Breer On Toucher & Rich: Welker Doesn't Get An Extension At Deadline
Monday's 4 pm deadline came and went, and there was no contract extension between Wes Welker and the New England Patriots.
Bert Breer of the NFL Network spoke with 98.5 The Sports Hub's Toucher & Rich about the wide receiver and the team being unable to get a deal done, some unsigned draft picks and other franchise players around the league who got deals done.
Welker will now play next season under the $9.5 million franchise tender he signed back on May 15. Did signing this franchise tender so early hurt his ability to get a deal done?
"The minute he signed that tender he handed over his leverage," said Breer, who said Welker could have put some pressure on the Pats by holding out. "At the very least you can is negotiate some control into the one year deal. I think the other thing that you can do is you can cause a problem in the locker room and I know you don't want to do that."
Since the two sides were unable to come to an agreement does this mean that this could be Welker's last year in a Patriots uniform?
"My guess is they won't franchise him again," said Breer. "My guess is they're not going to franchise him at $11 million a year next year. They do have that piece of leverage over him. I think it really depends on the way Wes looks at it."
