Report: Wes Welker Agrees To Terms With Denver Broncos
BOSTON (CBS) -- Wes Welker's days in a Patriots uniform are over.
According to reports on Wednesday, Welker has agreed to a contract with the Denver Broncos.ESPN's Adam Schefter reported it was a two-year deal.
Schefter reported on Wednesday afternoon that the Broncos and Welker were in serious talks and that a decision was expected within the day.
Welker's offseason has featured several ups and downs over the past few weeks. The Patriots elected not to place the franchise tag on him, but shortly after that, a CSNNE report indicated the two sides were closing in on a long-term deal. The next morning, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported that Welker would not sign with the Patriots without first testing free agency. Little had been reported over the week that followed, leading up to the start of free agency Tuesday at 4 p.m.
Just hours after Welker agreed to a deal with the Broncos, NFL.com's Ian Rapoport reported that the Patriots had signed WR Danny Amendola.
In his six seasons in New England, Welker has played in 102 out of a possible 106 games (playoffs included). He's led the league in receptions three times (2007, '09, '11), averaging 112 catches and 1,243 receiving yards per season. Last year, despite early-season rumblings of a "phase-out plan," Welker ended the season with 118 catches for 1,354 yards and six touchdowns. He then had his two most productive playoff games, making eight catches for 131 yards against Houston and eight catches for 117 yards and a touchdown against Baltimore.
Welker has the most receptions in Patriots franchise history and ranks second all time with 7,459 yards.
While Welker's overall body of work is impressive, he's had some standout games against Denver that may have caught the attention of the Broncos' front office. This season, he made a season-high 13 catches (on 15 targets) against Denver in Week 5 for 104 yards and a touchdown. In the 2011 postseason, Welker caught six passes (on seven targets) for 55 yards and a touchdown. Overall, in six career games against Denver, Welker has 35 receptions, 354 yards and three touchdowns.
