“It scares me. I think he can still play, yet I do not want him to play ’cause of these concussions”. “I think he can still play, but I don’t want him to play because of these concussions”, Bailey said when talking about Welker’s recent history with concussions.
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Wes Welker, who entered a two-year, $12 million contract with Broncos prior to the 2013 season, saw his role dwindle in 2014 when he suffered a concussion before the season, ESPN unveiled.
Welker is also 34 which in NFL years is basically archaic for a wide receiver (just don’t tell Steve Smith that).
Welker has made it no secret he wants at least one more crack at playing, and it’s possibly his desire to win a rin – Welker lost in the Super Bowl three times: twice with the New England Patriots, once with the Broncos – that drives him to give it another shot.
“I knew there were concerns out there but on top of that I wanted to know for my own peace of mind”, Welker said.
But Welker will have to decide if his long term health is, at the end of the day, worth that Super Bowl ring.
He caught 49 passes for 464 yards and two touchdowns during the 2014 season.
Welker wears a larger protective helmet because of his concussion history. He is now a free agent. “He has to think about those years to come, and I just hope he hangs ’em up and not strap it on again”.
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Now retired Denver Bronco’s All-Pro cornerback Champ Bailey appeared on FOX Sports1 last night and said that he wished his former teammate would put his family and health first instead of putting on the pads one last time. The NFL has a concussion protocol in place in an attempt to identify, treat, and medically clear players that become concussed during a game. “He’s been with two really good programs that should have gotten him that ring”.
