New England Patriots Wes Welker did not start in Sunday’s game
New England Patriots receiver Wes Welker was benched for the first series of the game against the New York Jets, after reports that he had mocked Jets head coach Rex Ryan a couple of days ago.
Before anyone thinks that it was a good idea, take a look at the Jets. The benching of Welker shows that the Pats are determined to keep a professional and friendly atmosphere, even against the very same team that has been trash
talking them for the entire week.
Many Jets players have publicly insulted the Patriots, with Antonio Cromartie throwing some expletives in the direction of Patriots Quarterback Tom Brady.
It’s kind of strange that Pats head coach Bill Belichick decided to bench Welker for unsportsmanlike conduct, when Ryan himself said, “Am I gonna punish Cromartie for saying something or whatever? No”.
Obviously, Belichick doesn’t feel the same way.
During an interview last week, Welker made references to Ryan’s foot fetish incident last month. Videos surfaced on the internet featuring a woman who looked extraordinarily like Ryan’s wife, Michelle, and an off screen voice
that sounded much like the head coach. Curiously, Welker used the words “foot, feet, toe, toes” a total of 11 times in an interview, in order to mock Ryan.
Ryan has already said that the battle between him and Belichick is personal, and Belichick has acknowledged that fact as well. However, unlike Ryan, the 58-year-old Pats head coach does not want his players to get involved.
Welker discussed being benched after the Pats lost to the Jets on Sunday, 28-21, ending their season and a chance at Super Bowl XLV.
"I don't feel anything [about the benching]," said Welker. "I was just ready for the opportunity to play and help the team win. That's a coach's decision, the game plan. You can ask the coach about that stuff. I'm not going
to really comment on that stuff. We've always respected the Jets. They have a good football team."
When Belichick was asked about the benching, he simply said “I don’t have any comment on that.”
Welker received the punt after the Jets first drive ended. However, Julian Edelman took his place when the Brady-led offence, took the field. David Harris intercepted Brady to end New England’s first offensive possession. This
was Brady’s first interception in 340 pass attempts. Welker came back into the game on the Pats’ next possession.
Welker’s references to feet came during a week of trash talking between the Jets and Pats, mostly from the Jets. After Welker made the comments to mock Ryan, New York’s defensive back Bart Scott made things very clear to Welker
in a newspaper interview.
"Be very careful what you say about our coach," Scott said. "His [Welker's] days in a uniform will be numbered. Put it like that."
After Sunday’s win though, Scott didn’t really have to say anything about Welker being benched. He said, "I know you would like to say that this is like the 'Young and the Restless' and I pay attention to what's going
on there, but I could care less. All I do is play whoever comes out there."
However, he stood fully behind the comments that he made in response to Welker’s insults. Scott said, "I stand behind my words and if I get another opportunity for him to come through the middle, I'm going to try and put
him through the ground."
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