They made ONE contract offer to Wes Welker, on Monday night before the Tuesday FA signing period was to begin and Bob Kraft wants us all to believe they wanted Wes Welker in a Patriot uniform for life.

Absolutely laughable!!

I've lost a lot of respect for this Patriot organization.

Well, if they really want him back and the Broncos gave him as bad a deal as Kraft says...there's always next year!

So I guess the problem is that Welker and his agents were and are just stupid and can't recognize a better offer when they see it.   This man was obviously very defensive during the interview and yes he is the owner and Brady works for him.  But if he lost Brady I would think that the value of his investment would plummet so I'm not sure that the words he chose were the most judicious.    There are players in the NFL who might in Brady's position now go public with a demand to be traded - Brady won't but boy does it sound like Kraft is calling him out and for no reason.    I don't think that Kraft is a very nice man - don't need to be in order to succeed as an owner but his PR efforts to appear otherwise should be obvious to all to be just that - PR without any substance.

Accorning to a reputable sdource, Welker'sd agent, who, undoughtedly promised him the moon,repeatedly asked the Patriots for a $15 million dollar bonus. After the three day agent period, Dunn must have known the market was way below that. He gambled that the Patriots would not take the PR hit and woulod give in to a contract way above the market. You cannot be anymore delusional than that, although Shag's retread columns come close.

Love Bob Kraft, great person, hardworking, incredibly generous locally and around the world. Great NFL owner, has done a fantastic job with the Patriots. But I sure as heck wouldn't want to go up against him in a business situation, he's a total shark. I'm sure we will never know the full, complete story, but I'd have to say Wes's agent did not fully serve his client in this situation. But no surprise, I suspect no one gets the best of Bob Kraft. Ever.

Looking at the deals that were done for Hernandez and Gronkowski, simply put, if the Pats REALLY wanted Welker, they'd have sewn him up before any of this stuff happened. Still believe they wanted to "make an example" of him, much to the team's detriment and the fans' disappointment.

It is a lot harder to win when you do not know what plays are coming.

I am getting sick of the Patriots, including BB And TB. I just don't like their attitudes. They act like they know everything. I am looking for another team to follow and root for. I think it will be Denver. I think P. Manning is better than Brady. Welker made Brady look real good for a lot of years. Let's see how Brady does without him?

Wow!  All this time, I thought Tom Brady was in charge!  I wonder what Tom is thinking after this slapdown?

a lot of problems with this story.  first, the reporting is bad.  Did the reporter ask welker's camp for a response?  If so, what did they say.  Basic reporting 101.  Second, the first two thirds of the article simply give krafty's point of view.  Only later does the reporter point out that most of waht kraft said is misleading at best.  They had already signed  a replacement anmd weren't going to sign welker except at bargain basement prices.  they refused to make any counter offers.  Third, to say that the patriots wanted to welker to be a patriot for life is a meaningless statement.  There are hundreds of players that they wou;ld like for"life" if they agree to play for minimal wages.  Ditto welker.  The question is whether they're willing to pay the going rate.

Finally, it appears that welker left because at long last he decided that he was not being treated fairly and/or with a sense of dignity given his play while a patriot and his personal loyalty to the team.  So, he left, perhaps not for more money but for reasons of dignity and character.  The media is always saying that it only about the money for modern atheletes (as opposed to ownership? yea, sure).  Here is a guy who apparently moved on because he didn't believe that a team was dealing with him with respect and fairness.  Shouldn't the media be praising him?

So, Bob Kraft takes time out from dating his 32 year old girlfriend to comment?  Maybe Welker looks old to Bob Kraft now.

The loss of Welker recalls the loss of Curtis Martin to the Jets. It is a big loss of production for NE and a big gain for Peyton and Elway's Broncos, making it more than just a simple "market value" issue. 

Also, if you take Kraft at face value, that the Pats really really wanted Welker, then why would you get yourself into a 'poker' situation in the first place with your top assets?  Does anyone think it is a good idea to play poker with your kid's college tuition money?  

Pats O may very well be as good as last year, the D is the problem and is a work in progress, so premature to judge. But, please spare us the platitudes about how much the organization cared for and treated Welker. Hope he is back ala Deon Branch some year soon.

It is difficult for me to think of Kraft as anything less than an insincere owner who was trying to squeeze an insecure player. It didn't work.  Good for Welker who left with dignity intact.  Next year I will be cheering for Welker and hoping that Amendola will not work out. Too smart by half!

I have a tremendous amount of respect for Bob Kraft and the entire Patriots organization. However, when Mr. Kraft says "the player and the team both got hurt", well, this was a business transaction. The coach is responsible for what happens on the field, the owner is responsible for the business end. In the end, the team was hurt in this business deal. No excuses, thank you. Welker's representation may have been bad but the Patriots knew what they were dealing with. Mr. Kraft and his business team failed here. Plain and simple. He is passionate because he did not get it done. He should simply take responsibility and move on. At the end of the day, he just did not get it done. Period. Yes, another disappointing performance and we are not happy about it. Tom Brady literally made an investment in this team and I am sure he is not happy about it, too. He has every right to be upset.

Stop talking Kraft...you sound like a fool. I guess you want me to root for my favorite "business" on Sunday afternoons. Not a chance

RHS you really have a very short memory. It was only a few years ago that logan Mankins called out Kraft during his negoticiations with the Patriots. I believe the term he used was "liar". Honestly, do you think the patriots are going to be truthful over welkers negotciations?? Bellicheck didn't want him after the Patriots paid the 9.5 million to him, bill didnt think he was worth that amount. At that point he thought welker was over paid. You are correct that this is a business first........so I'm very tired when kraft keeps saying he is a fan....just like jerry jones.........first he is a businessman....let him grow a pair and be honest with the real fans.............THEY DIDN'T WANT WELKER.........HE WAS GETTING OLD...

Plus I forgot to add he sure put Brady in his place!!!!! He was good enough for kraft to ask him to take a pay cut to "HELP' the team with its CAP........but he is only an employee.....if that employee wasn't there kraft...no super bowls for you