There are times where NFL players are less than thrilled to be slapped with the franchise tag. Apparently, in the case of Wes Welker and the Patriots, this is not one of those times.
The Pats franchised Welker on Monday afternoon, and late Monday night, Welker at least gave the impression that he's happy to be back in New England, when he took to Twitter to say that he was "glad" to be back with the Patriots.
Glad that I will be a Patriot in 2012. and hopefully '13,'14,'15,'16,'17,'18……….
— Wes Welker (@WesWelker) March 6, 2012
Welker will make about $9.4 million next season, but the Patriots did say in a statement released Monday that they're still hopeful a longterm deal can be reached.
"Wes Welker is a remarkable football player for our team and has been a vital component to our offense and special teams since we traded for him in 2007," the statement read. "Utilizing the franchise designation allows both sides more time to try to reach an agreement, which is the goal. Wes remains a contractual priority and we are hopeful that he will remain a Patriot for years to come."
