Once a role player, Patriots' Wes Welker now a budding star

ESPN.com ^ | 1.28.2008 | Elizabeth Merrill

[TexasNative2000]

Wes Welker is the only reason I want the Patriots to win. Heck of a story.

[neodad]

Go Red Raiders! Maybe the is the beginning of Tech players breaking out of the “system” label.

[TexasNative2000]

NFL Ping.

[Hegewisch Dupa]

I doubt it’s news to ya; but please allow me the honor of this ping...

[Perdogg]

NFL PING

FReepmail scott says to be added to, or to be taken off the NFL Ping list... This is a fairly high volume ping list

[neodad]

Ping

[misterrob]

The guy is a football player. He catches the ball in traffic, returns punts and throws a mean block on OLBs.

He’s better than Troy Brown in his day and that’s saying a lot.

[TexasNative2000]

It’s unfortunate, but Tech will have that ‘system’ label until they win a conference title. ‘System’ is code for “good enough to beat good teams, not good enough to beat great teams”.

[neodad]

I think Michael Crabtree is busting that label wide open.

[TexasNative2000]

Brady calls him "The Golden Retreiver".

He said "I just throw the ball and he runs and catches it - brings it back like a retreiver."

[metesky]

Wow, a great pickup for the Pats turns out to be a humble, hardworking guy. Good on him!

[TexasNative2000]

Good point. He does supercede the system.

[NonValueAdded]

All heart and a mile wide.

[Hegewisch Dupa]

Isn’t that counter productive though? Shouldn’t he catch it and run away from the QB instead of returning??

[sirchtruth]

That's the genius of Belichick. Sees a guy nobody else thinks is capable of being a big time player and just makes him one by fiting him into a role customed designed.

It's like taking Vrabel and sticking him into the offense to specifically score touchdowns. Everybody knows exactly why he checks into the offense on the goal line, but for some unknown reason nobody covers him!

However, I think teams might have finally gotten wise to the play this season.

It's really an unbelievable system they've got in New England.

[TexasNative2000]

Good point. I think he was speaking of Welker’s ability to catch anything Brady throws in practice...........

[ElectricStrawberry]

While Welker hasn’t gotten the attention Brady-Moss have.....he’s been the true workhorse of the team this year.

[stevio]

Watching him in the playoffs, the guy is always open when the ball comes his way. It’s amazing.

[ElectricStrawberry]

Between Welker snatching rockets out of the air across the middle and Faulk getting an extra 6+ yards per reception for 1st downs.....I don’t think I’ve ever seen a team with such versatility.

[trisham]

Welker is pretty incredible. I’m thrilled he’s on the team.