Wes Welker On The Patriots Recent Slide: “It’s kind of crazy. When things are going good, they’re good; and when they’re bad, they’re bad.”
December 8, 2009 – 5:30 pm by Michael Bean
All of a sudden, we have ourselves a race in the AFC East. Two weeks ago, it appeared the New England Patriots were going to coast to another divisional crown. Two losses later and the Patriots are just one game clear of both the New York Jets and the Miami Dolphins, the team that handed them their most recent defeat, 22-21 Sunday afternoon in Miami. The Patriots aren’t playing awful football, but they’re not closing out games like they once did in the Bill Belichick era. The offense, which has been downright scary at times this year, has also been more inconsistent than usual. One player who hasn’t been inconsistent is wide receiver Wes Welker. The former Texas Tech standout is leading the NFL with 95 receptions after his 10 catch performance on Sunday.
Welker joined The Sports Animal in Oklahoma City with Jim Traber and Al Eschbach to talk about New England’s recent struggles, how fine a line it is between winning and losing in the NFL, what the difference is between Belichick and Mike Leach (his former college coach at Tech), whether or not Randy Moss is popular amongst his teammates, and how the Patriots better be ready to compete this coming weekend against a Panthers team that is more dangerous than their record suggests.
On what’s been going on with the Patriots the past few weeks after looking quite formidable early in November:
“I think we’re just…we keep on having some eye openers and one of these times we’re going to respond to it. And really what it comes down to is just getting back to work and focusing on these last four games, and just taking care of business as far as that goes. It’s definitely disappointing to lose, especially the way we did yesterday. We just got to move on from it and get better.”
On what the main differences are between current coach Bill Belichick and college coach Mike Leach:
“Oh man, it’s…it’s…I don’t even know where to start really to tell you the truth. Belichick’s meetings start on time; Leach’s don’t. Most of the stories about Belichick says have an end or a reason to them; and most of the times with Leach’s you just wonder where he’s going with it and what the heck he just said. There’s some subtle differences, but they’re both really great football coaches and do a good job. Coach Leach obviously the offense and everything – he’s a genius as far as that goes. And Coach Belichick is obviously who he is.”
On if there’s any difference in Belichick’s demeanor when the Pats are losing or winning:
“It’s pretty much the same. It’s not like he’s cussing out and everything. He just kind of realizes what it is and puts it in perspective for us, and make sure we’re doing everything we can to try to get better.”
On if Randy Moss is popular or not with his Patriots teammates:
“Everybody gets along with Randy. He’s a funny guy, he always has something to say about something. He’s fun to talk it up with, and he gives us a bit of energy at times, and making sure that we’re also having fun while we’re out there working.”
On just how fine a line it is in the NFL between winning and losing and what the Patriots and other teams can do to try to push through the tough times:
“Yeah, it’s kind of crazy. When things are going good, they’re good; and when they’re bad, they’re bad. So you just got to keep working hard and push through those bad times. And there’s adversity in every game, you just got to make sure you don’t go in the tank too early and make sure you’re fighting for 60 minutes, and anything can happen.”
Listen here to Welker on Sports Animal in Oklahoma City with Jim Traber and Al Eschbach
Tags: Bill Belichick, Mike Leach, NFL leading receivers, The Sports Animal, Wes Welker
