So why not Wes Welker now? Signed by Rams.

[Tenacious Faulker]

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000574822/article/wes-welker-continues-to-look-for-another-chance

 

The dude, is itting out there fully recovered and checks so many boxes for our needs at WR.  He's appeantly worked with a top concussion doctor and he's the best been since 2013, but is still sitting at home. 

 

He is what they hoped to make Campanaro into, so why not take a flier on the original for half a season?  And with Smith Sr's future up in the air (was going to retire anyway) why not get another (younger) veteran to lead the offense.  As and added bonus he's famiuliar with both the Broncos and Patriots systems which would help both out offense and defense.

 

Best part is that he's desperate enough to play that he'll likely come at the vet minimum with the possibility of hanging around for 2016-17.  Make his contract incentive laden based on number of games played and protect the cap.  East Peezy.

 

So why not Welker?

Edited November 8, 2015 by Tenacious Faulker

[rmw10]

Lengthy concussion history and wasn't even good last year.  He's not a long term option, so no sense in bringing him in to eat up playing time from young guys that we should be evaluating for the future.

[Deflated Football]

Because his wife is a joke of a person and we need to play our younger WR's so they can build chemistry with Flacco. 

[Wildabeast88]

Looked done to me last year. Plus let these younger guys have a look so we can figure out where to draft. WR next year. Also last year somebody signed someone wanting Broncos calls Peyton changed the call made someone look stupid. No thanks

[redrum52]

Cause we're going to release someone for a guy who's going to be on IR in 2 games anyway...

[Cillmatic]

Insulted Ray Lewis. Him and his wife can screw off. He's likely got CTE too, we don't need that on our conscience.

[PurpleCity5]

Though his wife did annoy me a bit, I still don't even think he's that good anymore. Maybe if we were in playoff contention but right now I just don't see it. 

[ittwasntme]

ive heard nothing but our front office not giving up on this season. Were not in a situation of, evaluate the young guys the rest of the season yet. If we are honestly not throwing in the towel then im curious why we havent atleast brought him in to work him out. were talking about a team that signed Stokely 2 years ago or so. and his whole career was concussion riddled so why not see what he has left in the tank?

[rmw10]

ive heard nothing but our front office not giving up on this season. Were not in a situation of, evaluate the young guys the rest of the season yet. If we are honestly not throwing in the towel then im curious why we havent atleast brought him in to work him out. were talking about a team that signed Stokely 2 years ago or so. and his whole career was concussion riddled so why not see what he has left in the tank?

 

We're not giving up, but what indication is there that Welker would be better than anything we have now?  He wasn't good last season, and at least we've seen flashes from guys like Ross and Givens that we should be evaluating to see if they're options for the end of the depth chart next season.

 

Welker has sat on the open market all offseason and has received a grand total of 1 reported tryout since free agency began.  That doesn't bode well for his future in the NFL.

[Militant X 1]

Insulted Ray Lewis. Him and his wife can screw off. He's likely got CTE too, we don't need that on our conscience.

 

^ This!

[beanfigger]

Regardless of how I feel about his personal history, I would wince every time he touches it because any play could be his last with his head injury history. I don't want to watch the Ravens like that.

[Tenacious Faulker]

Insulted Ray Lewis. Him and his wife can screw off. He's likely got CTE too, we don't need that on our conscience.

I forgot about this.  I could believe that Ozzie would discount him out of hand for that, but since it was his wife (and she issued a retraction) he may just as well let it pass if he needed him.

 

ive heard nothing but our front office not giving up on this season. Were not in a situation of, evaluate the young guys the rest of the season yet. If we are honestly not throwing in the towel then im curious why we havent atleast brought him in to work him out. were talking about a team that signed Stokely 2 years ago or so. and his whole career was concussion riddled so why not see what he has left in the tank?

Very good points.  The biggest point is to just work him out.  Stokely had his concussion issues too along with a litany of other injuries. 

 

We're not giving up, but what indication is there that Welker would be better than anything we have now?  He wasn't good last season, and at least we've seen flashes from guys like Ross and Givens that we should be evaluating to see if they're options for the end of the depth chart next season.

 

Welker has sat on the open market all offseason and has received a grand total of 1 reported tryout since free agency began.  That doesn't bode well for his future in the NFL.

Almost ANYTHING is better than what er have now.  He had several injuries and still dealing with concussion symptoms too which would make anyone look like a shadow of themselves.  The fact he's sat out a year has given his grey matter time to re-congeal and heal.  He at least is worth a workout for a team now devoid of experienced WR's.

 

Regardless of how I feel about his personal history, I would wince every time he touches it because any play could be his last with his head injury history. I don't want to watch the Ravens like that.

What about Pitta?  Hard to watch him go down with a hip everytime and he's still looking for a return.  But he's still on the team.  Hard to make that argument.

[rmw10]

 

Almost ANYTHING is better than what er have now.  He had several injuries and still dealing with concussion symptoms too which would make anyone look like a shadow of themselves.  The fact he's sat out a year has given his grey matter time to re-congeal and heal.  He at least is worth a workout for a team now devoid of experienced WR's.

 

He's nothing but name value at this point.  If he was better than what we have now, he'd already be here.  Tons of people were saying the same about Hakeem Nicks, but he was the only one that we didn't work out to not get a contract.  Welker isn't even close to the same player he used to be.

[beanfigger]

What about Pitta? Hard to watch him go down with a hip everytime and he's still looking for a return. But he's still on the team. Hard to make that argument.

Pretty easy for me to make the argument. IF Pitta plays again, I will be worried every time he gets hit, too. However, Welker's life is literally on the line with his injuries. Pitta's is a different kind of injury, and he hasn't even decided whether or not he will risk playing again. I don't want to see Welker play football again for anybody because it is nearly guaranteed that he will go down again, and it might cost him more than his playing career when it does.

[52520Andrew]

Thought we were trending upwards with Jacoby being somewhat realistic. Welker is done. Wonder who the next non Ravens WR who owns a thread on RT will be

[TDubbs]

Every team in the league should do Welker a favour and not sign him. His concussion history is scary and he's one hit away from being a vegetable ... He'd also be way more vulnerable than ever b/c he is not even close to as quick as he was back in the NE days. 

[Sherly_Tebow]

Well we have to decide on Pitta's status for this year by some time next week. If we IR him, maybe we pick up Welker? Could be a possible move.

[beanfigger]

Well we have to decide on Pitta's status for this year by some time next week. If we IR him, maybe we pick up Welker? Could be a possible move.

Pitta doesn't count against our roster size now. If he goes on IR, we still don't have an open spot.

[BirdWatcher]

Thought we were trending upwards with Jacoby being somewhat realistic. Welker is done. Wonder who the next non Ravens WR who owns a thread on RT will be

Whoever gets released next.

[rmw10]

Whoever gets released next.

 

Please be Antonio Brown.  Please be Antonio Brown.

[Inqui]

Thought we were trending upwards with Jacoby being somewhat realistic. Welker is done. Wonder who the next non Ravens WR who owns a thread on RT will be

To be fair, it's hard not to trend upward with Jacoby when the thread before it was for Megatron.

[52520Andrew]

Great points everyone, should be interesting to find out

[Tenacious Faulker]

He's nothing but name value at this point.  If he was better than what we have now, he'd already be here.  Tons of people were saying the same about Hakeem Nicks, but he was the only one that we didn't work out to not get a contract.  Welker isn't even close to the same player he used to be.

 

Pretty easy for me to make the argument. IF Pitta plays again, I will be worried every time he gets hit, too. However, Welker's life is literally on the line with his injuries. Pitta's is a different kind of injury, and he hasn't even decided whether or not he will risk playing again. I don't want to see Welker play football again for anybody because it is nearly guaranteed that he will go down again, and it might cost him more than his playing career when it does.

 

Every team in the league should do Welker a favour and not sign him. His concussion history is scary and he's one hit away from being a vegetable ... He'd also be way more vulnerable than ever b/c he is not even close to as quick as he was back in the NE days. 

OK, so Schefter tweeted that the Rams are expected to work out Vincent Brown, Hakeem Nicks and Welker today.

 

So it looks like there is interest (even if Bmore holds a grudge over his wife's Ray Lewis comments) and he's not going with a bonafide contender either as has been rumored.  At 4-4 they are long shots for a WC berth given their remaing schedule.  

 

So we passed on Nicks and didn;t even bring in either Welker or Brown.  The Rams will likely grab one.  If this it's Welker, man! this lil' ol' thread will blow up especially if he helps them to a WC berth.

 

Funny how when you start talking about an "impossible" or "improbable" thing in te NFL and it suddenly gets a breath of air.

[Tenacious Faulker]

Pretty easy for me to make the argument. IF Pitta plays again, I will be worried every time he gets hit, too. However, Welker's life is literally on the line with his injuries. Pitta's is a different kind of injury, and he hasn't even decided whether or not he will risk playing again. I don't want to see Welker play football again for anybody because it is nearly guaranteed that he will go down again, and it might cost him more than his playing career when it does.

So if Pitta ends up in a wheel chair because of his hip (see Eric Dickerson) or Welker does because of CTE, you think that they're somehow different?  What about an onfielfd collision?  Either case is horrible. 

 

Forget Pitta for a moment.  What about Stokely?  He had consussion issues over his career and the Ravens signed and played him.  You can;t just say this is "easy" without considering at least these two.  The Ravens haven't let it stop them before.  I don't see how you make your argument. 

 

If Welker can help us do that and is cleared to play, what harm is there in just giving him a physical and workout? That's why the only thing I can see preventing that is the Ray Lewis comments which, again, are his wife's.  I'm still for winning.  It the Rams sign him and go an impressive run....I don;t even want to think about it.

[beanfigger]

So if Pitta ends up in a wheel chair because of his hip (see Eric Dickerson) or Welker does because of CTE, you think that they're somehow different?  What about an onfielfd collision?  Either case is horrible. 

 

Forget Pitta for a moment.  What about Stokely?  He had consussion issues over his career and the Ravens signed and played him.  You can;t just say this is "easy" without considering at least these two.  The Ravens haven't let it stop them before.  I don't see how you make your argument. 

 

If Welker can help us do that and is cleared to play, what harm is there in just giving him a physical and workout? That's why the only thing I can see preventing that is the Ray Lewis comments which, again, are his wife's.  I'm still for winning.  It the Rams sign him and go an impressive run....I don;t even want to think about it.

 

We have a difference of opinion on some of this stuff, which is fine. However, lets see if we actually let Pitta play before we use him. Also, you're using Stokely as an argument? That worked out just great for us, didn't it? I think that's even more reason for us to avoid aging veterans with long injury histories, don't you?

[ellicottraven]

Because he is the antithesis of Steve Smith Sr.! He is as un'Raven' as Steve Smith is 'Raven'! 

[1/28/01]

He's a hit away from being a carrot more than an actual carrot...no matter what he or any paid off doctor says.

[ravenz2752]

Cuz he is on the Rams

[Tenacious Faulker]

Rams just signed Welker.  So, that's not exactly a ringing endorsement but looks like he beat out Nicks and Brown.  That said we'll see him in 2 weeks.  You guys better hope his brain is as much tapioca as you think because when healthy he's dangerous.  If that's the case, you heard it hear, from me, first. 

 

And believe me, I hope I'm wrong.  That would say more about our F.O. than anything.

[Militant X 1]

Rams just signed Welker.  So, that's not exactly a ringing endorsement but looks like he beat out Nicks and Brown.  That said we'll see him in 2 weeks.  You guys better hope his brain is as much tapioca as you think because when healthy he's dangerous.  If that's the case, you heard it hear, from me, first. 

 

And believe me, I hope I'm wrong.  That would say more about our F.O. than anything.

 

Welker is back!