Where Passionate Boston Sports Fans Can Debate Today's Hot Button Topics and Relive Great Moments From Boston Sports History

Boston Sports Then and Now




Return of Wes: Welker’s Recovery Not Shocking

Posted on June 07, 2010 by Joe Gill

Welker's return should not shock you.

Wes Welker is back doing what he loves to do.

He is playing football for the New England Patriots.

It may just be non contact OTA’s, but look how far he has come since that dreadful January day in Houston.

Welker was making a routine cut against the Texans but his knee didn’t react in the routine way.

He tore his ACL(initially it was thought he tore his MCL as well). He knew his season was over as he sobbed on the bench into a towel.

Little did we know the Patriots’ season was technically over that day as well. Without Welker the Patriots struggled mightily on offense as they got pasted by Baltimore in the Wild Card round at home.

What would life be without Welker?

Odds were that he may have suffered a Brady like injury and may miss at least half of the 2011 season. Which raised the question, who would replace Wes Welker?

Would Julien Edelman become the heir apparent?

People were talking like he may never play again, but haven’t we learned anything about Welker’s determination and pure will to compete?

He went undrafted out of TCU.

Most "experts" thought Welker may miss half of the 2010 season.

He was cut by the Chargers before signing with Miami.

Welker excelled at special teams and wide receiver to earn a starting spot with the Dolphins.

He became such a thorn in the Patriots’ side that they traded for him in 2007.

All he did in 2007 was shatter Troy Brown’s franchise record of 101 catches with 112.

Then in 2008 WITHOUT Tom Brady, he caught 111 balls to post his second straight 1,000 yard season.

There is no way he could keep this pace up right?

By being the slot receiver he was always in the defenders cross hairs and sometimes they caught him.

And made him pay.

But he got back up and threw up his arms to energize the crowd.

By saying “Bring It On!”

With Tom Brady back at the helm, he caught an eye popping 123 balls in just 14 games before his season ending knee injury.

All of New England gasped when he went down in a meaningless game in Texas.

Fans were angry.

Fans were upset and felt bad that Welker was injured in a game that meant nothing.

But Wes never felt bad for himself. It probably had the polar opposite effect, he took nothing for granted.

Welker has taken nothing for granted in his career.

Football.

His career.

His success.

Nothing.

Sometimes pure will and determination to achieve a goal outweighs what doctors and medical professionals believe is the norm.

Because for a guy like Wes Welker nothing is the norm.

Who would have thought he would be the ONLY player in NFL history to have three straight seasons with at least 110 receptions.

Shocking?

Nope, that’s just Wes Welker.


Leave a Reply


  • Follow Us Online

  • BST&N Looks Back....

    • Vintage Athlete Of The Month: Andy Brickley
      April 21, 2012 | 11:06 am

      Andy Brickley

      Andy Brickley’s voice is familiar throughout New England and to those of us out-of-market fans who get the NESN broadcasts via the NHL’s Center Ice package. Brickley is the top TV analyst for Boston Bruins’ hockey games. Most fans know he was a part of Boston’s 1989-90 teams that reached the Stanley Cup Finals. What many fans may not know is how hard Brickley has had to work for everything in his career. To pay tribute to his effort and to acknowledge his tremendous contributions to the culture of Boston Bruins hockey is why he is BST&N’s Vintage Athlete Of The Month for April.

      The need to prove himself to skeptics started right away in college. Brickley went to school at New Hampshire, but had to walk on the hockey team. He made the squad and played all four years, from 1979-82. By the end of his career he had made first-team All-American and led New Hampshire to the Frozen Four in his senior year.

      Two years into his college career he was selected in the NHL Entry Draft, but by the skin of his teeth—Brickley was the final player chosen in a 210-player draft, going to the Philadelphia Flyers. He began his pro career there in the fall of 1982, but a year later he was traded to Pittsburgh, as part of a package involving multiple players and draft picks.

      By rights, this should have been the point when his career took off. He scored 18 goals in 50 games, the highest goal output of his career and also had 12 assists. But he ended up demoted to the minor leagues for the egregious sin of breaking curfew. To put the early 1980s in perspective, this was a time when frequent reports of players’ cocaine addictions were becoming public—in all sports. Seen in that light, the idea of demoting Brickley because he broke curfew seems absurd beyond belief.

      Read more »

    • RSSArchive for BST&N Looks Back.... »
  • Sign up for Email Updates

    Keep up to date on all the great Boston sports content from BST&N!

    Enter your email address:

    Delivered by FeedBurner

  • Rolex Submariner
  • Current Site Poll

    How Many Victories Will The Patriots Have In 2012?

    View Results

    Loading ... Loading ...
  • Post Categories

  • Timeless Memories

  • From Honey Fitz To Sweet Caroline: The History Of Fenway Park
  • Being A Bruins Fan: MY Bruins, OUR Bruins
  • Top Ten Trades That Changed Boston Sports
  • Boston Bruins: How Did They Get Their Name
  • Remembering The Real Garden
  • Monthly Archives



  • ↑ Top