Report: Wes Welker Won't Sign With Patriots Before Testing Free-Agent Market
BOSTON (CBS) -- The Wes Welker roller coaster continues to roll along, and now might be a good time to make sure your seat belt is properly secured.
One day after CSNNE reported the Patriots and Welker were "closing in" on a multi-year deal, the news Wednesday morning took a rather different turn.
"Patriots free-agent WR Wes Welker has no plans to re-sign with New England before first testing the free-agent market next week," ESPN's Adam Schefter tweeted.
After electing not to use the franchise tag on Welker before Monday's deadline, the Patriots had a little more than a week to work out a deal with Welker before free agency begins on March 12. The news Tuesday said "the two sides have come to the understanding that they are far better with one another than without" and that both sides were optimistic that a deal would be agreed upon before March 12.
Later in the day, the Boston Herald's Jeff Howe reported via Twitter that "nothing [is] imminent for Welker and the Pats, per source with knowledge of the negotiations."
Also on Tuesday, Jason Cole of Yahoo! Sports reported that Welker was holding "somewhat mild disdain" toward the Patriots, "a little miffed" about his lessened role in the season opener last season.
"In short," Cole wrote, "there's a little paranoia in the Welker camp these days about his role with the Pats."
CSNNE's Mike Giardi spoke with 98.5 The Sports Hub's Toucher & Rich about the conflicting reports.
