Report: Wes Welker 'Widely Believed' to Be Staying With Patriots as Free Agency Approaches

Report: Wes Welker ‘Widely Believed’ to Be Staying With Patriots as Free Agency Approaches

by Jen Slothower on Mon, Mar 11, 2013 at 1:26PM

For those keeping score at home, put Sports Illustrated’s Peter King in the column of those who think Wes Welker is staying in New England.

While most reports heading into the offseason indicated that Welker and the Patriots were likely to pull off that long-coming multiyear deal, reports popped up in recent weeks saying that both Welker and the Patriots had reasons not to make the deal happen. Welker was reportedly perturbed over treatment from the Pats, and New England was said to be looking at cheaper options, such as the Rams’ Danny Amendola.

King reports, however, that Welker is “widely believed to be staying in New England,” which corroborates the most recent reports about contract negotiations between Welker and the team.

Free agency opens Tuesday, at which time all these office pools and conjecture will finally be able to get some real legs. Welker is reportedly waiting to test the market before making a final decision.