The AFC Championship will feature two of the greatest quarterbacks in the NFL as the New England Patriots and Denver Broncos square off in a "classic" football game. Tom Brady and Peyton Manning might be the marquee matchup in the AFC title game, but the other headline surrounds Wes Welker facing off against his former team.
The wide receiver spent six seasons with the Patriots breaking and setting all kinds of records as Brady's top target on the field. He jumped via free agency for a two-year, $12 million contract, at a million more than the Patriots were offering. Teaming up with Manning has certainly worked out just as well for the receiver who put up 778 yards and 10 touchdowns this season while adding another in the divisional win. However, do not as Welker to buy into any quarterback comparisons before the game.
"It's like comparing Picasso and Michelangelo," Welker said, via the Boston Herald. "It's hard to compare the two. I couldn't tell you. Somebody threw those names at me one time and I thought it sounded pretty good."
Welker only addressed the differences between the two quarterbacks very briefly. Both Manning and Brady represent what some may call "the original" quarterback, spoiling Welker with perfect spirals and on target passes for most of his career. Add the top-notched leadership from both Brady and Manning and Welker is pretty happy.
"I'll try and answer this and be as indifferent as possible," Welker said. "There aren't too many differences. They are great quarterbacks. They do a great job of keeping guys accountable, and their leadership skills and everything else. They are two guys you want quarterbacking your team. It's a toss-up between those two."
Manning echoed the praises back on to Welker. The wide receiver has been a solid safety blanket for the quarterback and has added a unique level to the Denver Broncos' offense. Calling Welker a gym rat, Manning is hoping the receiver's knowledge of the opposing defense will come in handy.
"He's a gym rat," Manning said. "He loves the game, loves to work after practice, loves to talk in meetings about routes that he thinks might have a chance to get open. He's very knowledgeable of defenses and how teams have played him in the past, whether they've double-covered him or whatever it may be. So he's been a fun guy to play with, I'll say that."
Even though Welker's departure from the Patriots was highly publicized and hyped up as dramatic, the receiver admits he has no hard feeling towards his former team. He praised the work Bill Belichick has done this season in preparation for Sunday.
