of catch, you know the QB did his job.

Yeah, whenever a ball hits you square in your hands and you make catches like that all that time in far less important moments and in your own words "I make that catch 99 times out of 100" *Unless its the superbowl of course* I'm sure that was a very difficult catch to make.

It wasn't the greatest throw in the world but brady still hit him right in his hands. That was 80 percent welker 20 percent brady as far as who's fault it is. He made that same exact catch last year in the regular season. I mean it was so exact it looked like a replay.

No, Brady didn't "hit him in the hands".  Welker had to make a contorted, off-balance jump for the ball to get his hands on it. 

Just because Welker makes amazing grabs other times doesn't mean he should be expected to do it every time.  That was a lousy, lousy throw.  If Brady throws the ball where he's supposed to, it's game.  Instead, he was off target by a full yard or so, turning an easy completion into a very difficult grab.

That mess up is 100% on Brady.  Welker did his job by getting open.  A good -- or even decent -- throw and the Pats win.  I understand that Tom Terrific is generally considered infallible, but that one is on him.

Roy, no matter how you attempt to phrase it the ball was in welkers hands and he dropped it, PERIOD. Everybody, EVERYBODY including welker himself knows that ball has to be caught and it should have been caught.

The fact you honestly just said that was 100 percent on brady is nothing short of laughable. You are definitely in the minority with that for obvious reasons.

If I'm in the minority, it's because:

1. I don't worship at the altar of Tom Brady, like many fans and pundits seem to; and

2. I don't expect professional athletes to complete miracle plays with any consistency.

A lesser receiver wouldn't have even been able to get his hands on that ball.  It was a lousy throw.  There was plenty of room to hit Welker in stride, and Brady simply missed it.

[KGs Knee]

Not sure what thic Cruz trade stuff is about.  A trade is not possibly as far as I am aware.

Cruz is a RFA, and I don't believe sign and trades exist in the NFL, there's no reason for them to.  PAts could tender him an offer sheet, but it'd likely have to be pretty substantial for the Giants not to match.  On top of that, the Pats would have to give up a 1st round pick if the Giants decided to decline their right of firt refusal.

[Lightskinsmurf]

I sure will miss wes welker. He came through big when we needed him most.

That's a heck of a throw right there.  Any time a receiver needs to make a leaping, off-balance, over-the-wrong shoulder type of catch, you know the QB did his job.

Yeah, whenever a ball hits you square in your hands and you make catches like that all that time in far less important moments and in your own words "I make that catch 99 times out of 100" *Unless its the superbowl of course* I'm sure that was a very difficult catch to make.

It wasn't the greatest throw in the world but brady still hit him right in his hands. That was 80 percent welker 20 percent brady as far as who's fault it is. He made that same exact catch last year in the regular season. I mean it was so exact it looked like a replay.

No, Brady didn't "hit him in the hands".  Welker had to make a contorted, off-balance jump for the ball to get his hands on it. 

Just because Welker makes amazing grabs other times doesn't mean he should be expected to do it every time.  That was a lousy, lousy throw.  If Brady throws the ball where he's supposed to, it's game.  Instead, he was off target by a full yard or so, turning an easy completion into a very difficult grab.

That mess up is 100% on Brady.  Welker did his job by getting open.  A good -- or even decent -- throw and the Pats win.  I understand that Tom Terrific is generally considered infallible, but that one is on him.

Roy, no matter how you attempt to phrase it the ball was in welkers hands and he dropped it, PERIOD. Everybody, EVERYBODY including welker himself knows that ball has to be caught and it should have been caught.

The fact you honestly just said that was 100 percent on brady is nothing short of laughable. You are definitely in the minority with that for obvious reasons.

If I'm in the minority, it's because:

1. I don't worship at the altar of Tom Brady, like many fans and pundits seem to; and

2. I don't expect professional athletes to complete miracle plays with any consistency.

A lesser receiver wouldn't have even been able to get his hands on that ball.  It was a lousy throw.  There was plenty of room to hit Welker in stride, and Brady simply missed it.

I don't worship brady. I basically called the guy a scrub the way he performed in the AFC championship game last season. That play would NOT have been a MIRACLE play. It would have been a good catch and a catch that he SHOULD of caught. Miracles is when you have no business making a play but you made it.

That ball was in his hands. All he had to do was hold on. That was 80 percent on welker. Brady should have made a better throw but the throw was good enough. We can agree to disagree. Either way welker is gone. 

[Cman]

I sure will miss wes welker. He came through big when we needed him most.

That's a heck of a throw right there.  Any time a receiver needs to make a leaping, off-balance, over-the-wrong shoulder type of catch, you know the QB did his job.

Yeah, whenever a ball hits you square in your hands and you make catches like that all that time in far less important moments and in your own words "I make that catch 99 times out of 100" *Unless its the superbowl of course* I'm sure that was a very difficult catch to make.

It wasn't the greatest throw in the world but brady still hit him right in his hands. That was 80 percent welker 20 percent brady as far as who's fault it is. He made that same exact catch last year in the regular season. I mean it was so exact it looked like a replay.

No, Brady didn't "hit him in the hands".  Welker had to make a contorted, off-balance jump for the ball to get his hands on it. 

Just because Welker makes amazing grabs other times doesn't mean he should be expected to do it every time.  That was a lousy, lousy throw.  If Brady throws the ball where he's supposed to, it's game.  Instead, he was off target by a full yard or so, turning an easy completion into a very difficult grab.

That mess up is 100% on Brady.  Welker did his job by getting open.  A good -- or even decent -- throw and the Pats win.  I understand that Tom Terrific is generally considered infallible, but that one is on him.

Meh, they are both to blame. I could care less whether it is 50-50 or 80-20 or 20-80, but to say it is entirely the fault of one or the other doesn't ring true. I agree it wasn't the best throw by Brady, but it is not as if Welker was all that contorted, and we don't even know if Welker was in the right spot or not.

More generally, Welkers gone, I wish he weren't but he is, so time to move on.

[Lightskinsmurf]

Not sure what thic Cruz trade stuff is about.  A trade is not possibly as far as I am aware.

Cruz is a RFA, and I don't believe sign and trades exist in the NFL, there's no reason for them to.  PAts could tender him an offer sheet, but it'd likely have to be pretty substantial for the Giants not to match.  On top of that, the Pats would have to give up a 1st round pick if the Giants decided to decline their right of firt refusal.

The cruz thing is false. Some guy with a fake twitter broke it.

[Neurotic Guy]

Sorry about the Cruz thing.  It was on Patriots Pulse on the #Patriots link.  I don't really understand Twitter and I saw it and it looked 'official' to me.  I got excited and posted it here --  I feel a little goofy about having done so. Sorry to get folks excited about it.

[Cman]

I sure will miss wes welker. He came through big when we needed him most.

That's a heck of a throw right there.  Any time a receiver needs to make a leaping, off-balance, over-the-wrong shoulder type of catch, you know the QB did his job.

Yeah, whenever a ball hits you square in your hands and you make catches like that all that time in far less important moments and in your own words "I make that catch 99 times out of 100" *Unless its the superbowl of course* I'm sure that was a very difficult catch to make.

It wasn't the greatest throw in the world but brady still hit him right in his hands. That was 80 percent welker 20 percent brady as far as who's fault it is. He made that same exact catch last year in the regular season. I mean it was so exact it looked like a replay.

No, Brady didn't "hit him in the hands".  Welker had to make a contorted, off-balance jump for the ball to get his hands on it. 

Just because Welker makes amazing grabs other times doesn't mean he should be expected to do it every time.  That was a lousy, lousy throw.  If Brady throws the ball where he's supposed to, it's game.  Instead, he was off target by a full yard or so, turning an easy completion into a very difficult grab.

That mess up is 100% on Brady.  Welker did his job by getting open.  A good -- or even decent -- throw and the Pats win.  I understand that Tom Terrific is generally considered infallible, but that one is on him.

Roy, no matter how you attempt to phrase it the ball was in welkers hands and he dropped it, PERIOD. Everybody, EVERYBODY including welker himself knows that ball has to be caught and it should have been caught.

The fact you honestly just said that was 100 percent on brady is nothing short of laughable. You are definitely in the minority with that for obvious reasons.

If I'm in the minority, it's because:

1. I don't worship at the altar of Tom Brady, like many fans and pundits seem to; and

2. I don't expect professional athletes to complete miracle plays with any consistency.

A lesser receiver wouldn't have even been able to get his hands on that ball.  It was a lousy throw.  There was plenty of room to hit Welker in stride, and Brady simply missed it.

If I wanted to be a pain, I'd say it was a miracle Welker *didn't* catch it.
Simply put, it wasn't that tough of a catch to make. It also wasn't the best throw. Blame all around.

[Roy H.]

I sure will miss wes welker. He came through big when we needed him most.

That's a heck of a throw right there.  Any time a receiver needs to make a leaping, off-balance, over-the-wrong shoulder type of catch, you know the QB did his job.

Yeah, whenever a ball hits you square in your hands and you make catches like that all that time in far less important moments and in your own words "I make that catch 99 times out of 100" *Unless its the superbowl of course* I'm sure that was a very difficult catch to make.

It wasn't the greatest throw in the world but brady still hit him right in his hands. That was 80 percent welker 20 percent brady as far as who's fault it is. He made that same exact catch last year in the regular season. I mean it was so exact it looked like a replay.

No, Brady didn't "hit him in the hands".  Welker had to make a contorted, off-balance jump for the ball to get his hands on it. 

Just because Welker makes amazing grabs other times doesn't mean he should be expected to do it every time.  That was a lousy, lousy throw.  If Brady throws the ball where he's supposed to, it's game.  Instead, he was off target by a full yard or so, turning an easy completion into a very difficult grab.

That mess up is 100% on Brady.  Welker did his job by getting open.  A good -- or even decent -- throw and the Pats win.  I understand that Tom Terrific is generally considered infallible, but that one is on him.

Roy, no matter how you attempt to phrase it the ball was in welkers hands and he dropped it, PERIOD. Everybody, EVERYBODY including welker himself knows that ball has to be caught and it should have been caught.

The fact you honestly just said that was 100 percent on brady is nothing short of laughable. You are definitely in the minority with that for obvious reasons.

If I'm in the minority, it's because:

1. I don't worship at the altar of Tom Brady, like many fans and pundits seem to; and

2. I don't expect professional athletes to complete miracle plays with any consistency.

A lesser receiver wouldn't have even been able to get his hands on that ball.  It was a lousy throw.  There was plenty of room to hit Welker in stride, and Brady simply missed it.

If I wanted to be a pain, I'd say it was a miracle Welker *didn't* catch it.
Simply put, it wasn't that tough of a catch to make. It also wasn't the best throw. Blame all around.

What's your basis for saying "it wasn't that tough a catch to make"?

How often do you see a guy falling backward, contorting behind himself, catching a ball?

I'd say, not very often.  Much more frequently, you hear the announcers say "he threw that one behind him".  But, because Welker is good enough to get his hands on the ball, it's suddenly his fault?

You make it sound like a routine catch.  There probably aren't five guys in the league who make a better play on that ball than Welker did.

[Eja117]

I sure will miss wes welker. He came through big when we needed him most.

That's a heck of a throw right there.  Any time a receiver needs to make a leaping, off-balance, over-the-wrong shoulder type of catch, you know the QB did his job.

Anyone who played football at even the most modest high school level knows that's an extremely catchable ball. Junior high kids all over the country make that catch every weekend and if they can't/don't, pretty much routinely, then they probably aren't a starter.   That's like the kicker equivalent of maybe a 25 yarder. Maybe 30.

In the mean time would anyone be even slightly surprised if Julian Edelmen or Amendola goes for 100 catches next year? And played defensive back?

[JSD]

That is painful to watch...

I'm going to miss Welker, like Moss I'm sad he never won a ring here.

[Roy H.]

I sure will miss wes welker. He came through big when we needed him most.

That's a heck of a throw right there.  Any time a receiver needs to make a leaping, off-balance, over-the-wrong shoulder type of catch, you know the QB did his job.

Anyone who played football at even the most modest high school level knows that's an extremely catchable ball. Junior high kids all over the country make that catch every weekend and if they can't/don't, pretty much routinely, then they probably aren't a starter.   That's like the kicker equivalent of maybe a 25 yarder. Maybe 30.

That's complete nonsense.

I'll put my football credentials up against yours, though.

[blink]

I sure will miss wes welker. He came through big when we needed him most.

Wow, you pats fans are rough.  So one of the best receivers in the nfl, potential hall of famer (imho) makes 1 drop and you aren't willing to give him a pass?  Wow.  That pass wasn't terrible, but it wasn't on the money.  Wes has made tons of game winning catches (I know, I am a dolphins fan) over the past 5 years.  So he isn't allowed just one drop?
That is a pretty extreme attitude from a fan.  Maybe the Pats D should have been able to get a stop somewhere along the line.  I hate it when people feel like that one guy (esp in football) lost a game for the team.

I think Wes Welker's stats speak for themselves:
2007 112 catches
2008 111 catches
2009 123 catches
2010  86 catches
2011 122 catches
2012 118 catches

So in all those years, I think Wes probably made up for the one bad pass / bad catch combo against the giants.  Hey if you don't like Wes whatever, but to base his whole value to the Pats on one questionable drop is just over simplifying everything.

[Donoghus]

I sure will miss wes welker. He came through big when we needed him most.

That's a heck of a throw right there.  Any time a receiver needs to make a leaping, off-balance, over-the-wrong shoulder type of catch, you know the QB did his job.

Yeah, whenever a ball hits you square in your hands and you make catches like that all that time in far less important moments and in your own words "I make that catch 99 times out of 100" *Unless its the superbowl of course* I'm sure that was a very difficult catch to make.

It wasn't the greatest throw in the world but brady still hit him right in his hands. That was 80 percent welker 20 percent brady as far as who's fault it is. He made that same exact catch last year in the regular season. I mean it was so exact it looked like a replay.

No, Brady didn't "hit him in the hands".  Welker had to make a contorted, off-balance jump for the ball to get his hands on it. 

Just because Welker makes amazing grabs other times doesn't mean he should be expected to do it every time.  That was a lousy, lousy throw.  If Brady throws the ball where he's supposed to, it's game.  Instead, he was off target by a full yard or so, turning an easy completion into a very difficult grab.

That mess up is 100% on Brady.  Welker did his job by getting open.  A good -- or even decent -- throw and the Pats win.  I understand that Tom Terrific is generally considered infallible, but that one is on him.

Roy, no matter how you attempt to phrase it the ball was in welkers hands and he dropped it, PERIOD. Everybody, EVERYBODY including welker himself knows that ball has to be caught and it should have been caught.

The fact you honestly just said that was 100 percent on brady is nothing short of laughable. You are definitely in the minority with that for obvious reasons.

If I'm in the minority, it's because:

1. I don't worship at the altar of Tom Brady, like many fans and pundits seem to; and

2. I don't expect professional athletes to complete miracle plays with any consistency.

A lesser receiver wouldn't have even been able to get his hands on that ball.  It was a lousy throw.  There was plenty of room to hit Welker in stride, and Brady simply missed it.

If I wanted to be a pain, I'd say it was a miracle Welker *didn't* catch it.
Simply put, it wasn't that tough of a catch to make. It also wasn't the best throw. Blame all around.

What's your basis for saying "it wasn't that tough a catch to make"?

How often do you see a guy falling backward, contorting behind himself, catching a ball?

I'd say, not very often.  Much more frequently, you hear the announcers say "he threw that one behind him".  But, because Welker is good enough to get his hands on the ball, it's suddenly his fault?

You make it sound like a routine catch.  There probably aren't five guys in the league who make a better play on that ball than Welker did.

It's not a routine catch but it certainly wasn't uncatchable.  Back shoulder catch.  However the issue was the ball was a bit high.  People have seen Welker make very similar catches in the past which is probably where some of the apathy towards Welker comes from.  The stage certainly didn't help matters.

Not the best throw by Brady but a catchable ball.  Personally, I don't think Welker should get all the blame there but I understand the frustration.  It's a catchable ball but on a difficult throw that was a bit behind him.

[Donoghus]

I sure will miss wes welker. He came through big when we needed him most.

That's a heck of a throw right there.  Any time a receiver needs to make a leaping, off-balance, over-the-wrong shoulder type of catch, you know the QB did his job.

Anyone who played football at even the most modest high school level knows that's an extremely catchable ball. Junior high kids all over the country make that catch every weekend and if they can't/don't, pretty much routinely, then they probably aren't a starter.   That's like the kicker equivalent of maybe a 25 yarder. Maybe 30.

In the mean time would anyone be even slightly surprised if Julian Edelmen or Amendola goes for 100 catches next year? And played defensive back?

It's a catchable ball but no way in heck is it something that's easy. 

[Roy H.]

I sure will miss wes welker. He came through big when we needed him most.

That's a heck of a throw right there.  Any time a receiver needs to make a leaping, off-balance, over-the-wrong shoulder type of catch, you know the QB did his job.

Yeah, whenever a ball hits you square in your hands and you make catches like that all that time in far less important moments and in your own words "I make that catch 99 times out of 100" *Unless its the superbowl of course* I'm sure that was a very difficult catch to make.

It wasn't the greatest throw in the world but brady still hit him right in his hands. That was 80 percent welker 20 percent brady as far as who's fault it is. He made that same exact catch last year in the regular season. I mean it was so exact it looked like a replay.

No, Brady didn't "hit him in the hands".  Welker had to make a contorted, off-balance jump for the ball to get his hands on it. 

Just because Welker makes amazing grabs other times doesn't mean he should be expected to do it every time.  That was a lousy, lousy throw.  If Brady throws the ball where he's supposed to, it's game.  Instead, he was off target by a full yard or so, turning an easy completion into a very difficult grab.

That mess up is 100% on Brady.  Welker did his job by getting open.  A good -- or even decent -- throw and the Pats win.  I understand that Tom Terrific is generally considered infallible, but that one is on him.

Roy, no matter how you attempt to phrase it the ball was in welkers hands and he dropped it, PERIOD. Everybody, EVERYBODY including welker himself knows that ball has to be caught and it should have been caught.

The fact you honestly just said that was 100 percent on brady is nothing short of laughable. You are definitely in the minority with that for obvious reasons.

If I'm in the minority, it's because:

1. I don't worship at the altar of Tom Brady, like many fans and pundits seem to; and

2. I don't expect professional athletes to complete miracle plays with any consistency.

A lesser receiver wouldn't have even been able to get his hands on that ball.  It was a lousy throw.  There was plenty of room to hit Welker in stride, and Brady simply missed it.

If I wanted to be a pain, I'd say it was a miracle Welker *didn't* catch it.
Simply put, it wasn't that tough of a catch to make. It also wasn't the best throw. Blame all around.

What's your basis for saying "it wasn't that tough a catch to make"?

How often do you see a guy falling backward, contorting behind himself, catching a ball?

I'd say, not very often.  Much more frequently, you hear the announcers say "he threw that one behind him".  But, because Welker is good enough to get his hands on the ball, it's suddenly his fault?

You make it sound like a routine catch.  There probably aren't five guys in the league who make a better play on that ball than Welker did.

It's not a routine catch but it certainly wasn't uncatchable.  Back shoulder catch.  However the issue was the ball was a bit high.  People have seen Welker make very similar catches in the past which is probably where some of the apathy towards Welker comes from.  The stage certainly didn't help matters.

Not the best throw by Brady but a catchable ball.  Personally, I don't think Welker should get all the blame there but I understand the frustration.  It's a catchable ball but on a difficult throw that was a bit behind him.

It's only catchable if you're expecting it to go to the outside shoulder.  To adjust in mid-stride, and to make an off-balance, contorted lunge, makes it a very difficult catch.  When guys make catches like that, they end up on NFL Films, Lynn Swann style.