Needing to act fast, the New England Patriots agreed to a five-year, $30 million deal with wide receiver Danny Amendola on Tuesday — the day before Wes Welker flew to Denver to work out a deal with the Broncos.
There were reports that Welker went back to the Patriots on Wednesday to give the Pats one last chance to match or beat the two-year, $12 million Denver offer.
But a source close to Amendola said that couldn't be true because the former Rams receiver's deal had already been completed by then. The Pats had no need to sign both receivers.
Talks with Welker apparently broke down over the weekend after the Patriots reportedly offered him a two-year, $10 million deal, with incentives that could have maxed out at about $16 million. Welker's agent, David Dunn, had been letting people know the market for Welker was between $8 million and $9 million per year.
The Pats were forced to act quickly, and not wait for Welker, because Amendola had "other options," according to the source,
Amendola's agent, Erik Burkhardt, said he could not confirm or deny the story.
Raw: Baby White Rhino Debuts at Australian Zoo
Time Lapse: Rebuilding Bridge Post-collapse
Ohio Woman Accuses 3 of Holding Her Captive
Hunt for Ex-Teamster Boss Hoffa's Remains Ends
Aug. Trial Set for Ohio Man in Triple Kidnapping
Car Crash in NYC's East Village Injures 8
Obama Renews Call for Nuclear Reductions
Raw: Car Jumps Curb in NYC, Injures 8
Unusual Heat Wave Bakes Alaska
Raw: German President Welcomes President Obama
Raw: Arizona Wildfire Scorches 8 Square Miles
Raw: Huge Fire Near Yosemite National Park
Kid Couture: Spending Big Bucks on Babies
