Welker: Short-term deal 'no way to play'

Patriots wide receiver Wes Welker, in an interview on ESPN's Mike & Mike Show [1], discussed his desire for a long-term deal and why he has yet to sign a one-year, $9.5 million franchise tenure.

"Right now, i'm just kind of in a wait and see position," Welker said in the interview. "I feel like my body of work over the last five years, it hadn't been any sort of one-hit wonder or anything else. I think it's deserving of a long-term contract. Hopefully we come to that point and make something happen. I think we'll get on the same page. It's just a matter of getting those discussions going and make something happen."

Asked whether he would hold out if a long-term deal was not worked out, Welker did not have a definitive answer.

"It just kind of depends. Obviously, I want to be in New England. Obviously, it's the perfect fit for me," he said. "That's where I want to be. At the same time, I'm getting married this summer, planning a family, everything else. You want to be put in a good spot and not have to worry about being hurt.

"It's something that I worried about this past year," added Welker. "It's almost like you're sitting on a winning lottery ticket. You can cash it in if you don't get hurt. It's no way to play football. It's no way to really go out there and try to do your job the best you can. Hopefully, we're in a spot where I can just go out there and play and not have to worry about it."

In five seasons with the Patriots, Welker has averaged 111 catches 1,221 yards per season.

For more Patriots coverage, visit weei.com/patriots [2].