NEW ORLEANS - Wes Welker 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."
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 little receiver and the team.
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."
Welker is an unrestricted free agent.