Howe On Toucher & Rich: Patriots Will Be 'Fine' If They Can Remain Healthy
Wes Welker will be catching passes for Peyton Manning and the Broncos in Denver next season as the wide receiver signs a deal for $12 million over two seasons. Just hours after Wes Welker agreed to a deal with the Denver Broncos, the Pats went and signed wide receiver Danny Amendola to a five-year, $31 million deal.
Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald joined 98.5 The Sports Hub's Toucher & Rich to discuss Welker's move to Denver and the signing of Amendola.
The Patriots paid Welker $9.5 million just for last season and the deal with Denver is worth just $12 million over two seasons. According to reports the Patriots' best offer was for $10 million over two years, with incentives. Is it just a case of the Patriots not valuing Welker? Sure seems that way doesn't it?
"That's the $12 million question I guess. It's surprising, but I guess it shouldn't be because they've pretty much put the writing on the wall on this thing for a while now. They showed virtually no interest in keeping him this offseason, especially yesterday as we all found out. Then I guess even more surprising was the fact that they gave so much money to Danny Amendola, although I'm very interested to see the specifics of that deal to see what it really looks like."
Welker has played in 102 out of a possible 106 games. He's led the league in receptions three times (2007, '09, '11), averaging 112 catches and 1,243 receiving yards per season. He ended the 2012 season with 118 catches for 1,354 yards and six touchdowns. How much will not having Welker anymore affect this offense? Will it suffer without the wide receiver?
"This is a guy that Tom Brady has relied on in every single situation for better or worse. How many clutch passes, again whether they've sailed over his head or they've gone complete, have gone to Welker?"
"They'll be fine if the health can stay there, Amendola is very much included in that category."
Plus, is this it for offseason moves for the Patriots? How much say did Josh McDaniels have in this decision?
