NFL Free Agency Rumors: New England Patriots, Wes Welker Expected to Continue Relationship

The Wes Welker saga has taken some wild turns and we haven’t even entered the free agency negotiation period which kicks off on Saturday morning as soon as the clock strikes midnight.

We’ve heard that Welker will not return to New England, that the two sides were close to a deal and a flurry of other rumors.

Now, according to Greg Bedard of the Boston Globe, the “overwhelming sentiment” is that Welker will return to the Patriots in 2013. Welker is very valuable to the franchise, so the move makes sense.

Here is what Bedard had to say:

"The relationship between Welker and the team evolved over the season and they ended in a good place. The team realized Welker’s true value is in his dependability because even after losing Hernandez and Rob Gronkowski for an entire season combined, the offense still reached great heights. Why? Because Welker was always there, not to mention that he returned punts as well.Is there some concern in the Welker camp that the team could go back to undervaluing the receiver? Sure, which is understandable. If you sign with the Patriots, you are expected to do what you’re told for the good of the team. If you have a problem with that, don’t sign here."

"But the overwhelming sentiment, from sources on both sides of the Welker situation, is he will be back with the Patriots. It’s not a matter of if, but when."

The two sides may not reach a deal before the start of free agency, but expect Welker to quickly learn that the Patriots are the team who values him the most. On the open market, not many teams will be willing to shell out cash for a receiver that will be 32-years-old when the season starts and is viewed as a product of the system.