Wes Welker became a free agent after his two-year deal with the Broncos expired following the 2014-15 season. (Joe Amon, The Denver Post)
Wes Welker is still searching for his next home. He’s still hoping he’ll have a next home.
The 34-year-old slot receiver became a free agent after his two-year deal with the Broncos expired after last season, and he has yet to sign on with new team. Perhaps because of his age. Perhaps because of his health record. Perhaps because of his statistical decline.
But Welker is still hoping someone will take him on. Even the Patriots.
“I wouldn’t be opposed to it,” he told 98.5 The Sports Hub in Boston, . “It’s a great organization, obviously, and a great team. It wouldn’t be the worst situation in the world. At times you’re sitting there and thinking, ‘Well maybe I should (retire).’ I think it’s just people kind of (pressuring you), but the more you think about it, and you’re away from it, I’m not ready to (retire). I still feel good. I still feel like I have some really good football left in me. I’ve always said (I’ll play) until the wheels fall off.”
Welker signed with the Broncos in March 2013 after he and the Patriots failed to agree on a new deal following his sixth season with the team. On Wednesday, that the move to Denver was difficult, but it wasn’t one he regrets.
“I think at first it was hard, but it was what it was,” he said. “That’s the way life goes sometimes. You just roll with it. It was hard to make that move, but I really enjoyed my time in Denver. I really enjoyed seeing that perspective of it, just being with that organization. It was tough, but I have no regrets about it.”
In his first season as a Bronco, Welker was targeted 111 times and had 73 receptions for 778 yards and 10 touchdowns. In 2014, he was targeted only 64 times and had 49 receptions for 464 yards and two touchdowns. He also had three concussions in the span of 10 months.
Welker reiterated to Curran what he’s told other outlets in recent months: Doctors have given him the green light to continue to play, despite his concussion history.
“I’m at a point now where if a doctor said, ‘Hey, I don’t think you should go out there,’ I’d be like, ‘OK,'” he said. “I want that peace of mind for myself, and I went and saw Dr. (Stanley) Herring up in Seattle and sat there two days with his whole team and went over everything and they said, ‘You look good. You’re cleared to play. If you never play the game, great, but I can’t sit here and tell you you shouldn’t play or can’t or anything else.’ So it was good to get that clarification from the best doctor out there when it comes to concussions and heads and everything like that.”
