As Wes Welker suits up to play for the Denver Broncos this season, all indications point to the fact that he won't wish he was still in New England.
The wide receiver told Sports Illustrated that Patriots head coach Bill Belichick was especially hard on him towards the end of his six-year tenure with the team, even mentioning that he just "put up with him."
"It was just kind of hard," Welker said according to the magazine, "one of those deals where you have to endure him, put up with him. ... But he does it to everybody. It's the way he is."
Welker, possibly fed up with dealing with Belichick, opted to sign a two-year $12 million contract with the Denver rather than re-upping with New England on a two-year $10 million deal that included incentives.
Welker and Belichick experienced some troublesome times earlier in Welker's tenure with the team. Belichick benched the star receiver for the opening series of a playoff game against the New York Jets in 2011 because Welker made foot-related comments as a dig at Jets head coach Rex Ryan.
Reports indicate that another reason Welker decided to sign with the Broncos was because he could speak candidly to the media and be himself, unlike with the Patriots where Belichick told his players to not give too much to the media.
Welker and the Patriots had a bit of a tumultuous relationship after Welker, who noted he would only sign with the Patriots or the Broncos, decided to sign with Denver instead of stay with New England. Welker surprised the Patriots by signing with the Broncos, and it resulted in a public squabble between those that represent Welker and Robert Kraft, the owner of the Patriots.
Welker surpassed 100 receptions and 1,000 yards in five of his six seasons with the Patriots, and will now go from catching passes from elite quarterback Tom Brady to elite quarterback Peyton Manning.
Last year with the Patriots, Welker had 118 receptions 1,354 yards and scored six touchdowns. New England lost in the AFC Championship game to the eventual Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens. Denver, the new home of Welker, also fell to Baltimore in the divisional round of the playoffs last season.
Welker is looking to learn Manning's offense and become a good fit with the Broncos.
"In New England, if the middle of the field was closed, I'd run a seam route," he said. "It's something I've been doing for six years now, so I have to teach my brain to do it the way he's [Manning] expecting me to do it."
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