Wes Welker is feeling refreshed and motivated for 2013. Now with a new team, Welker is adjusting to the freedom Denver is offering him and fully ready to thrive as a new member of the Broncos. While the wide receiver notes that he was not thrilled to be leaving New England after a successful six-year stint, he ready for success out in Denver.
Welker said the first thing the Denver front office told him when he signed during free agency was to just "be yourself." That is something he was not always allowed to do while with the Patriots. Welker was once benched during the first drive of the Patriots' playoff game against the New York Jets. He reportedly was defying head coach Bill Belichick's request for players to not poke fun at Jets coach Rex Ryan. While Welker admits it was the wrong thing to do, he was not thrilled to be sitting.
Now with the Broncos, Welker is eager to prove he can be a quality receiver in other systems outside the Patriots'. The wide receiver admits feeling a little extra motived after New England decided to wait around to sign him to a deal and then ultimately let him go and replacing him with former Rams wideout Danny Amendola.
"Wherever you can pull any sort of motivation that you need to use to go out there and play the way you need to play, I say use it. So whatever it is, then yeah, I'll definitely pull from wherever I can," Welker said.
Welker has accepted the fact that Tom Brady will no longer be throwing him the ball on Sundays. The two were not only extremely successful on the field, but also friends off the field. Brady never admitted publically to being upset with the fact that the Patriots let his favorite target go, but he certainly told Welker.
"He was upset about it, and part of me was a little upset about it too. But things happen for a reason, and I'm excited about the opportunities here and the type of team we have and things we can do," Welker said.
Welker will be back in New England in late November, but in the visitor's locker room instead of the one he is used to. Welker does not plan on holding his tongue when it comes to that game.
