Wes Welker shows up at Dolphins practice, but team won't sign him
Wes Welker and Adam Gase go all the back to their time together with the Broncos
By
Ryan Wilson
•
2 min read
Wes Welker was spotted at Dolphins' organized team activities on Monday but don't expect him to suit up for the team anytime soon. Welker knows first-year coach Adam Gase from their time together in Denver, and one of the best slot receivers in NFL history is serving in an advisory role with the Dolphins.
"He shows up," Gase said. "I mean he lives like five minutes away. I think we're a good outlet for him and he's been a guy that with my history with him in Denver, I love being around him. He's such a football guy. For him to come out there and if our guys get one thing from him, I think that's a great, great thing for our guys to have a guy that's probably one of the best slot receivers of all-time being in the building. The way that he worked, the way he studied, everything he did as far as football ... just talking to him, it helps our players out."
Welker would seem to have the makings of a good coach, and at 35, the hope is that he's put his NFL aspirations firmly behind him. He played in eight games for the Rams last season, but he's nowhere close to the player he was during his run with the Patriots from 2007-2012. During those six seasons, Welker had 672 receptions for 7,459 yards and 37 touchdowns. In his two seasons with the Broncos in 2013-2014, Welker managed just 122 receptions for 1,242 yards and 12 touchdowns. But he's also suffered multiple concussions and that, more than losing a step off the line of scrimmage, is the primary concern.
But Welker said last month that he's still undecided about his playing career.
"That's kind of the million dollar question right now in trying to figure that out," Welker said during an appearance on NFL Network. "I think I'm weighing my options and really trying to figure out where to go with life next. But there are some days I wake up and I'm like 'OK, I'm done.' And other days I wake up and I'm like, 'Oh, maybe one more year.' But I'm trying not to rush into any decision but at the same time, know that and prepare myself for not playing."
For now, Welker remains a cheerleader. And while Gase loves having him around, when asked if Welker might wear a Dolphins uniform (again -- Welker began his career in Miami), the coach was clear: "No."
