After New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees voiced his frustration about a lack of progress in contract talks, it's now the turn of New England Patriots receiver Wes Welker.
After signing the one-year franchise tender for $9.5 million on Tuesday, Welker had hoped there would be some progress on nailing down his long-term future. Instead, Welker told the Boston Herald that contract talks have deteriorated."There have been talks, but nothing that's brightened anything at all. It's actually gotten worse."
Welker told the Herald the offer was lower than the two-year $16 million deal offered in the 2011 offseason.
The wide receiver said he agreed to sign the one-year contract to avoid missing out on the camp. After signing the one-year deal, Welker had tweeted he had taken a "leap off aith." While adding he hoped that "doing the right thing gets the right results."
"If they see me out there at OTA's and mini-camps and everything else and I'm still out there winning and doing what I need to do to help the team win, you know what, the ball is in their court to make something happen...That's, kind of, my mindset. To go out there and show them, I deserve it."
Welker, who led the league in receptions in three of his five years with New England, admitted taking a hard-line stand last month wasn't the right way to go.
"I think those techniques work better with other teams. I think the best thing you can do, as far as the Patriots are concerned, is be there and let them make the decision if they want to do something long-term or not."
Welker continued, "The ball's in their court. I just want to play. At the end of the day, if it's one year $9,5 million, it's one year $9.5 million. I'm good with that."
