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.

Losing is a hard pill to take and Wes Welker’s wife Anna went the sore loser route and trashed Ray Lewis on her facebook page. She posted:

“Proud of my husband and the Pats. By the way, if anyone is bored, please go to Ray Lewis’Wikipedia page. 6 kids 4 wives. Acquitted for murder. Paid a family off. Yay. What a hall of fame player! A true role model!”

Way  to stay classy there. Of course this isn’t the first time a Partiots wife got salty after a loss. I’m sure that someone in the Pats organization was watching the post and got word because she issued and apology statement via  sports blog Larry Brown Sports:

 

“I’m deeply sorry for my recent post on Facebook.” “I let the competitiveness of the game and the comments people were making about a team I dearly love get the best of me. My actions were emotional and irrational and I sincerely apologize to Ray Lewis and anyone affected by my comment after yesterday’s game.

“It is such an accomplishment for any team to make it to the NFL playoffs, and the momentary frustration I felt should not overshadow the accomplishments of both of these amazing teams.”

 

Of course this is the new way of the world. Say something offensive and then apologize and walk it back. Here a suggestion next time you’re on Facebook, Twitter or whatever and you want to get something off your chest, write it out and then delete it!