The New England Patriots have been known to play hardball when it comes to negotiating contracts, so their All-Pro receiver Wes Welker says he is done thinking about it and says there are no hard feelings between him and the team. Welker has said he wants a long-term deal with the team. “The contract, and everything else, is out of my mind,†Welker said to ESPN.com at training camp practice. “Everyone tried. “I tried, they tried, and it just didn’t work out. It’s in the past, and we’ve moved on to this season, which we expect to be a good one.†Welker will play the 2012 season making $9.5 million, which is the franchise tender he signed during the offseason. If Welker is franchised by the Patriots again next season, he will make $11.4 million. â€You got to prove it every year. There is no year where you don’t need to prove it,†Welker said when asked if he had anything to prove this year. Source: Sports Illustrated
