Thread: Bears Had First Shot at Getting Welker..............

Bears had first crack at Welker

They liked Patriots star receiver as returner didn't see need for him after drafting Vasher

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The Bears considered Wes Welker in 2004, but he went undrafted. (Doug Kapustin/MCT photo)

By Dan Pompei, Chicago Tribune reporter 9:25 p.m. CST, February 2, 2012

INDIANAPOLIS — They ignored Wes Welker on draft day.

They won't ignore him on Super Bowl Sunday.

Welker, the player nobody wanted, led the league in catches this season and has had more receptions than any player in the league since 2007. He has had four 1,000-yard receiving seasons and has been named to the last four Pro Bowls.

You might say the little guy has arrived.

He might have arrived as a Bear instead of a Patriot if fate had been kinder to Jerry Angelo.

It turns out in the spring of 2004, the Bears wanted Welker so much they were the only team to extend a pre-draft visit invitation.

Welker had not been asked to go to the scouting combine, so the Bears wanted to interview him, work him out and get a feel for him.

Welker still can recall the day. There were meetings with coach Lovie Smith and then-offensive coordinator Terry Shea at Halas Hall. Team officials took him out for a nice dinner. His cell phone went off in the middle of a meeting.

The Bears' interest in him was as a punt returner. He had brought back an NCAA record eight punts for touchdowns at Texas Tech. And the thought was the Bears could sign him as a free agent after the draft.

But during the draft, the Bears took a cornerback in the fourth round. Turns out that cornerback, Nathan Vasher, also was a punt returner. So they didn't need Welker anymore.

Undrafted, he signed as a free agent with the Chargers instead and made the opening day roster, only to be cut the following week. Then-Chargers coach Marty Schottenheimer since has called it the biggest roster mistake he ever made.

Welker signed with the Dolphins, where he caught the eye of Patriots coach Bill Belichick by gaining more all-purpose yards in his first three seasons than any player in NFL history other than Gale Sayers. The Patriots coach traded second- and seventh-round draft picks to his division rival for Welker.

With Belichick coaching him and Tom Brady throwing to him, the 5-foot-9 Welker has gotten better and better. At 30, he had a career year in 2011.

He attributes the increased production to maturity. "It's reading plays better, taking care of your body better, understanding what it takes to be ready for games, mentally preparing yourself for that, watching film and understanding everything," he said.

Time has taught him that on Super Bowl Sunday, he best keep his eyes on Giants safeties Kenny Phillips and Antrel Rolle pre-snap.

"The safeties never lie in coverage," Welker said.

He also has become one of football's premier route runners, capable of making any route appear like any other.

"When you watch him run routes, he makes very swift decisions," Brady said. "That gives me a lot of confidence."

Welker's successful formula is equal parts talent and professionalism.

There are myriad stories at the Super Bowl, but not many as compelling as his. No one has come farther to get to Indianapolis.

When he was a senior in high school, his coach sent out 105 faxes to college coaches to try to get him a scholarship. None of them responded, though Texas Tech made him an offer after signing day.

Now, Welker is engaged to Anna Burns, the former Miss Hooters International.

Yes, it's a great country.

Asked about his journey, Welker said, "I don't know if you can really describe it. It's a lot of hard work. A lot of late nights and early mornings, and everything else to get to this point. It's never easy, you don't really take it for granted. You just play the best you can and do what you can to be here. Now we're here and it's a great deal."

The Bears whiffed on their chance at Welker eight years ago, but they may have another chance this year. His contract is expiring and Welker could become a free agent.

He said, ideally, he would sign a new deal with the Patriots before he hits the open market.

"I plan on being back," he said. "I am not really too worried about that right now. I am fully concentrated on this game and what we have to do, but I plan on being back."

If he's not back, Welker won't be ignored this time.


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