How often can a player who tied for the NFL lead in catches and also had more than 1,000 yards receiving be overlooked on his own team?
Well, on the perfect 2007 New England Patriots he can.
With Randy Moss and his 98 catches for 1,493 yards and an NFL-record 23 touchdowns in the regular season stealing all the headlines with Tom Brady, Wes Welker just stayed in the slot and kept catching those short, boring passes from Brady to the tune of 112 receptions for 1,175 yards and 8 touchdowns (all career highs).
And while Moss has struggled in the two playoff games with a total of two catches for 32 yards, Welker, acquired last offseason in a trade with the Miami Dolphins, has 16 receptions for 110 yards and two TDs.
And he blocks, too: "I know he caught 112 balls, but he made some big-time key blocks," says Patriots VP of player personnel Scott Pioli. "He's been one of the best blocking wide receivers in the league this year, if not the best. He's tenacious. And there's times when he'll run into guys and bounce off them, too."
But all you will hear about this week is how New York will gear up to stop Moss, who burned the Giants for two touchdowns (including a 65-yarder) and 100 yards receiving in Week 17. Does anyone remember that Welker had 11 catches for 122 yards in that same game?"Pound for pound, Wes is probably the toughest football player in the league," said Chargers linebacker Junior Seau. "There are different types of players in the league. There are guys who want to be great and there are guys who need to be great. He's one of the need guys."
Welker doesn't let his 5-foot-9, 185-pound frame limit him.
"Nothing really bothers me," Welker said. "I know my capabilities and I think the coaches know. We try to play to those strengths and from there I just go out there and execute my plays. I don't really worry about the size, the speed, anything else. It's a matter of me going out there and executing, and making sure I'm doing my job."
Brady definitely knows where his bread his buttered when he needs a big catch.
"When the game is on the line, that's who I'm throwing to," Brady said of Welker. "Wes is fearless going over the middle. I don't remember any matchups where we didn't have an edge with his quickness."
Welker, who was undrafted out of Texas Tech and waived by the Chargers a game into his rookie season in 2004 (he signed with the Dolphins a week later), believes the 12-point underdog Giants won't make the same mistake as others have, believing that Moss is the be-all and end-all of the Patriots' attack.
"I think they know it's a one-game season at this point, and they've played up to it," he said. "They're playing physical out there and their special teams have been excellent, their defense is playing really well and their offense kind of speaks for itself. It's definitely going to be a great matchup for us."
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