NFL.com: Wes Welker to Broncos

[SteveFromYellowstone]

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap100...oyear-contract

Wes Welker, Denver Broncos strike two-year contract

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• By Gregg Rosenthal
• Around The League Editor
• Published: March 13, 2013 at 04:55 p.m.
• Updated: March 13, 2013 at 06:54 p.m.

Wes Welker waited and waited for the offer he wanted from the New England Patriots. It never came.

Welker going to the Broncos

More:
» Welker gets two-year contract | Details of deal
» Brooks: Patriots won't miss a beat without Welker
» Keep tabs on top free-agent WRs | Tracker
Video:
» What Welker addition could mean for Manning
» Can Patriots replace Welker's production?
» Warner: Brady will miss Welker greatly

Broncos top executive John Elway, on the other hand, delivered the goods. NFL.com's Albert Breer first reported Wednesday that Welker agreed to terms on a two-year, $12 million contract with the Denver Broncos. The Broncos quickly confirmed the news via Twitter.
Breer later reported, via a source involved in the Broncos talks, that the Patriots' final and only offer to Welker was a two-year, $10 million contract with incentives.
What a moment in time this is for the Patriots and the entire AFC title race. Welker, a five-time Pro Bowl receiver, goes from one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time in Tom Brady to another in Peyton Manning. The No. 1 seed in the AFC from a year ago takes away the top receiver from the No. 2 seed. Welker's departure mirrors Adam Vinatieri's to the Indianapolis Colts in 2006. And the Broncos didn't even have to give up long-term guaranteed money to get him.
For so many years, we heard Welker was a "product of the system." That always underplayed Welker's terrific quickness and his ability to recognize coverages and make the right decisions on option routes. It's hard to imagine Welker succeeding everywhere, but he's absolutely a perfect fit for Manning and the Broncos.
Welker will work the middle of the field with Eric Decker and Demaryius Thomas on the outside. You can only double cover so many wideouts, and Thomas will attract a lot of attention. More than ever, Manning loves to get rid of the ball quickly. That plays to Welker's strengths; he's a huge upgrade from Brandon Stokley, who managed 45 catches last year at age 36 in Denver.


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Patriots are DUMB. It's not that easy to replace 100+ catches a year, especially for 2 years 12 mil. Amendola signing is good for the Pats but damn unless they do something big they will be worse and once again fail to win a superbowl.

[skinsmarydu]

Didn't someone make a "Butterfingers" meme about him? And I think it was right around the time Giselle made her brain-dead comment about her husband not be able "to throw and catch the ****ing ball"? If your husband is who the media says he is, the ball(s) should've been catchable.
On the other hand, Peyton just got another weapon.
But then on another hand...
Tebow with the Broncos in the playoffs: 1-0
Manning with the Broncos in the playoffs: 0-1

And that's all I gotta say about that.
Hail!

[Fight4RGIII]

Match made in heaven. He can run 7 yard routes, Peyton can only throw the ball 7 yards..

[Redskin4ever]

I think this is an interesting move for Welker. As productive as he was, he was pretty much a slot guy catching short passes. Yes, Manning can only throw short passes these days (wink wink), but what made Welker great was how the Patriots used him. Will the Broncos use him in the same way? I find it hard to believe he will be as productive out there. I guess we will see.

As far as the Patriots, they signed Danny Amendola. If he can stay healthy, that is a brilliant move by them. Every game, he will look like he did against the Redskins.

[Binton]

I wonder how long it'll take for people here to start crying here that we didn't sign him

[pjfootballer]

Welker doesn't need to be as productive as he was in NE. NE ran a TE based offense and if Gronk and Hernandez weren't open, he threw it to Welker. Denver has Thomas as the deep threat, Decker as a possession receiver and Tamme is a pretty good TE, not to mention their RBs can catch the ball out of the backfield. Add in Stoakley (if he comes back) and I think Welker will only have to be a 70 catch guy and not a 110 catch guy.

---------- Post added March-14th-2013 at 08:18 AM ----------

But then on another hand...
Tebow with the Broncos in the playoffs: 1-0
Manning with the Broncos in the playoffs: 0-1

And that's all I gotta say about that.
Hail!

I really think that is too small a sample size for people to keep bringing that up. One could say Denver's defense kept the Broncos in the game with the Steelers, while that same defense blew it against the Ravens. I mean if people want to keep worshipping Tebow the Magnificent, well:

Brunell 1-1 in the playoffs with the Redskins
Griffin 0-1 in the playoffs with the Redskins

[doncherry]

I think signing Amendola is a step up for the Pats. I had him in FF and when he was playing he scored big. Next year he is going to be a beast....

[Hooper]

Welker is only 32 and the Broncos only signed him for two years.

He is going to be LETHAL in the spot in Denver. Seriously, Brandon "out of the league for two years" Stokely was productive in the slot there last year.

He is also tough as nails and DURABLE as can be. Which is huge because he got crushed all the time the way they used him in New England.

You know who's not durable? Amandola. He's a great story, but if they want him to replace Welker that means he's going to get hit just as often.

[Taylor 36]

How many guys can say they not only got to play with two HOF QB's, but possibly the two best QB's of their era? Not many, that's for sure. And, anyone doubting Payton's arm strength is in for a real surprise this season. Word is, after having a season back in the swing of things and having a full offseason to work, his arm is looking much better.

[Hiro]

How many guys can say they not only got to play with two HOF QB's, but possibly the two best QB's of their era? Not many, that's for sure. And, anyone doubting Payton's arm strength is in for a real surprise this season. Word is, after having a season back in the swing of things and having a full offseason to work, his arm is looking much better.

Agreed. The Broncos' 4 WR set is looking really scary with Decker, Thomas, Stokley AND Welker now. Add in a game breaker at running back? Insanity.

[Hitman21ST]

Agreed. The Broncos' 4 WR set is looking really scary with Decker, Thomas, Stokley AND Welker now. Add in a game breaker at running back? Insanity.

It's like a buffet for Manning now. I'd be surprised if the Broncos aren't in 4 WR sets 90% of the time now.

[Koolblue13]

The Broncos just got a LOT better.

[Taylor 36]

The Broncos just got a LOT better.

Yeah, barring injury issues, I would think they'd have to be the AFC favorite.

[ConnSKINS26]

It's like a buffet for Manning now. I'd be surprised if the Broncos aren't in 4 WR sets 90% of the time now.

Stokely's probably retiring unless he wants to be a reserve. Manning doesn't really do 4-WR sets, he dominates in fairly vanilla 3-WR, 1-TE or 2-WR, 2-TE sets. Don't see that changing to accommodate an aging Stokley.

[Sherman]

Welker is one of those guys that can only succeed in a certain system and will fail in Denver.