Posted: 02:07 PM ET May 17, 2012
By Will Brinson | Senior NFL BloggerWhen Wes Welker signed his franchise tender with the Patriots the other day, he guaranteed himself $9.5 million for 2012. He also appeared to be playing the role of the good soldier by not holding out.
One day later, Welker didn't sound like such a happy camper, telling the Boston Herald's Karen Guregian that talks with the Patriots have "actually gotten worse" and that New England's now offering him a smaller contract than they were during the 2011 season.
"There have been talks, but nothing that's brightened anything at all," Welker said. “It's actually gotten worse."
Guregian asked Welker "to define 'worse'" and Welker said that the Patriots current offer on the table is lower than the two-year, $16 million guaranteed deal that New England offered him during the 2011 season.
Frankly, that's kind of bizarre. Welker's locked into $9.5 million next year. The Pats can't justify franchising him at 120 percent of that in 2012 ($11.4 million). Or, at least, can't justify low-balling him under $16 million -- and surely Welker's not willing to give up $5-ish million for the possibility of injury this season.
CBSSports.com's Pat Kirwan recently wrote on Welker's situation and did a fine job pegging a possible contract for the wide receiver.
"I think the right deal is a three-year contract," Kirwan wrote. "The deal should be $25 million over three years with 2012 as is at $9.5 fully guaranteed. Then 2013 another $9.5 guaranteed (which is under the $11.4 franchise tag but guaranteed now) and in 2014 a $2 million roster bonus on the 10th day of the league year and a $4 million salary."
I'm on board with Kirwan's plan -- give Welker a three-year deal, get him something in between the $16 million and the two-time franchise tag guaranteed money, and keep him in the fold for the next three years.
Giving Welker security means he'll go out and play football the Patriots way. Though he may do that anyway; Welker
"I think those techniques work better with other teams. I think the best thing you can do, as far as the Patriots, is be there and let them make the decision if they want to do something longterm or not," Welker said Wednesday. "Obviously, I want to be there. I want to help the team win. I want a championship and all those things.
"I'm trying to do everything to make that happen, and I'll let everything else take care of itself."
The problem for Welker is that the Patriots may decide they hold all the leverage (they do), that Welker's taking all the risk (he is), and that they'll just continue to lowball him. It's a shoddy strategy for making your employees happy, but it is good business. And unfortunately, there's not a lot Welker can do about it.
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