Patriots wide receiver Wes Welker signed his $9.5 million fanchise tender on Tuesday.
Long term contract talks have gone in the opposite direction, Welker told Karen Guregian of the Boston Herald today.
“There have been talks, but nothing that’s brightened anything at all,” Welker said. “It’s actually gotten worse.”
When asked to define “worse,” Welker said the offer on the table is less than the two-year, $16 million fully guaranteed contract that was offered to him during the 2011 regular season.
“The ball’s in their court. I just want to play,” he said. “At the end of the day, if it’s one year, $9.5 million, it’s one year, $9.5 million. I’m good with that.”