Colvin On Toucher & Rich: Why Is There Less Of Welker?
The Patriots played host to the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, but were unable to win their first game in front of the home crowd. Stephen Gostkowski missed wide left on 42-yard field goal that would have given the Patriots a one point with seconds left.
Former Patriots linebacker Rosevelt Colvin joined 98.5 The Sports Hub's Toucher & Rich Monday morning to discuss the loss, along with Wes Welker's reduced playing time.
Read: What's Up With Wes Welker's Role?
After Week 1, fans and media alike were surprised that the Pats didn't use wide receiver Wes Welker as much as last season. Many believed it would be different in Week 2, and Welker would be back to playing a key role in the New England offense.
That wasn't the case as Welker was the third wide receiver behind Brandon Lloyd and Julian Edelman on the depth chart. Why isn't he as big a part of the offense as he has been in the past?
"That's troubling to me just to think that there is something there; there's always a reason for things. Bill is one of guys that always on top of having a plan ahead of a plan," said Colvin. "So you can speculate whether it's an issue inside the locker room or with coach and Wes or the offensive coordinator and Wes or maybe there's something Wes has a lingering issue with the hamstring or groin or they don't want to over work him."
Is it a case where the Pats are reducing Welker's playing time because he's in the last year of his contract? Do the Pats reduce playing time of players for this reason?
Read: Patriots' Hernandez Suffers High Ankle Sprain vs. Cardinals
Colvin agrees that the team indeed could be doing this to Welker and states that he's seen it happen to other plays in New England. In a league where every win is important is this really the smartest move for this team to sit a valuable guy?
