Player Profile: Wes Welker

I wanted to start these player profiles to take a closer look at some of the more interesting players in the NFL and highlight a few things that football fans may overlook at first glance.

I’ll admit that I have a personal preference towards this player but I just can’t understand how anyone doesn't love this guy. Wes Welker stands 5-9 185 pounds, not exactly the prototype for wide receivers, yet he is widely regarded as one of the most productive offensive players around. How does he do this you ask? What Welker lacks in size he makes up for in determination and will. How else do you explain Welker recording 110+ catches in 5 of the last 6 years? Welker is a workhorse that can carry an offense through thick and thin yet the guy gets the bare minimum respect.

The lack of respect has never been more palpable than in the past two off seasons. In 2012 the New England Patriots handcuffed Welker to their team on a 1 year franchise tag effectively forcing his hand and putting his long term career in jeopardy without adequate financial compensation. The franchise tag has been a long dreaded hammer that can be dropped on players at the will of the team. It has become such a problem that many players who are tagged threaten to hold out for more money and refuse to sign the franchise tender at the risk of sitting out an entire season. Wes is one of the few that kept his mouth shut and signed the franchise tender in good faith that the patriots would compensate him at the end of 2012. Unfortunately that faith was misplaced and at the start of 2013 free agency Welker was given a paltry offer by the Patriots that left everyone scratching their heads. This slap in the face was not lost on Welker or his agent as he soon signed with the Broncos for not only more money but more respect as well.

It’s a shame to think that someone who has done so much for a franchise like the Patriots gets passed over by that same team. Wes Welker is a class act football player that New England let slip through their fingers and I’m sure he’ll have revenge on his mind when the Broncos and Patriots face each other next season.