subject: New England Patriots Tickets – Welker Could Be Lynchpin for 2010 Pats [print this page] New England Patriots Tickets Welker Could Be Lynchpin for 2010 Pats
Wes Welker has been one of the most consistent receivers in the league since coming over to the New England Patriots in 2007. So dominant has Welker been at times that he has been relied upon to carry the offensive load opposite deep threat Randy Moss, which is a daunting task but one he has been up to so far in his career. After suffering a season-ending torn ACL last season, however, Welker has never faced a challenge quite the same as he looks to rebound from a horrific injury that could threaten to end his career.
So far, though, Welker has done just about everything right on his road to recovery and even participated in the team's early OTAs, which had to be surprising to just about everyone considering the proximity of his injury. Seeing Welker on the field also has to make quarterback Tom Brady and coach Bill Belichick smile as they contemplate getting him back into their lineup. Okay, maybe not Belichick, but that's only because his smile muscles were strategically removed at birth. For Brady, Welker is one of the most important pieces to his offense and of an equal value to Randy Moss, though Welker carries none of the fame that surrounds the Canton-bound Moss.
Looking at Welker's numbers in recent years, the impact he has had on the team is obvious. In three seasons with the Patriots, Welker has averaged 115 catches and 1,229 receiving yards, placing him among the top receivers in the entire NFL. Though Welker doesn't get into the endzone that often, he still has been an absolute workhorse for the Patriots and a main reason they have been able to move the ball so effectively. While most give credit to the combo of Randy Moss and Tom Brady for the record-setting year the Pats had in 2007, the season wouldn't have been nearly as illustrious without Welker's consistent contributions and ability to move the chains, even though that doesn't directly sell many New England Patriots tickets.
When Welker went down at the very end of the season in 2009, everybody knew that the Pats were no longer Super Bowl contenders, and it wasn't even that surprising that they ended up losing in the first round of the playoffs. But while many players may sulk after having a career-year end due to injury, Welker has worked arduously to get back on the field where he belongs. Just a few months after having major reconstructive knee surgery, he is already back on the gridiron with a knee brace running routes with his fellow teammates.
In an NFL with whiny superstar receivers, Welker's attitude is nothing short of refreshing. Nobody would have blamed him for taking all the time he needed with the training staff and not even Belichick could have criticized him if he would have missed OTAs. But, in returning to the field so soon, Welker is a symbol of leadership to the other players and an answer to the rampant criticism that the Patriots are on the decline in the AFC East. His actions provide no excuses to players on the team who may be nursing injuries and require that everyone gives a similar level of effort from day one of the season.
Even if Welker doesn't recover to the same level of quickness he used to have a likely scenario he still could be a very valuable asset for one of the league's top offenses, whether it's through direct production or his influence to teammates. In Julian Edelman, the Patriots have a nice backup option for Welker, and one who can learn a lot considering they have a similar physical frame and skill set. Certainly Edelman couldn't have a better role model in terms of work ethic and drive to succeed. Considering that torn ACLs are among the most difficult injuries to recover from in any sport, let alone a wide receiver in the NFL, there's no way to know for sure how Welker will recover. Teams and fans have underestimated Welker for much of his career. I wouldn't count him out this time either.
