“The whole Wes Welker thing started when he was in Miami,’’ coach Bill Belichick said yesterday, after the team arrived to begin preparations for Super Bowl XLVI. “He was a very frustrating player to coach against because we really couldn’t handle him. He caught passes, he returned kicks, and then when [Olindo] Mare got hurt he went in and kicked extra points and field goals and kicked off against us, and that was annoying, too.
“We doubled him, we played him in a lot of different combinations. He was always the guy that we were trying to game plan for. When we had an opportunity to trade for him, we did that, and felt like he’d be a good addition to our team. And he has been.’’
But for how much longer? Welker is a free agent after the season, and based on his productivity figures to be in high demand. It sounds like there’s strong mutual interest in having him sign a new deal with New England.
“I plan on being back,’’ Welker said. “I’m not really too worried about that right now. I’m fully concentrated on this game and what we have to do, but I plan on being back.’’
Team owner Robert Kraft, asked how confident he was that a deal with Welker would get done, tried to keep the focus on the game, but did say, “I want it, and he wants it.’’
Gronkowski status quo
Tight end Rob Gronkowski walked off the plane still wearing the protective boot for his injured left ankle. He hasn’t practiced since Baltimore’s Bernard Pollard landed on Gronkowski’s ankle making a tackle in the AFC Championship game. The Patriots have listed him as questionable on the early injury report, and barring a setback, he’s expected to play.
Belichick would only offer the standard “day-to-day’’ when asked about Gronkowski’s availability. But Brady, appearing at halftime of last night’s Pro Bowl broadcast, said Gronkowski is feeling much better than he was a week ago. Welker, too, was optimistic.
“We’re going to have him out there,’’ Welker said. “He’s a tough kid. I don’t expect anything to change what we’re doing offensively. He’s always a force.’’
Fans make impression
