A source with intimate knowledge of the team’s thinking told Ron Borges of the Boston Herald that thePatriots “are simply not going to put an $11.4 million franchise tag” on the 31-year-old wide receiver.
Borges argues Welker has worked himself into a corner, and he’s right. With little leverage in the situation, Welker isn’t about to receive a better offer than the fully guaranteed two-year, $16 million deal he turned down in 2011. By signing his franchise tender last May, Welker veered off a path that helped previous players get paid.
Unless Welker agrees to less money (he agreed to a one-year, $9.515 million tender last spring) the Patriots will cut him loose. WR Brandon Lloyd due a $3 million option bonus on top of a $1.9 million base salary, Patriots fans may see a new receiver corp next season.
One thing about the Patriots, they don’t care what you did for them last year. If you start costing too much, they’ll let you go and draft your replacement.