That makes sense. The Pats give him a $9.5M just to not use him and teach him a lesson. Great way to run a business. ?!?

Also all I remember a few years back was all these people talking about how old the Patriots are every year…….now claims that they dont pay anyone over 30?

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Welker was one of the first in league to sign his franchise tender. He didn’t hold out at all. He signed so quickly that he gave up any leverage he had for a long term deal.

Brady has said time and time again his favorite reciever is the open one. Everyone knows that Welker seems to get open more often than not, but maybe Welker was covered so well he was not open.

Stop trying to make a story where there is none.

The Titans were focused on covering Welker, given his past productivity – thus Brady was looking for his “favorite” receiver – the open man.

Once you build up a 20 point lead, you run the ball more than you pass anyways – and the Patriots did exactly that.

Beyond that, most fans have been predicting that this is the year Hernandez becomes the receiving leader for the Pats this season and his 6 catches suggest that may be the case.

Welker will still get plenty of catches – but it may not be the 120 he’s used to. That may impact his ability to earn top dollar as a free agent next season, but that’s the way the football bounces.

Deion Branch, while he was with the Patriots, was often similar; one week, he would have ten or eleven catches; another week, David Givens, David Patton, or a cast of others, depending on the game plan and what opposing defenses would do, dictated the stats in the game. To me, Tom Brady was always at his best when passing to as many as nine different targets. The defense could therefore not key on any one particular player. This was when they were the most effective.

In those days, they also had a much better mix of run and pass, first with Antoine Smith at running back, then later with Corey Dillon, with Kevin Faulk as the alternate option, particularly on draw plays and play action passes.

If the Patriots can come up with an offense that really utilizes everyone, then no one scheme will shut them down. Considering what has happened twice against the Giants in the two most recent Super Bowl losses, I think it is to the benefit of the team to take advantage of every match up. Sure, in any particular game, go with what works. But in the long run, vary the offense, and get all aspects of the game honed and working well. Then when it really matters, it will all fit together.

I hope that Wes remains in the team plans for some time to come, but let’s face it, if he is too expensive, it makes good sense for the team to have many good players (including Wes) than overpaying (as Buffalo did for Williams and Anderson on their D Line). Balance and the team, effectively playing in all aspects of the game is what produces a winner.

That said, a stifling defense with a lot of pressure is what gave the Giants two wins, and that’s what gave the Patriots their three wins in the big game; let’s not forget that in the equation either!

Gave us a good look at some newcomers, though.

I’m sure he won’t be the last either.

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This is the reason that the Pats have been successful for so long. Although Welker has been the model Patriot, he will cost $9.5 mil this year and a potential $11.4 next year if they franchise him. With all the weapons they have at their disposal he potentially becomes expendable. Knock them all you like for playing hardball but that is one of the reasons they have had a great team for so long. They don’t pay someone for past performance.

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Although I agree with another poster that one game does not create a trend, I suspect vcu is right. Welker made a mistake in taking his contract dispute public, and players have been run out of town for less. Bringing in Salas, who is a promising young slot receiver, could be the death knell for Welker in Foxboro. I think the Patriots are just waiting on the right offer.

He would have had another catch for about 25 more yards if he didnt kill a first quarter drive by letting a pass hit him in the face.

Unless there is an injury Wes will end up with a ton of catches like usual. He barely played all preseason and they ran the crap out of the ball, this is not a big deal.

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Yeah that makes sense….Let the receiver who has been either #1 or #2 in the league for the last 5 years in terms of yards and/or receptions walk away in free agency without getting anything for him…

The Patriots focused more on the run yesterday because they’re trying to balance the offense more instead of solely relying on the pass like they have the last 5 years…Someone already said it but he may have had one down game but next week he could have 12 catches…You never know how Belichick plans to attack the opposing defenses and we all know McDaniels loved to use Welker before he left to coach the Broncos so I’m sure we’ll see more of Welker as the season progresses…And no, I don’t think this was in any way part of a plan to phase him out and lower his value or plan for life without him

Those vets a previous poster says the Pats trashed, were not trashed, they were traded or signed with teams willing to spend more money on them. That includes many all pro defenders and Vinatieri and now Welker. These are money decisions. Anyone with gas left in the tank goes on to make more money elsewhere. If all they cared about was winning and being a Pat, most of them would still be with them.

They proved yesterday they don’t even really need Welker.

now ask for a trade.