Wes Welker Contract Talks Not Going Well

Added on May 21, 2012 by Scott in

NFL

No player wants to play on a one-year franchise tender, especially when said player is one of the top wide receivers in football. Wes Welker hasn’t been shy about his frustration with getting a contract extension from the Patriots and despite comments to the contrary, he isn’t happy with the one-year, $9.5 million deal he inked last week. It’s likely the situation will be resolved before the season kicks off, but until then, it’s a soap opera worth watching.

Welker took heat for letting slip the ongoing negotiations had “gotten worse” in an interview with the Boston Herald. Evidently the Pats front office was perturbed, because Welker immediately went into spin control and embarked on a tour of sports talking head shows to clarify his statements, i.e. lie to save face.

“I just enjoy playing ball, enjoy being out there, enjoy playing the game. That’s never going to change,” Welker said. “I think you can get caught up in it and react silly sometimes. But you know what? We’re getting to play a game that we love and there’s no need to get into everything else about it.”

Blah, blah, blah. Of course he’s happy playing a game that he loves, but he’d be a lot happier if he was sitting on a five-year extension with $20-plus million in guaranteed money. One would think a guy who hauled in over 110 catches in four of the last five seasons would have little trouble lobbying for a long-term deal.

Sure, he’s not Calvin Johnson athletically speaking, but it’s impossible to argue his value to the Patriots pass heavy offense. Not only is he Tom Brady’s most consistent and reliable target, but his ability to dominate between the hashes opens up plays down the field to tight ends Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez, and maybe Brandon Lloyd in 2012.

Plus, he’s only 31 yeas old. His track record is longer and more proven than DeSean Jackson and yet the Eagles didn’t blink when they handed their petulant wideout a five-year extension. Awarding Welker for his past and future contributions should be a no-brainer. But for some strange reason, it’s not.

Source: ESPN.com