FOXBORO -- When Wes Welker wasn't dodging contract questions Thursday, he sounded damn happy about football.
"It's good to be back," he said. "It seems like just yesterday we were still playing, but we're already back and it's kind of crazy. You're kind of thinking, 'Ah, I can't believe we're already back,' but then you go against the defense and it's just exciting. It's fun to be out here with your teammates getting better and getting ready for the new season."
One of those teammates is Rob Gronkowski. The tight end had a highly-publicized summer of appearances -- some scheduled, some candid; some while wearing a shirt, some while wearing less -- after his record-breaking 2011 season.All while healing a surgically-repaired ankle.
Welker didn't miss any of it.
"Gronkowski looked good out there. He looks really good. Those young guys heal up pretty good. Even though I was a little skeptical with the 'Summer of Gronk' and everything" Welker joined in the reporters' chorus of all-knowing laughter.
"No, he's bounced back really good and we look for him to help us a lot this year."
There's plenty of help to be had.
Even after losing Anthony Gonzalez, Chad Johnson, and Matt Roark, the Patriots are still stacked with 10 receivers. Welker knows there's nothing wrong with having proven veterans like Brandon Lloyd and Jabar Gaffney around.
"The more guys we have out there doing the right thing, the better we're going to be as an offense. It's exciting to see. We still have a lot of work ahead of us and look forward to it."
It sounds like there's a lot to be optimistic about. He said this team is one of the best, in terms of health and conditioning, he's seen in New England.
A testament to a collective focus.
"It's great," Welker said of locker room discipline. "You need that atmosphere. Sometimes you get distracted by other places. Here, it's just football and that's what I love about it."