Tom Brady reportedly ‘enraged’ over Wes Welker’s signing contract with Denver Broncos

Gamedayr | March 13, 2013 at 6:20 pm | 0 Comments

New England Patriots wide receiver Wes Welker (83) celebrates a touchdown with quarterback Tom Brady (12) during the second half against the New York Jets at Gillette Stadium. Welker will be celebrating with Peyton Manning next year in Denver. (David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports)

New England’s one and only Tom Brady has been hailed as a franchise savior at several points throughout his illustrious career. Most recently, his decision to drastically restructure his contract was seen as the only way the franchise that he is leading would be able to re-sign several prominent guys on the Pats or to bring in new and talented blood.

He did not restructure his deal just so he could watch his favorite target sign a relatively low contract with his foremost rival.

Yet that is precisely what happened, and Brady is “disgraced” — we are sadly left to imagine what insanely inappropriate language he used when off the record.

Spoke to someone close to Tom Brady. Beyond enraged at contract details that netted Broncos Wes Welker. “Disgrace”"disservice” were used.

— Tom E. Curran (@tomecurran) March 13, 2013

‘Pierced through the heart’: Why Tom Brady has to feel betrayed by the Patriots’ decision to let Welker join Broncos: yhoo.it/YbU9Ed

— Michael Silver (@MikeSilver) March 14, 2013

Welker had been a Pats standout for six years, and in that time, he and the future Hall of Fame quarterback developed an elite repertoire on the field and a solid friendship off of it. Brady completed at least 100 passes to the relatively small but unmeasurably quick Welker in every season they played together except one.

The one year they didn’t? Welker tore his ACL, came back the very next season and piled up big numbers once again.

Now, Welker is off to none other than Denver, where another future Hall of Fame passer in Peyton Manning was cast off from Indy. His two year, $12 million deal feels well below market average, especially considering the still-uproven (at least compared to Welker) Mike Wallace just signed a five year, $65 million deal with the Dolphins on Tuesday.

Let’s recap: The 35-year old Tom Brady took far less money in 2013 specifically in order to allow his organization the freedom to dole out money to the guys that will help him win a Super Bowl. One of those guys is the consistently elite Wes Welker, but instead of paying him $6 million a year (which isn’t chump change but it feels like it is when talking about the NFL, doesn’t it?), ownership allowed him to walk.

But, the thing is, Welker did not walk. He climbed, all the way up to Mile High.

He will once again be putting all of his efforts towards helping an aging legend win one last Super Bowl. Except it won’t be Tom Brady, it’ll be Peyton Manning.