I love this idea that guaranteeing a player $9.5 mil for this year with the franchise tag is somehow screwing him. For one thing, we don't know what he is asking for. It's possible the Pats are offering him a decent contract, but he wants more than that. Don't be naive. He didn't show up just to be a good soldier. Welker knows damn well that his future earnings are based on having another big year this year. And he also knows that there is a good chance the Pats offense will be just as good without him. If he were to sit on the sidelines while they ran up tons of yardage and points without him, even more teams would think he is more a product of the system then a "great" receiver. So he really had more to lose by NOT showing up than by showing up. By showing up he gets his $$ guaranteed, and another 100 catches will get him a nice contract moving forward. The idea that this will show players that the Pats are cheap and nobody will want to play for them is more what rival fans hope than reality.
I'm not sure it's fair to say that they "screwed" him without knowing what they offered, and what he was demanding. Even then, it is arbitrary, and basically just amounts to a judgement call. Just because he signed his franchise tender, you can't realistically think that the Patriots were suddenly morally obligated to meet his demands, no matter what they were. In general, the idea that a franchised player is getting "screwed" seems a bit disingenuous to me. Usually they are getting paid very generously for the season, and if the players really objected to the idea as much as they portray, they would have negotiated it out of the CBA a long time ago.
i dont see what the big huff and puff is. Welker has only 1-2 more good years in him anyways. I usually criticize the pats for letting players walk out of egotism. this time they have all the right to play hardball with a WR whos had multiple leg injuries and whos game is predicated on being quick in and out of his cuts and oh wait hes 31. the pats have Hernandez for 2 more years and Gronk long term. they have 2 years to find a true all around WR to open the field back up for Gronk who will be schemed against with a vengeance this yr and moving forward. they have 1yr to bring in someone who is a solid route runner and can do some damage after the catch if they dont plan on overpaying for Welker
Probably nothing. I don't see Stallworth making the 53 man roster, let alone replacing Welker. They also play very different roles.
