One of last season's biggest offseason stories may turn into one of this season's biggest offseason stories.
Wes Welker's contract with the New England Patriots is up once again. The Patriots could again choose to use the franchise tag on the wide receiver, but there's doubt the two sides can agree on Welker's long-term value. Again.
"I'd love him to be around, he's a great guy," Patriots owner Robert Kraft told Tom Curran of Comcast SportsNet New England. "Like I said all along, it takes two sides to make a transaction and then we have to manage the lawyers and the agents that they don't mess it up. I think Wes wants to be with us and we want him here so it's just a matter of whether both sides can be intelligent."
Oh boy. Somehow, we doubt the lawyers and agents are going to enjoy hearing that they have to be managed not to "mess it up." Welker's representatives and the Patriots have a long and contentious relationship filled with ugly public back and forth. (None of which helps get a deal done.)
Don't be surprised if we hear something from Welker's side in the coming days.
Follow Gregg Rosenthal on Twitter @greggrosenthal.
