The Patriots have signed one of their first round picks, defensive end Chandler Jones.

Terms of the deal, of course, aren’t disclosed. But under the new CBA, Jones’s contract is four years in length with an option for a fifth year.

Jones, who comes from Syracuse, is listed at 6’5″ and 266 pounds. He will likely slide in as the team’s starting defensive end in place of Mark Anderson, who signed with the Bills in free agency.

SoB’s Zach Schaphorst wrote up a review of the team’s pick after the draft in April:

“Jones, brother of MMA fighter Jon “Bones” Jones, is an expert at using his hands and can use his long arms to wreck havoc. He is a high motor player, who relies on hustle and rip and swim moves to get pressure rather than around-the-corner speed. Many have compared him to Giants defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul.”

© KC Downey for Sports of Boston, 2012. | Permalink | No comment
Filed under: Featured, Patriots, Top Story.

Sources told the paper that Gisele’s dress size has changed, leading many to expect that a baby bump is on the way.

Sure, file this one under the “I don’t care” department. That’s fine.

But, you may start caring if the baby is born during the NFL season. If Gisele is two months pregnant, and we’re in May, that would mean the baby would be due around December, if my math is correct.

Gisele and Brady’s first child, Benjamin, was born in December of 2009.

Brady has another son, John Thomas Moynahan, with ex-girlfriend Bridget Moynahan.

© KC Downey for Sports of Boston, 2012. | Permalink | No comment
Filed under: Now!, Patriots.

Many movie moments could symbolize Wes Welker‘s decision to sign his $9.5 million franchise tender Tuesday and return to the Patriots for the 2012-13 season. Perhaps the Hulk destroying enemy ships in The Avengers. Or Dean Portman showing up at halftime of the JV-Varsity game at the end of Mighty Ducks 3. Really, any clip of someone returning from somewhere and then going on a rampage would do.

But none could do it better than Randy Quaid in Independence Day:

Just pretend the spaceship is an opposing defense and the metaphor works perfectly. Kinda like Welker and Tom Brady.

Welker Played His Best, Made Everyone Better in 2011

Despite whatever grief Patriots fans gave Welker following his drop towards the end of Super Bowl XLVI, Welker still had a career year last season. He set career-highs in nearly every possible receiving category: 1,569 receiving yards, 12.9 yards per reception, nine touchdowns, and 77 first downs. He caught an NFL-best 122 passes (22 ahead of second-place Roddy White of Atlanta), coming within one of his career-best.

As great as Welker’s Pro Bowl-qualifying individual accomplishments were, he also greatly improved the rest of the Patriots’ receivers. Rob Gronkowski posted the best season by a tight end in NFL history because secondaries couldn’t focus on him and leave Welker open in the slot. Such decisions too often proved disastrous (just ask the Dolphins in Game 1), and teams willingly risked a second-year player dominating for even the possibility of containing an eight-year vet like Welker.

Seemingly completely recovered from his knee injury two years ago, Welker’s agility and vision made him a lethal receiver across the middle: too speedy for linebackers, too crafty for most cornerbacks. And as Welker wreaked havoc in the middle of the field, receivers like Gronkowski, Aaron Hernandez and Deion Branch benefited from the chaos.

Welker Setting Up for Bigger Payday

Kudos to Welker for not dragging his contract situation through the mud. He wanted a better deal, the Patriots didn’t want to give it to him, and they franchised him. Welker knew what they would do and, rather than piss and moan, just accepted it. An emphatic statement of support, an enthusiastic tweet, and the issue is over and done with.

But no one should misconstrue Welker’s tolerance for altruism. If Welker has another career year like 2011, he can show every team out there (Patriots or not) that he’s playing the best football of his life. Higher signing bonuses, more “guaranteed” (a phony word in NFL bargaining) cash, more years – a 2012 that matches or exceeds 2011 makes everything possible.

On top of his numbers, Welker’s approach shows professionalism and responsibility. Both of those qualities translate to profitability, because teams are way more likely to work with a player if they think he’ll keep the process to himself. Randy Moss‘ options have dwindled considerably over the last few seasons as more and more teams realize just how much of a prima donna he is. Despite Hall-of-Fame numbers, few teams want to go after a player who’ll air every petty grievance to the press.

And when it comes to the fans, every contract issue seems petty. When you’re making $30,000 a year, you don’t care if a guy gets $8 million over one year or $13 million over two. Fighting over so much money can only alienate fans towards both the player and the franchise.

Welker has shown none of the egotism athletes typically develop when they become on-the-field superstars. His humility is a bankable attribute, same as his speed.

The Patriots didn’t give Welker a longer deal because they’re still unsure his knee has fully healed (and because they’re the Patriots). Had Welker signed for longer elsewhere and struggled, the team might have cut him or asked him to renegotiate. Then he’d be exactly where he is now, except he’d be older and coming off a worse year.

But a second fantastic year and a rational approach to bargaining make Welker the ideal free-agent package, no matter who goes after him. How Welker handled the franchise tag sets him up for the big-money, long-term deal he’s wanted all along. And it gives Patriots fans one more year to enjoy one of the greatest receivers in franchise history.

That, as they say, is a win-win.

© Matt Goisman for Sports of Boston, 2012. | Permalink | One comment
Filed under: Featured, Patriots, Top Story.

But, we wouldn’t share something unless we actually thought it was worth it. (It’s kind of funny and it’s relevant, of course…I mean, Brandon Lloyd is now a Patriot).

And while I know I kind of spoiled the video with the headline, it’s still worth your time:

© KC Downey for Sports of Boston, 2012. | Permalink | No comment
Filed under: Now!, Patriots, Video.

When the 2012 New England Patriots kick off their season in a few months, many of the faces will look familiar. Tom Brady, Rob Gronkowski and Wes Welker will still be there, picking apart defenses. Jerod Mayo will still blow up any receiver foolhardy enough to run across the middle of the field. Stephen Gostkowski will still split the uprights with computer-like proficiency.

But one familiar face won’t be there: Matt Light, who retired from the NFL Monday. Light played for the Patriots for 11 years, starting 153 of 155 total regular season games, plus 16 playoff games. He started all 16 games in seven different seasons, playing a key role in the Patriots’ transformation into the premier NFL franchise of the 21st century.

Light Anchored Competent Offensive Line

In the five years before Light arrived, the Patriots’ offensive line averaged just under 41 sacks per season, with an average rank smack in the middle of the NFL (16). With Light anchoring the team starting in 2001, average sacks dropped down to 30.5, and average ranking improved to 11.1.

The Patriots had allowed 40-plus sacks each of the three seasons prior to Light taking over as left tackle. They allowed 46 during Light’s rookie year – which ended in the Patriots’ first Lombardi Trophy – but did not allow more than 32 in any season after except for 2008, when Brady’s injury in the first game of the season forced Matt Cassell to take over as starting quarterback.

Because Cassell didn’t have Brady’s rhythm with his receivers, Cassell’s passing plays took longer, leading to more sacks. In a season doomed after its opening quarter, the blame should be spread equally.

When Brady played, Light and teammates like Dan Koppen and Logan Mankins consistently gave him sufficient protection to get rid of the ball. The Patriots finished among the NFL’s top five in allowed sacks four times during Light’s tenure, a feat accomplished just twice in the 12 years beforehand.

Light turned the offensive line around, but Patriots fans shouldn’t misconstrue him as the greatest tackle in Patriot history. The Patriots never led the league in allowed sacks from 2001-11, and they never featured the most dominant running games – not they tried.

And since he usually had to deal with the most dangerous passers, Light himself struggled from time to time, especially in the playoffs. While the offensive line kept Brady on his feet for most of their run to Super Bowl XLVI, breakdowns in protection cost the Patriots their undefeated season, with the Giants sacking Brady five times in Super Bowl XLII.

While sacks weren’t the only reason the Patriots lost to the Giants that year, cameras showed Brady repeatedly staring down his offensive linemen – Light in particular – during the game. Following that loss, the Patriots lost their next two postseason games, and the line gave up eight sacks between the two losses.

Light Shouldn’t Get Into Hall of Fame

Light played left tackle well enough to win three Super Bowls and earn four trips to the Pro Bowl, but don’t expect to see him in Canton unless so many members of the early-2000s Patriots dynasty get inducted that the Hall of Fame has to take him as well. He bears some similarity to Hall of Famers Jim Ringo and Jim Otto, but neither of them played tackle.

Patriots fans should remember Light as part of a unit that helped make Brady into a Hall of Famer. They respect Light for playing through the constant gastrointestinal distress of Crohn’s Disease, and they should support his decision to leave the NFL with his health – especially his mental health and cognitive faculties – fully intact.

Solder Ready to Step In

With Light’s retirement, the Nate Solder Era will begin next season. Solder has already been used as a lead-blocker on goal-line plays – a secondary talent Light never displayed. A taller and heavier player than Light, Solder’s physical presence adds an element of intimidation to his game.

Solder definitely has the potential to be as good as Light, if not better, despite getting flagged five times in 2011. NFL pass-rushing is much faster than NCAA pass-rushing, and Solder’s penalties – three holding, one hands to the face, one clipping – came from his inexperience with how quick NFL players are off the snap.

Once Solder understands that, he’ll start blocking without getting flagged. And that will make the Patriots’ line even more dominant.

© Matt Goisman for Sports of Boston, 2012. | Permalink | No comment
Filed under: Featured, Opinion, Patriots, Top Story.

Have a look…

Tom Brady (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images)

The hairdo is his first new one…in two days! He sported a vintage look for the Derby on Saturday.

© KC Downey for Sports of Boston, 2012. | Permalink | No comment
Filed under: Now!, Patriots.

Legendary NFL linebacker Junior Seau died Wednesday at his California home due to gunshot wound to the chest. Police are investigating his death as a suicide. He was 43.

“He had a legendary NFL career and his unrivaled passion for the game quickly made him a fan favorite here in New England,” the Patriots said in a statement. “This is a sad day for the entire Patriots organization, our coaches and his many Patriots teammates. Our heartfelt thoughts and prayers go out to his family and his many friends who will mourn this loss.”

Seau played with the Patriots from 2006-2009. He also played with the Dolphins, but spent most of his career with the Chargers.

Seau nearly died in 2010 after crashing his car off a cliff in Carlsbad, California. He had been arrested earlier that same day on domestic violence charges, and claimed he fell asleep at the wheel before the crash.

He even had his own TV show back in 2009. At the time, Sports of Boston had the opportunity to interview Seau ahead of his show’s premiere.

© KC Downey for Sports of Boston, 2012. | Permalink | No comment
Filed under: Featured, Patriots, Top Story.

It’s a joke that websites publish NFL Draft grades the day or even the year after the actual NFL draft. Draft “experts” like Mel Kiper and Todd McShay say they evaluate team’s drafts based on whether they fulfilled their needs and received draft “value” with their picks. There is nothing wrong with those evaluations. Just don’t tell me you can assign a letter grade to them without actually seeing these players on the field in a regular season NFL game.

You can find a Tom Brady in the 6th round or a Peyton Manning with the 1st overall pick. You can grab Troy Brown in a round that doesn’t even exist today or you can bring an undrafted player like James Harrison who can be a perennial Pro-Bowler and Super Bowl hero. Draft success can be good scouting, strong due diligence or just plain luck.

When it comes to the Patriots drafts or others, I like to evaluate using a simple criterion.

#1 Did they draft to fill needs?

In 2010, after a first round playoff  loss to the Ravens, Bill Belichick chose to bring in more targets for Tom Brady. As described in “Bill Belichick: A Football Life,” the Patriots offense had become nothing more than deep passes to Randy Moss and slant passes to Wes Welker. Teams that were able to take that away from the Patriots offense were able to keep them in check. The Patriots stole Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez in the 2nd and 4th rounds respectively and those picks gave them a tight end combination that no one in the league can match. The pass defense had also shown cracks that season so Belichick drafted cornerback Devin McCourty to help improve in that area.

Last year, the Patriots lost to the Jets because they had trouble keeping Tom Brady comfortable in the pocket and because they still could not clamp down on defense. So despite a draft deep in defensive lineman, the Patriots decided to draft offensive tackle Nate Solder, a big corner in Ras-I Dowling and a pair of running backs (Shane Vereen and Stevan Ridley). This year the Patriots spent almost all their draft currency on defense, their true Achilles heel in 2011 and the primary reason they lost to the Giants in the Super Bowl.

#2 Did they pick the right player at the right position?

Translation: When the Patriots evaluated a position, whether it was two different tackles, guards, linebackers, wide receivers, etc., did they pick the right one? For instance, in the 2009 draft, they did not. In the 3rd round of that draft, the Patriots selected Brandon Tate, a wide receiver from North Carolina. With the next pick in the draft, the Steelers selected another wide receiver, Mike Wallace from Mississippi. Now, the criticism isn’t just that Wallace has become a star and Tate hasn’t. Both players were inconsistent performers in college and therefore, they slipped to 3rd round.

Tate however, had missed most of his Senior year with a torn ACL. In his rookie year, he tore another ACL, and aside from a couple of kickoff returns for touchdowns, he was never a factor in the Patriot offense. Wallace has become one of the premier deep threats in the league.

In the 2011 draft, the Patriots hit a home run on Rob Gronkowski when they selected the tight end in the second round. Gronkowski had missed his senior season with a back injury and many thought the Patriots might target heralded Brigham Young tight end Dennis Pitta with their second round pick. So, you will have hits and misses. But if the misses continue to occur, then the questioning can begin.

Recent Misses

• WR Chad Jackson instead of WR Greg Jennings in 2006
• S Patrick Chung instead of CB Vontae Davis in 2009
• Florida LB Jermaine Cunningham instead of Florida LB Carlos Dunlap in 2010
• RB Shane Vereen instead of RB DeMarco Murray in 2011

Recent Hits

• LB Jerod Mayo instead of LB Keith Rivers in 2008
• CB Devin McCourty instead of CB Kyle Wilson in 2011
• TE Rob Gronkowski and TE Aaron Hernandez instead of TE Dennis Pitta in 2011

Over the next few years, I will monitor closely the production of Patriots first round pick Chandler Jones vs. the production of Whitney Mercilus of the Bears and Nick Perry of the Packers, both taken in the first round behind Jones, and both defensive ends. I don’t take “the system” into consideration, as you can tell a great player from a bad player regardless of system.

The Patriots second first round pick, linebacker Dont’a Hightower, will be compared with Alabama Crimson Tide teammate Courtney Upshaw, now with the Ravens. If Hightower performs as some think, he might be the best linebacker taken in the draft.

I will be interested to see how Tavon Wilson, a pick ridiculed by the draft experts, performs against fellow defensive backs taken in the 2nd round behind Wilson. So, keep an eye on the production of Casey Hayward (Vanderbilt #62 overall) with Green Bay, Brandon Taylor (LSU #73 overall) with San Diego and Trumaine Johnson (Montana #65 overall) with the Rams.

Finally, comparing the Eagles selection of defensive end Vinny Curry (Marshall #59 overall) vs the Patriots selection of defensive end Jake Bequette (Arkansas, #90 overall) will be interesting. This comparison is noteworthy because of the teams and coaches involved. The Patriots and the Eagles are two of the most successful teams of the decade and their coaches, Andy Reid and Bill Belichick, are two of the most successful coaches of the decade. They are highly regarded for their ability to move up and down the draft board to find value.

The Patriots could have taken either Bequette or Curry with one of their two second round picks. They traded it for a 3rd and 5th and eventually that 5th round pick for a 6th round and two 7th round picks. So, if Alfonzo Dennard (Nebraska #224) can shake off his considerable baggage and be the player many expect then the combo of Bequette and Dennard could make the Patriots once again look like draft day geniuses. However, if Curry lives up to the first round status that some people felt he deserved and Bequette and Dennard are busts then that trade will be added to the list of recent draft misses.

#3 Did they find a star, and a few starters?

The media has been trying to pigeonhole Belichick’s draft strategy for years. The truth is Belichick’s has never shown a consistent strategy throughout his tenure. They have had drafts where they traded up: 2003 to select tight end Daniel Graham and this year twice to select Jones and Hightower.

They have also had drafts where they have traded back: 2008 for Jerrod Mayo, 2009 for Patrick Chung, and 2011 for Devin McCourty.

My take is that when Belichick says, “he did what he thought would best improve the team,” he’s being sincere. He has a belief in his system and he selects players that will best fit in. He takes that belief and applies a different strategy to it every year. Like every team, he has hits and misses.

In general, with the draft and the signing of undrafted free agents, if you can find a star, which I define as a Pro-Bowl player, and a few solid starters whether it be offense, defense or special teams, you have succeeded.

The Patriots have had good results the last five years in finding three contributors in the draft.

2007 – I would consider safety Brandon Meriweather selected #24 overall a solid starter in his Patriot tenure. The acquisitions of Randy Moss and Wes Welker for 4th and 2nd round draft picks was akin to adding two Pro Bowlers. This draft was a home run.

2008 – The Patriots had the #7 overall pick after a trade the previous season. They lost their own #1 pick as a result of the “Spygate” punishment. They traded back a few spots and selected Jerod Mayo, who has been a pro-bowler. Mayo was the brightest spot in a class comprised mostly of failures. Terence Wheatley, Shawn Crable, Kevin O’Connell, Jonathan Wilhite and Bo Ruud are all either with other teams or out of the league altogether. Matthew Slater, taken in the 5th round, has been a solid contributor on special teams. This draft was not an abject failure but not a huge success, as the Patriots came out of it with just two players who were consistent contributors. The 2008 draft in general was weak throughout the league.

2009 – The Clay Matthews Draft. The Patriots are often criticized for passing on linebacker Clay Matthews in the 2009 draft. They also passed on offensive tackle Michael Oher, wide receiver Hakeem Nicks and cornerback Vontae Davis late in the first round. The Patriots first four selections that year were safety Patrick Chung, cornerback Darius Butler, defensive tackle Ron Brace and offensive tackle Sebastian Vollmer. Vollmer has been a second team All-Pro, Chung a solid starter and 7th round pick Julian Edelman has been a terrific role player. This was the draft where the Patriots chose Tate over Wallace but despite that miss, it was still it was a successful draft.

2010 – The Patriots drafted cornerback Devin McCourty, tight end Rob Gronkowski, linebacker Brandon Spikes and tight end Aaron Hernandez in the first four rounds. They hit on a franchise player with Gronkowski, a borderline Pro Bowler in Aaron Hernandez and solid starters with McCourty and Spikes. In rounds 5 through 7, the Patriots drafted punter Zoltan Mesko and defensive end Brandon Deaderick, and both have been successful in their roles. Even 6th round pick Ted Larsen, who did not make the team out of training camp, has become a starter, albeit in Tampa Bay. Despite a miss on wide receiver Taylor Price and linebacker Jermaine Cunningham, this draft was a home run.

2011 – It’s too early to gauge the success of this draft. First round pick Nate Solder filled in admirably last year at right and left tackle for Sebastian Vollmer and Matt Light. This year with Light’s retirement, he will be put to the real test, covering Tom Brady’s blind side. Later round picks Shane Vereen, Stevan Ridley and Ras-I Dowling go into the 2012 season with high expectations.

2012 – So with 2012 draft class, the Patriots organization and fans would be more than overjoyed if Dont’a Hightower became their Pro Bowler, Chandler Jones their feared edge rusher and who would not want to see Tashon Wilson overcome his 6th round draft value? Just getting drafted is quite a remarkable accomplishment by Wilson, considering he lost both his parents by the age of 10.

So, bring on the 2012 season and let’s see if the kids can play because that means a lot more than whether Mel Kiper gave their draft an A – the Tuesday after the draft.

© gcain for Sports of Boston, 2012. | Permalink | No comment
Filed under: Featured, Patriots, Top Story.

After trading with the Bengals for the 21st pick, the Patriots selected Chandler Jones, Defensive End from Syracuse. Listed at 6’5 266 lbs, Jones is a tremendous athlete who will step in at starting defensive end for Mark Anderson, who left in free agency go to Buffalo.

Despite being injured five games last years and only recording 10 sacks in 3 seasons, Jones’ draft stock rising in the weeks leading up to the draft going from a projected mid round prospect, to being projected as high as number 12.

Jones, brother of MMA fighter Jon “Bones” Jones, is an expert at using his hands and can use his long arms to wreck havoc. He is a high motor player, who relies on hustle and rip and swim moves to get pressure rather than around-the-corner speed. Many have compared him to Giant’s defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul.

The Patriots traded their 3rd round pick (93rd overall) and the 27th pick for the 21st pick.

Making their second trade up on day one, with the 25th pick the Patriots selected Dont’a Hightower, linebacker from Alabama. The Patriots surrendered their 4th round pick (126th overall) and 31st pick for the pick. Hightower was expected to be drafted by the Baltimore Ravens at 29th which made the trade up a necessity.

In Hightower the Patriots get an athletic, versatile player who has all the intangibles a Bill Belichick player needs to have. He is smart, hard-working and well-respected on the field. At 6’2 265 lbs, Hightower has great speed for a player his size, recording a 4.68 40 at the combine. He can play inside linebacker in a 3-4 defense, or outside linebacker in a 4-3 defense. He is a powerful tackler who can rush the passer off the edge and plays with high intensity.

One knock on Hightower is his recognition skills are sometimes too slow and he can miss tackles at time. Also any time a player has an ACL injury, which Hightower did in 2009, it immediately makes health a cause for concern.

© zach for Sports of Boston, 2012. | Permalink | No comment
Filed under: Featured, Patriots, Top Story.

On Wes Welker, let me be clear that regardless of his size, leaping ability or big play capability, I think I am in agreement with all Patriots fans – that I want this guy on the team. I also think the Patriots should come up with an offer that works for the Patriots. They have cap money to spend and they can probably structure a deal that works for both sides after the draft.

But, I also cannot stand the revisionist history coming from the Anti-Patriots media cartel. When the Patriots acquired, Welker they signed him to a five-year deal for about $12.5 million. The deal was worth it for his past production but he has since definitely outperformed the contract. I heard Michael Felger say that the Patriots should have done this deal years ago. Now Felger, like a “birther” or a ”truther,” is a “cap denier.” He is a self-admitted conspiracy nut ranging from the NFL Salary Cap to solar flares from the Sun.

Welker’s Previous Contract: Year-By-Year

Welker was signed prior to the 2007 season. He was immense in that season with 112 catches, 1,175 yards and 8 TD’s. The Patriots had him on the books for four more years. He was two years removed from 67 catches and 1 TD with Miami. If you’re the Patriots, do you renegotiate after this season? Of course not.

In 2008, the Brady injury year, 111 catches, 1,165 yards and 3 TD’s. Now, the Patriots still have him on the books at low money with 3 years to go. If you’re the Pats, do you re-negotiate? Well, the answer is probably yes, if you knew how the CBA would turn out and if you knew that Pierre Garcon was going to get dramatically overpaid in 2012. This was the year for Wes to look out for Wes, like Darrelle Revis did with the Jets, and like Richard Seymour did with the Patriots.

Welker did the admirable thing but probably not the best thing for his financial future – he came into camp with the same contract. In 2009, in 14 games, he went nuts, hauling in 123 catches for 1,348 yards and 4 TD’s. He then blows his knee out in the last game of the season. If Welker doesn’t do that, the equation all changes. A contract fight was coming but, with the ACL he lost his leverage. The wise thing for the Patriots would have been to offer a Moss deal, but in their defense they were facing an uncapped year, a receiver with a torn ACL, and a CBA situation. That’s not how they do business.

Welker worked his butt off, changed agents, and had a good season in 2010, with 86 catches, 848 yards and 7 TD’s. He struggled against the Jets in the playoff game after getting benched for commenting on Rex Ryan’s foot fetish. Welker could have held out again, but with the CBA and no offseason, he gambled on having one more good season and then getting rewarded. And he did just that this year (maybe his best) with 122 receptions, 1,569 yards and 9 TD’s. He’s been as productive as any receiver in the NFL and he and Tom Brady are the best passing/receiving combination in sports. Yes, the two may forever be remembered for “the drop,” but it doesn’t take away the production.

So Michael Felger, when was the opportune time for a deal? The FACT, not opinion, was after 2008 for Welker or after 2009 for the Patriots. But, you don’t want to talk about the ACL, because you don’t want your facts to get in the way of your opinion. Felger keeps throwing out the Moss contract, the Moss contract. Well, MIKE, what if Wes doesn’t want the Moss contract? You don’t know what he wants but you continue to chatter away. Also, Felger always like to paint the Patriots as the only “mean” team in the league. There were a record number of franchise tags thrown out at all positions. (Dwayne Bowe, Brent Grimes, Cliff Avril, Drew Brees, Michael Griffin etc.) The players should have fought against the tag, they didn’t and now the media is here to complain about it for them?

Patriots Leverage

So, the Patriots have all the leverage. They have Welker and two franchise tags to play with. The receiver market went crazy in the offseason so yes, from a money perspective, Welker is losing millions. It should teach him a lesson in this league. The owners have more leverage than any other sport, so you have to make as much money when you can while you still can. Welker let poor representation and sentimentality get in the way of business. Don’t blame the Patriots for playing within the rules – they signed a couple slot guys knowing they can bridge the gap until he came back.

At 31, is Welker going to sit out 10 games ala Logan Mankins and then maybe get franchised again? Is he going to spend all next season thinking about that pass in the Super Bowl while Brady is hitting Anthony Gonzalez and Aaron Hernandez? Very doubtful. The answer is this, the Patriots and Welker are a match, so they have to find the common ground – both sides are going to have to give a little on this one.

That being said, the Patriots might have already made the decision that Welker’s money in 2014 and 2015 is going to Gronkowski and Hernandez. And for that, you can’t fault them either. Such is life in the NFL: the Felgers of the world want to make it about laundry, when it suits them. Remember when Felger chastised the Patriots about Brady’s contract, talking about how they were going to hold him to the fire like the Bruins did with Ray Bourque? Didn’t happen. Meanwhile, the Colts cut Peyton Manning, the Saints never signed Drew Brees, the Jets created a quarterback controversy and a lot of bad teams threw money at some mediocre talent.

Sorry, let’s tune it back to more Daniel Bard is a jerk talk.

© gcain for Sports of Boston, 2012. | Permalink | No comment
Filed under: Featured, Patriots.