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<p>Yeah, they refused because they had just spent Welker’s money on a replacement. Imagine if Welker had walked in free agency AND the Pats missed out on a very capable younger replacement (and the most desireable receiver in free agency) by twiddling their thumbs? Once Welker hit free agency, the Pats HAD to sign Amendola.</p>
<p>On Welker, as I understand it, that was before they signed Amendola when they were negotiating a match. They have been negotiating for a long time before free agency starts. Welker had the Broncos deal as leverage and the Patriots had Amendola as the leverage. Like I said again, if they wanted Welker, they could have had him for very reasonable and maybe arguably more reasonable than Amendola. One is very durable and reliable top 5 receivers for several years and the other is a well-known often injured but younger player. One is playing and the other is out indefinitely for who knows how long. I guess they got a bargain on that one.</p>
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<p>Welker is not desirable for short 2 years and 12 millions? Really?</p>
<p>Amendola was in high demand. He wasn’t going to sit around for long waiting on the Pats to make up their minds after free agency started.</p>
<p>The problem is that Welker’s agent was tossing around ridiculous numbers like $10 million a year. By the time Welker found out that no good team was going to give him more than the money the Pats had been talking about, free agency had started, and the Pats had signed Amendola.</p>
<p>Basically, you have to assume that once a player actually makes it to free agency, they are gone. The Pats acted accordingly and signed a replacement for Welker. They had no choice. They would have certainly done a 2 year $12 million deal with Welker, but by the time Welker wanted to talk seriously (instead of the nonsense from his agent), the Pats had already spent their slot receiver money on the best available option.</p>
<p>I have no idea why Welker and his agent failed to accurately gauge the market BEFORE the start of free agency, but they didn’t. We saw that coming when Kraft made comments a few weeks earlier that he hoped the lawyers and agents didn’t screw up a deal with Welker… </p>
<p>I don’t see any reason for handwringing. Over the next five years, Amendola will likely have more production than Welker. He’s five years younger and entering the prime of his career.</p>
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<p>You wrote that Welker was the most desirable free agent WR, that isn’t an accurate statement.</p>
<p>“You wrote that Welker was the most desirable free agent WR, that isn’t an accurate statement.”</p>
<p>Sorry, I did not say that. Maybe someone else from other places?</p>
<p>I can not “Bear” to watch the Ohio State game, down by 14 just 3 and a half minutes into the game… :(</p>
<p>Loved the A&M-Bama game.</p>
<p>^^^ Loved the outcome of the game!</p>
<p>I thought both quarterbacks were incredible in the Alabama/A & M game. The 'Bama quarterback is a giant! He was being interviewed after the game and he just seemed huge. Maybe that’s because he was talking to a woman-perhaps she is very petite.</p>
<p>EDIT: Okay, just looked him up. AJ McCarron is 6’4". Tall, but not giant.</p>
<p>Johnny Maziel, however, looks shorter to me than his 6’1".</p>
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The guy above you said it and I was quoting him, either way he wasn’t the most desirable receiver.</p>
<p>I’m feeling sick as our game goes into O.T. GO TITANS!!!</p>
<p>Packers really spanked the Skins. It was ugly. I can’t believe the Skins scored any points at all.</p>
<p>Manning vs. Manning. I saw some of the pregame trash talking but didn’t see it all. I love the videos of the boys playing when they were little kids.</p>
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<p>How much do you think Meriweather should be fined?? Do we have a Suh-in-training here?</p>
<p>It looked like Meriweather turned himself into a human spear and launched himself into the other player’s head. He has a history of being fined for bad hits, so I think $75K to $100K is reasonable plus some suspension. A hit like that could kill somebody, not just cause a concussion.</p>
<p>"I don’t see any reason for handwringing. Over the next five years, Amendola will likely have more production than Welker. He’s five years younger and entering the prime of his career. "</p>
<p>There are plenty of reasons if Amendola can’t stay on the field and if they have to cut him next year because they feel they can’t keep paying that contract and get very little in return.</p>
<p>At the risk of jinxing things, my FF team is kicking *** and taking no prisoners.</p>
<p>2nd highest score in the league last week, highest score this week… aww yeah. :D</p>
<p>When the Packers are on their game it is a thing of beauty.</p>
<p>^^ Sing it, sistah.</p>