Wes Welker - Pro Football Rumors

Extra Points: Brees, Bradford, Browns, Jags

May 25th, 2016 at 8:54pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

The Saints and Drew Brees haven’t had contract extension talks in about a month and a half, the quarterback said Wednesday (Twitter link via Evan Woodbery of NFL.com). Brees added that he doesn’t like talking contract during the season, per Larry Holder of NOLA.com (on Twitter). That means the Saints’ hopes of extending the 37-year-old could be put on hold for a while if they don’t lock him up prior to their Sept. 11 opener. Brees is currently scheduled to count $30MM against New Orleans’ cap this year, the final season of his contract.

Here’s more from around the NFL:

Although the Eagles traded up in the draft to use the No. 2 overall pick on quarterback Carson Wentz, the expectation is that veteran Sam Bradford will at least begin the 2016 season as their starter. That might not be the case, however, according to new offensive coordinator Frank Reich. On whether Bradford is the Eagles’ clear-cut No. 1 option under center, Reich told CBS Philly, “No, that’s probably not the right impression.” He continued, “This is one of the most competitive industries in the world and so, to say that there’s not competition, that’s just the furthest thing from the truth.”
Longtime Browns left tackle Joe Thomas stated at the end of last season that he wasn’t sure if he wanted to continue his career with rebuilding Cleveland, but the nine-year veteran is now pleased that the team didn’t trade him. “It wouldn’t have surprised me if I had been traded, but I’m happy that I didn’t. So it’s kind of a happy ending,” he told Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal. Thomas, who has gone to the Pro Bowl every year of his career, is also pleased with the Browns’ new head coach, Hue Jackson. “I was always jealous of the guys that were in Cincinnati running Hue Jackson’s offense because it’s a very offensive line friendly offense, a lot of quick throws, a lot of easy fade balls, a lot of different formations to spread the defense out, confuse them, get them into really vanilla looks, some up-tempo stuff, smash-mouth football, he really wants to run the ball inside the tackles,” he said.
Like Thomas, Jaguars left tackle Luke Joeckel is glad he’s still with his current club. “I love Jacksonville. I’d love to stay here. It all comes down to my play. I’m only focused on myself and me playing football, getting better at left tackle,” he said (link via Mike DiRocco of ESPN.com). While Joeckel’s goal is to improve at tackle, there’s a good chance he’ll shift inside to guard if free agent pickup Kelvin Beachum wins the LT job, as expected, per DiRocco. Since the Jags used the second pick of the 2013 draft on Joeckel, the former Texas A&M standout has been a disappointment. Joeckel’s struggles led Jacksonville to decline his fifth-year option for 2017 and sign Beachum.
It’s not clear whether right tackle Seantrel Henderson will be a part of the Bills‘ plans in 2016 and coach Rex Ryan admits that he hasn’t spoken to him in some time. “I have no update for you guys on that. So that is a medical thing,” Ryan said (link via Joe Buscaglia of WKBW) “I really have no update. I haven’t seen Seantrel in quite a while.” A seventh-round pick in 2014, Henderson started all 16 games in his rookie season in Buffalo, and had started 10 games for the team in 2015 before he was sidelined with Crohn’s disease.
Free agent wide receiver Wes Welker isn’t sure if he wants to continue his NFL career in 2016. “There are some days I wake up I’m like, ‘OK I’m done,’ and other days I wake up and I’m like, ‘Maybe one more year,'” the five-time Pro Bowler said Wednesday, per NFL Media (via Twitter). Welker, 35, joined the Rams midway through last season and posted unimpressive numbers (13 receptions and 102 yards) in eight games.

Zach Links contributed to this post.

Extra Points: Welker, Browns, Workouts

January 6th, 2016 at 1:51pm CST by Luke Adams

Earlier today, our own Zach Links joined David Schultz of 103.7 The Game to talk about all of the latest NFL head coaching rumors, including what might happen with the Saints and Sean Payton. You can listen to that conversation right here:

Here are a few more odds and ends from around the NFL:

Wes Welker didn’t exactly make a huge impact for the Rams during his stint with the team this season, but he enjoyed getting back on the field, and intends to continue his career in 2016 “as long as I feel good and am having fun,” he tells Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
Although Chris Matthews and B.J. Daniels no longer play in Seattle, they’ll both probably be rooting for the Seahawks to come out of the NFC in the playoffs, since they could benefit financially from the team’s success. Joel Corry of CBSSports.com explains that situation, along with several others, in an enlightening breakdown of how the NFL’s postseason pay works.
The Browns‘ new front office structure is creating a little confusion, so Conor Orr of NFL.com explores how Paul DePodesta and Sashi Brown will work together, and what their roles will be in Cleveland.
According to Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com (Twitter link), the Packers recently worked out tackle Cody Booth, wide receivers Jarrod West and Conner Vernon, linebacker Kacy Rodgers, and defensive linemen Davon Walls, Ethan Hemer, Lavon Hooks, and Quayshawne Buckley.
Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle has workout updates for a couple more clubs, tweeting that safety Shaun Prater, along with CFL wide receivers Eric Rogers, Kenny Stafford, and Terrell Sinkfield, worked out for the Bears. Per Wilson (Twitter link), Washington recently auditioned CFL linebackers Willie Jefferson and Dexter McCoil, as well as wide receiver A.C. Leonard.

Extra Points: Mayo, Pats, Welker

November 13th, 2015 at 8:55pm CST by Luke Adams

While there’s virtually no way he’ll return to the Patriots on his current contract, linebacker Jerod Mayo‘s time in New England may not be over after this season, says Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald. In his latest mailbag, Howe suggests that if Mayo can get healthy, it’s possible he and the Pats could work out a reworked contract to bring him back. In my look last week at the Patriots’ 2016 cap situation, I identified Mayo as the team’s most likely cap casualty.

Here’s more from around the NFL:

If you’re a fan of the Steelers, Cowboys, Chargers, Ravens, or Packers, and you feel like your team has had worse-than-usual injury luck this year, Kevin Seifert of ESPN.com is inclined to agree. In his latest piece, Seifert identifies those five teams as the ones that have been hit hardest by injuries this season.
The Giants are scheduled to work out free agent linebacker Alex Singleton next Tuesday, a source tells Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (Twitter link). Singleton, who was waived by the Seahawks prior to the regular season, has also auditioned for the Chiefs, Bengals, Browns, Jaguars, and Washington this year.
According to reports from Tom Pelissero of USA Today and Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (Twitter links), Wes Welker‘s new one-year deal with the Rams includes a $200K signing bonus to go along with a base salary worth approximately $456K (prorated total of $970K). The veteran wideout can also earn up to $200K in per-game roster bonuses ($25K per game), plus another $100K via catch- and yard-based incentives.

West Notes: Armstrong, Floyd, Welker

November 11th, 2015 at 3:55pm CST by Zachary Links

Police are looking into whether Raiders linebacker Ray-Ray Armstrong illegally taunted a police dog before a game against the Steelers on Sunday, as an Associated Press report outlines. Chief Deputy Kevin Kraus says a player lifted his shirt, beat his chest and barked at the K-9 before telling a deputy to release the dog. Needless to say, the deputy did not follow Armstrong’s orders.

Taunting a police dog is a third-degree felony in Pennsylvania, so the consequences could potentially be severe for the linebacker. It’s not a concern for Raiders head coach Jack Del Rio though, who downplayed the story during an appearance on SiriusXM NFL Radio (link via FOX Sports).

“I’ve caught wind of this story. I’m going to put it in the ‘silly’ category,” Del Rio said. “I think once the facts come to light I don’t think there’s going to be much of an issue. I wouldn’t make too much of it.”

Here’s more from around the NFL’s West divisions:

Chargers wide receiver Malcom Floyd suffered a torn labrum on Monday night, a source tells Michael Gehlken of U-T San Diego (Twitter link). According to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter), Floyd plans to rehab the injury and “see how it goes,” with the hopes of playing through it. The 34-year-old has previously stated that 2015 will be his final season in the NFL, so it would be an unfortunate end if he had to shut it down early.
In his latest column for Bleacher Report, Mike Freeman examines the Rams‘ decision to sign Wes Welker, and – more importantly – Welker’s decision to continue his NFL career despite possible health risks. Freeman hears from a source that Welker has “taken great care of his finances,” and is returning to action because he doesn’t want to stop playing yet, not because he needs the money.
Linebacker Nico Johnson, who signed yesterday with the Giants’ practice squad, also had a workout this week with the Rams, according to Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post (Twitter link).
Wilson also passes along the names of several players who auditioned for the Seahawks this week, including tight end Cameron Clear, quarterback Jake Heaps, defensive lineman Glenn Foster, safety Jonathan Dowling, and cornerback Keon Lyn (Twitter link).

Luke Adams contributed to this post.

Rams To Sign Wes Welker

November 9th, 2015 at 5:00pm CST by Zachary Links

The Rams will sign Wes Welker to a one-year deal, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). Welker can earn up to $700K in incentives on top of his base salary based on playing time and number of receptions (link).

Welker has racked up 890 career receptions to go along with 9,822 receiving yards. However, health concerns – including an extensive concussion history – have made teams shy away from Welker following his two-year stint in Denver, despite the fact that he wants to continue his career. Earlier today, the Rams worked out a group of notable wide receivers that included Welker, Hakeem Nicks, and Vincent Brown and Welker apparently came away with the job.

The 11-year veteran has earned five Pro Bowl nods, but 2014 was one of his worst seasons ever. Injuries limited the 34-year-old to 14 games, in which he totaled 49 catches and just 464 receiving yards. This year, Welker auditioned for a few teams including the Giants and Dolphins, but he went unsigned until today.

Outside of Tavon Austin, who has caught 28 balls and four touchdowns this season, no St. Louis wide receiver has more than 15 receptions or a single TD so far in 2015. Welker may not be counted on for major production, but at the very least, he can give St. Louis some additional depth at wide receiver now that Stedman Bailey will be sidelined for four games.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Rams Working Out Wes Welker, Other WRs

November 9th, 2015 at 11:46am CST by Luke Adams

The Rams are bringing in a few veteran free agent receivers today, according to Adam Caplan of ESPN.com, who reports (via Twitter) that the club is taking a look at Wes Welker, Hakeem Nicks, and Vincent Brown.

While all three wideouts have enjoyed some NFL success, Welker’s résumé is the most extensive — the former Patriot and Bronco has racked up 890 career receptions to go along with 9,822 receiving yards. However, health concerns – including an extensive concussion history – have made teams shy away from Welker following his two-year stint in Denver, despite the fact that he wants to continue his career.

As for Nicks and Brown, both players performed well below their career benchmarks in 2014, and so far neither receiver has gotten an extended look in 2015, despite the fact that age shouldn’t be a concern, like it may be with Welker. Nicks and Brown are 27 and 26, respectively, as opposed to Welker’s 34.

While the Rams won’t necessarily sign any of the receivers they’re auditioning, the team may be contemplating adding some veteran depth at the position for Nick Foles‘ benefit. Outside of Tavon Austin, who has caught 28 balls and four touchdowns this season, no St. Louis wide receiver has more than 15 receptions or a single TD so far in 2015.

Sunday Roundup: Hardy, L. McCown, Welker

November 8th, 2015 at 12:47pm CST by Rory Parks

As this week’s games get underway in full force, let’s take a look at some notes from around the league:

Rick Stroud of The Tampa Bay Times, citing ESPN’s Adam Schefter, reports that the Buccaneers put together a contract structure for Greg Hardy that the Cowboys ultimately mirrored, but Tampa Bay’s contract was contingent on the club meeting with Hardy for evaluation. Once it became clear that such a meeting was not possible, the Bucs pulled the offer (Twitter links).
Katherine Terrell of The Times-Picayune writes that Saints backup quarterback Luke McCown will get a second opinion on his back injury this week, but Terrell’s source indicates that McCown will likely require season ending surgery. As Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets, the news is fairly significant, as New Orleans has never had to rely on a rookie to back up Drew Brees.
Ian Rapoport of NFL.com writes that free agent wide receiver Wes Welker is still waiting for his phone to ring, and that he has passed both physicals he has taken this year. He wants to play for a contender, and he has instructed his agent to reach out again to the teams on his list to see if there is a fit.
ESPN’s Jane McManus tweets that the NFL’s investigation into Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel‘s recent encounter with police is expected to conclude this week. McManus notes that the police report and various witness testimony have complicated the investigation.
Although there was more league-wide effort to make a deal prior to this year’s trade deadline than in seasons past, Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports writes that only one trade was made because the demand from sellers was too great. The Browns and 49ers in particular asked for compensation that rival executives believed was unreasonable.
Jason Fitzgerald of OverTheCap.com takes a detailed look at the 2016 wide receiver free agent class and the types of contracts some of the bigger names in the class can expect to land. Fitzgerald says the best player on that list, Alshon Jeffery, is better equipped to handle a franchise tag should the Bears go that route because he is so young and the tag will not impact the way teams view his future as long as he remains healthy.
ESPN’s Adam Caplan tweets that the Jaguars are likely to part ways with Toby Gerhart at season’s end.
Likewise, Jordan Raanan of NJ.com believes Jon Beason has played his last game for the Giants (Twitter link).

East Notes: Bills, Giants, Welker, Pats

October 1st, 2015 at 10:36am CST by Luke Adams

The Bills were one of the league’s most active teams this past offseason, bringing in players like LeSean McCoy and Matt Cassel via trades, signing Charles Clay and Percy Harvin in free agency, and locking up Jerry Hughes to a lucrative long-term contract. Still, while the team’s new additions have played a part in Buffalo’s early-season success, it’s the players in contract years that have contributed even more significantly, writes Tyler Dunne of the Buffalo News.

As Dunne outlines, linebacker Nigel Bradham is among the Bills who have performed well in the early going and will be eligible for free agency after the season. And Bradham agrees that it’s “most definitely” a motivator to be playing for a new deal.

“It can keep you focused knowing you have to continue to play well,” Bradham said. “Because you want that — especially when you’ve never had an opportunity to get it. For me, I just play. That’s what I tell myself. Just play.”

Here’s more from around the NFL’s two East divisions:

The Giants brought wide receiver Wes Welker in for a workout this week, and head coach Tom Coughlin said the veteran free agent looked healthy and “very quick.” New York hasn’t signed Welker, but Coughlin acknowledged that there’s “always a chance” if the need arises (Twitter links via Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News).
By trading from a position of strength, the Patriots were able to add another player at a position that’s generally hard to fill, says Mike Reiss of ESPN.com in his assessment of the team’s swap of TE Michael Hoomanawanui for defensive lineman Akiem Hicks. As Reiss observes, there’s no guarantee Hoomanawanui would have even earned a post on New England’s initial 53-man roster if fullback James Develin hadn’t broken his leg.
With the Jets and Dolphins prepared to play one another for the first time this season, George Willis of the New York Post suggests that Jets head coach Todd Bowles is already making the Dolphins regret passing him over. Bowles was Miami’s interim head coach at the end of 2011, but the team opted to hire Joe Philbin in the offseason, rather than having Bowles continue on in the role.

Giants Working Out Wes Welker, Hakeem Nicks

September 29th, 2015 at 9:00am CST by Luke Adams

As part of their weekly workout for free agents, the Giants are bringing in a pair of notable veteran receivers today, according to Josina Anderson of ESPN.com, who reports (via Twitter) that Wes Welker and Hakeem Nicks are getting a look from the club. We heard yesterday that New York is also trying out former Washington tight end Chris Cooley today, so it should be an interesting session.

Of course, just because the Giants are bringing in Welker, Nicks, and Cooley for auditions, it doesn’t mean the team intends to sign any of them. Like other teams around the league, the Giants bring in free agents every week to get an idea of what’s available in case they need to add a player to the roster at some point.

Still, the Giants haven’t gotten great production from their receivers so far this season. While Odell Beckham has been his usual self, Preston Parker was cut due to problems with drops, and Victor Cruz has yet to see the field. Rueben Randle also caught just four passes in his first two games before posting big numbers in Week 3, and the Giants have watched James Jones – released during the preseason – get off to a huge start in Green Bay.

With Randle showing signs of life last week, and Cruz close to returning, I wouldn’t expect the Giants to roll the dice on Welker or Nicks, but their auditions are still worth monitoring. Welker, who has a history of concussions, hasn’t received much interest this year due to questions about his health. Nicks, meanwhile, has a history with the Giants, having enjoyed his best seasons with Big Blue. However, over the last couple years, he hasn’t looked like the same player he was during his 1,000-yard seasons in New York.

Quarterback Phillip Sims is among the other players working out today for the Giants, according to Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (via Twitter).

Free Agent Notes: Welker, Rice, D.J. Williams

July 24th, 2015 at 3:20pm CST by Luke Adams

Wes Welker has said publicly that he wants to continue his NFL career, but former teammate Champ Bailey wouldn’t mind seeing the free agent wideout decide to retire instead, according to an ESPN.com report.

“I don’t want Wes to play for my own personal reasons. I’ve seen him get concussions. It scares me,” Bailey said during an appearance on FOX Sports 1. “I think he can still play, but I don’t want him to play because of these concussions. … This thing is no joke. It’s a serious thing when you start talking about your head. And for him to have to worry about that at a young age that he is now, he has to think about that for years to come, and I just hope he hangs it up and not strap it up again.”

As we wait to see whether Welker can find a job this summer, let’s check in on some other veteran free agents around the league….

Former Ravens running back Ray Rice and a group of his supporters – including ex-Buccaneers head coach Greg Schiano – have been contacting NFL teams in an effort to land Rice a job, sources tell Ed Werder of ESPN.com. According to Werder, one club was seriously considering signing Rice, but team ownership “became uncomfortable” late in the process due to P.R. concerns.
Veteran linebacker D.J. Williams, who turned 33 on Monday, still hopes to play in 2015, tweets Alex Marvez of FOX Sports. It doesn’t look like Williams will return to the Bears, but he was unsatisfied with the way 2014 ended – he landed on the IR while the Bears plummeted to the NFC North cellar – and would like to catch on with an NFL team in the coming weeks.
Earlier this afternoon, we learned that the Bears have discussed the possibility of pursuing free agent tight end Jermaine Gresham.