If they both stay healthy, Manning and Welker might win the Superbowl in 2014. 

I'm so sad and disgusted-didn't the Krafts realize how Pats fans would react to this?

No matter how the Pats play this season, many of us will feel bitter over this loss-they should have franchised Wes when they had the chance.

They made him feel completely disrespected after everything he's done for the team-it will not be the same without Wes

Should've kept Welker and traded Bellichek.  Flameout Bill may know x's and o's but he doesn't know personnel.  Suspect he won't be going to any more Celtics games.

Losing Welker is bad. Losing Welker for $2 million over two seasons is incredibly stupid. It's NFL chump change.

Kraft is a louse. His statements ring hollow about Welker. We ALL know what a putz Belechick is but I thought a lot more of Kraf. I guess that he is no better. Shame on both of them. The Pats are LOOOOSERS!

I can't believe that they wouldn't offer $12 million over 2 years - I thought that Welker wanted something like $25 million over 3 years - the Pats killed two birds with one stone:  The weakened themselves and undermined Tom Brady on one hand and on the the other hand they gave Manning a career lift as a 37 year old quarterback and almost guaranteed that the Broncos at a minimum will be playing for the AFC championship next year if not the super bowl.   That's quite a day's work.

BB went after Jake Ballard while clearing waivers and being on the PUP list- a good move, yes, but most coaches will tell you they would not do it out of profrssional courtesy.  Meanwhile BB either had a brain freeze or his hubris is raging high as he completely lost this game of chess.  Why would you give any division rival a chance to better themselves for a mere 2 million more/season?  It's hubris and this is one, like the CB position, which will hurt them as when the TE's and Amedola get hurt he'll be bringing in the likes of dante stallworth and deon branch.  I'm sure Brady is thrilled with how this played out.

Kraft saying he wanted Welker to remain a Patriot for life was pre-damage control.  When he said that both sides had to be "reasonable" to get a deal done, he meant Welker would have to reduce his asking price -- thereby characterizing his demands as "unreasonable."  This deal was never going to get done.

Completely dumfounded on this one.  Not quite sure what kind of a circus Gillette is turning into, but it seems that the Ego that is Bill Belichick has gone over the wall, boys and girls.  No ring since the 2004 season, no D since that time, and no shutdown CB since Assante walked under the same circumstance.  And over $2 million over two years.  Obviously In Bill We DON'T Trust wanted to give Welker a backhand as he left.  Let's see how the fans react to the team this season and to Wes when he comes back to Gillette in a Bronco uniform.  And when the Broncos take out the Pats in the playoffs maybe Bill will hit the fan!!  Billy Boy, you have totally burned your bridges.

what I am happy about is the fact that it was reported this afternoon that welker was going back to NE to see if they would match the offer.  There was no mention, at that time, of what the offer was.  

This was very clever by the Welker team- whether intentional or unintentional.  Doing this has halted the Propaganda machine on us being told that (1) his health was a concern (2) he was asking for way too much (3) he never got back to them after speaking with another team (4) he was at odds with BB (5) TB relied on him too much which was hindering the offense (?)- you name the excuse.  These excuses will still come but you and I know that they let the most consistent (production and health) guy in the NFL walk over a mere 2m per season.

And they immediately signed a younger version in Amendola- a guy who, due to injuries, has played 12 games over 2 seasons.....