The Facts: Last Friday, while at Super Bowl XLVII in New Orleans, Patriots owner Robert Kraft spoke about Welker's contractual situation. The owner this time took a swipe at Welker's representatives. "I'd love him to be around, he's a great guy," said Kraft. "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."

Diehards Line: Welker is an unrestricted free agent again this season after having what CSNNE.com's Tom Curran characterized as having had "a contractual mud wrestle" with the Patriots last year. When he finally relented on his quest for a multiyear deal and accepted the franchise tag the team applied to him, ownership reportedly bristled when he called his decision a "leap of faith." According to Curran, the fact that Welker was called on the carpet for that comment after laying down his arms illustrates the tenor of where things have been, business-wise, between the receiver and the team. It appears that won't change.