Wes Welker is one of the remaining free agents hoping to get a call from an NFL team to head into minicamps and training camp. Welker was once the safety blanket of Tom Brady, but a bitter divorce from the New England Patriots and two roller coaster years with the Denver Broncos have dropped his stock. Still a quality slot receiver, Welker is trying to promote himself out to teams, but do not expect the Patriots to come calling.
According to the Boston Herald, Welker would be very open to a return to New England in 2015. Welker departed the Patriots due to money reasons as he wanted more than the team was willing to offer. There were rumors of a feud with head coach Bill Belichick and play-calling confrontations. However, Welker is open to coming back.
"I wouldn't be opposed to it. It's a great organization, obviously, and a great team. It wouldn't be the worst situation in the world," Welker said, via 98.5 The Sports Hub. "At times you're sitting there and thinking, 'Well maybe I should (retire).' I think it's just people kind of (pressuring you), but the more you think about it, and you're away from it, I'm not ready to (retire). I still feel good. I still feel like I have some really good football left in me. I've always said (I'll play) until the wheels fall off. I want to play. The more I'm away from it, the more I want to go out there and be on a team an everything else."
According to Doug Kyed of NSEN.com, Welker is not expected to sign with the Patriots, but it is not because of his issues with Belichick. Welker might not be with the Patriots because of money issues. Welker is not expected to accept a veteran's minimum contract due to health issues. He will want more. The Patriots will not offer anymore more than the minimum due to huge contracts assigned to Julian Edelman and Danny Amendola for 2015. Amendola is a $3.1 million cap hit. The Patriots would not eat $4.1 million of dead money just to release him in favor of Welker.
Right now, Edelman and Rob Gronkowski are in charge of helping backup Jimmy Garoppolo take the place of Tom Brady for the first four games of the season. Right now returns on the quarterback are up and down. That could cause the Patriots to go out and get one more offensive weapon, but they would have to try and grab someone like Reggie Wayne or even a two-way running back like Pierre Thomas for a cheap contract. Center Dan Koppen has full confidence in the current players on the roster including Garoppolo.
"While it's great for a young guy like Garoppolo to have a Gronkowski and Edelman, he just has to be careful not to force balls into those two guys where maybe the read takes him someplace else," said Koppen, via the Boston Herald. "He'll have confidence in those guys, seeing what they've done over the past few years, but that can also hurt him. For him, it's about learning the offense, learning the reads and progressions, and throwing to the guy who's open, just like Tommy does. I think he's got to be aware of that and make the smart decision."