Denver Wes Welker reflects upon emotional breakup with the Patriots – Patriots Wire
Denver When looking for examples of Bill Belichick’s ruthless approach to free agency, the coach’s handling of Wes Welker comes to mind. Welker was the lifeblood of the New England Patriots’ offense for six seasons, with five 100-catch seasons under Belichick. But when Welker hit free agency in 2013, Belichick didn’t bother pursuing when the slot receiver attracted interest from the Denver Broncos. The Patriots were OK to let him go. During an interview with WEEI on Wednesday, Welker was asked whether a weight was lifted when he left New England. “Maybe a little bit,” he told WEEI’s “Greg Hill Show” this week. “I was still upset about it. I did want to be there, but there was part of me — I just like enjoying the game. I like having fun, all those things. Coaching now, you learn a lot from the tactics and different things like that, but at the same time putting your own twist on it and understanding — I tell my guys all the time: ‘As long as we’re giving great effort and we’re on top of our assignments we’re going to be good. Once it’s not where we need to be, that is when we have problems.’ “Kind of being there and there’s a big mental aspect to the game of being prepared, being this, being that, all those different things, but also enjoying yourself and having fun playing the game. I feel like you’re playing your best ball when you’re having fun and enjoying (yourself). “I think there were some times where I didn’t really feel that at times for different reasons — the guys that we had in the locker room, the camaraderie that we had was better some years than others. We had all these different things and when you’re one of the highest paid players on the team you’re expected to deliver and like a highly paid player. There’s definitely pressure on that and all these different things is tough and it’s hard. Coach Belichick is hard on guys and tries to get the most out of him that he can.” Welker’s comments are timely in the wake of Tom Brady’s departure for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. It’s a move that Welker could feel coming, as Belichick treated Brady like every other aging player. It seems the coach and general manager was content to let Brady walk a year too early, rather than a year too late. The Patriots’ 9 potential cap casualties for trade and release View 9 photos