The Pats held some OTAs (that's organized team activity) in the past few days. It was good to see most of the players in uniform together for the first time since the season ended. Brady was present and I enjoyed watching video of him throwing to Moss, Holt, Edelman, Welker... Welker?
There was #83 cutting across the middle of the field -- his office -- and hauling in Brady passes. Then, more importantly, there was #83 turning on his surgically-repaired knee and picking up some yards-after-catch. It's only the first week of June and Welker, wearing a knee brace, is way ahead of schedule. When he went down in the last game of the regular season I figured he would miss most if not all of 2010. A year recovery is the norm for a major knee blow out. Wes Welker has proven he is not the norm.
If Welker is able to return for the start of the season -- and last the whole year -- the Pats' offense goes from good to great. A healthy Welker added to Moss, Holt, Edelman, Faulk, and the rookie tight ends gives Brady lots of options in the passing game. The Jets will need more than Darrelle Revis to shut down all of those weapons.
Welker is the spiritual leader of the Pats. You could see it when he got hurt. Brady looked just like Moss looked back in the first week of '08. Like his girlfriend had just broke his heart. And you could see it a week later against the Ravens in the playoffs. Sure, Welker's absence wasn't the reason the Pats got pounded. But not having his gritty style of leadership sure made it worse.
I didn't expect to get to see #83 cutting across the middle of the field for a key catch on third down this year. Looks like I will. When's the home opener?
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