Report: Welker Won't Hold Out From Patriots
BOSTON (CBS) -- NFL players all react to receiving the franchise tag differently. Some players happily accept the massive payday, while others hold out in an effort to gain some long-term security. After Patriots receiver Wes Welker was franchised this week, the discussion naturally led to whether or not the 30-year-old would hold out from training camp in order to get a deal done, but early indications say that won't be the case.
Welker won't hold out, according to NESN's Jeff Howe, who cited several sources close to the receiver.
The franchise tag will pay Welker somewhere in the $9 million range, after he averaged less than half of that per year since 2007. He's led the league in receptions in that span, becoming just the second player in NFL history to have two seasons with 120 or more catches.
The Patriots have an encouraging bit of recent history with the franchise tag, having worked out long-term, high-paying extensions to Vince Wilfork and Logan Mankins after applying the franchise tag on them. Welker also didn't sound too upset with his situation on his Twitter account.
"Glad that I will be a Patriot in 2012. And hopefully '13,'14,'15,'16,'17,'18 ..." Welker tweeted this week.
