Over the weekend, some franchise players received good news about contracts, but for New England Patriots receiver Wes Welker, not so much.
Sources close to Welker say that dialogues between the two sides have ceased and if an extension were to be reached, it would come to a bit of a surprise.
Welker and the Patriots have been negotiating on and off since last season, so the framework for a potential extension is in place if both sides can come to a full agreement but the likelihood by the deadline is uncertain.
Franchise-tagged players who don't reach an extension by Monday's deadline have to play the 2012 season under their one-year tender. For Welker, that's a $9.5 million fully guaranteed deal, which he's already signed. If that were to occur, the sides then couldn't finalize an extension until after the 2012 season, when Welker would be scheduled for unrestricted free agency.
By that time the Patriots could conceivably once again place the franchise tag on Welker, for $11.4 million, but doing so would devote 25 percent of their salary cap to two players, with quarterback Tom Brady's 2013 cap charged scheduled to be around $22 million. If that's the outcome, Welker could hit the open market, potentially making 2012 his last season with the Patriots.
Welker, 31, remains to be a vital piece to the team's offensive attack even with tight ends Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez emerging as stars.
Since 2007, no receiver has caught more passes than Welker; his 554 receptions easily overshadow Brandon Marshall (474), Reggie Wayne (472) and Roddy White (471).
In 2011 he finished with a career-high 1,569 receiving yards and nine touchdown receptions, making him one of the NFL's toughest receivers to tackle after the catch. Welker played out the final season of the five-year deal he signed with the Patriots valued at $18 million, not including incentives, which at the time was viewed as overspending by the Patriots before quickly becoming one of the best bargains in the NFL.
It's no secret that Welker is one of Brady's targets on the field, but Brady at one point referred to Welker as the "heart and soul" of the team.
Welker remains optimistic that a deal will get done by Monday's deadline, but the way things have played out so far it seems highly unlikely.
