Nate Burleson Wants to be the “Black Wes Welker”

By KC Downey in Featured, Now!, Patriots ⋅ September 20, 2011 at 11:33pm ⋅ Post a comment

“This year I’m going to try to be the black Wes Welker,” Nate Burleson told the NFL Network earlier this week. “I’m going to get as many catches in that slot or on the outside opposite Calvin because he’s going to attract a lot of attention all year.”

Well, at least he’s not actually gonna go “White Michael Vick” on us. (Note: I don’t intend to photoshop what a “Black Wes Welker” would look like).

Burleson, who slots opposite Calvin Johnson at wide receiver for the Lions, told the NFL Network, according to ProFootballTalk, that he wants his offense to be modeled after the record-setting 2007 Patriots, who featured Randy Moss and Welker.

That year, Moss caught 98 balls for 1,493 yards and an NFL-record 23 touchdowns. Playing his part for the 2011 Lions presumably is Johnson.

Welker, meanwhile, finished with 112 catches for 1,175 yards and 8 touchdowns that season. Burleson (12 catches, 153 yards so far this year) has a long way to go before he’s hauling in 100 catches, but at least he’s aiming high for the Lions, who finished 0-16 only three seasons ago.

Detroit is off to an impressive start, though, at 2-0. They beat the Buccaneers in Tampa Bay 27-20 in Week 1, and slaughtered the Chiefs 48-3 in their home opener in Week 2.