PHOENIX (AP) – New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft delivered several messages Monday at the NFL meetings. He claimed his team’s contract offer to Wes Welker was better than what the receiver got in Denver. Kraft said Welker’s agent, David Dunn, “misrepresented” Welker’s market value. And Kraft made it clear who is boss in New England. When asked about Patriots quarterback Tom Brady being upset that Welker left after Brady reworked his own contract, Kraft said: “I don’t answer to Tom Brady. He’s an important member of the team and we chatted.” “He did what he did to put us in the best position to build a team around him and win games,” Kraft added. “But he has never, as it has been reported that he, or people close to him, have made certain comments, but none of that is true. I’ve spoken with him directly. Whoever is creating that impression is mistaken. “He has never put a demand” on the Patriots. Welker got a two-year, $12 million deal with the Broncos. Kraft said Welker could have received $8 million in the first year of a two-year contract with New England worth $10 million overall, as opposed to $6 million he gets in Denver. “And there is no guarantee that he plays the second year there,” Kraft added. Dunn did not immediately respond to messages from The Associated Press for comment. The Patriots paid the two-time All-Pro receiver $9.55 million under the franchise tag in 2012 after Welker felt he was being lowballed on a new deal and could not reach agreement on a long-term contract. He then had his fifth season with at least 111 catches, making 118 receptions for 1,354 yards and six touchdowns. New England didn’t tag Welker again, balking at paying the game’s best slot receiver the required 20 percent raise for a second-time franchise player. Now, he’s a Bronco, going from being Brady’s favorite target to catching passes from Peyton Manning. Not a bad neighborhood to move to. But Kraft was adamant Monday that he wanted Welker to remain in New England. “We usually don’t talk about contracts, but I’d like to clear up what I think is some misconception about the Wes situation,” Kraft said. “Everyone in our organization wanted Wes Welker back. Anyone who doubts that, or thinks we weren’t serious, just doesn’t get it. I really wanted Wes to be with us through the rest of his career, but it takes two sides to do a deal.” When he joined the Broncos last week, Welker refused to criticize the Patriots, although he made it clear he felt his time in New England had come to a close. “I’d definitely like to thank New England for the six years there, all the trust and everything they put in me,” Welker said. “As free agency kind of went on, I kind of got the feeling that it was time to start looking for other opportunities. Denver, I felt, would be a great fit for me.” - By BARRY WILNER, AP Pro Football Writer (© Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
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Patriots Owner Says They Made Better Offer To Welker
LAS VEGAS (AP) – Denver Broncos safety Quinton Carter was confused by the rules of a craps game, and wasn’t trying to cheat before he was arrested at a Las Vegas-area casino, his attorney said Monday. Defense attorney Andrew Leavitt called Carter’s arrest March 9 at the Texas Station casino in North Las Vegas the result of “an absolute misunderstanding.” “He was confused when he made the bet,” Leavitt told The Associated Press. “He didn’t know how to play the game. He wasn’t trying to cheat anyone.” Leavitt appeared Monday before a North Las Vegas judge who postponed action in the case until April 18. Carter didn’t appear in court. Leavitt said his client was out of the country on Monday. Carter faces three felony charges of fraudulent act in a gaming establishment. Security officials reported he was videotaped adding a $5 chip to three bets after the dice had already rolled. Carter denied wrongdoing when police arrived. Each charge carries a possible sentence of one to six years in prison and a $10,000 fine. Leavitt said he was trying to negotiate a resolution of the case before Carter appears in court. Carter also faces a warrant charging him with failure to complete counseling after pleading guilty in a 2011 misdemeanor marijuana possession case. Leavitt said Carter completed the counseling but never turned in proof to the court. He has since taken another counseling course in hopes the charge will be dropped. Carter posted a message on his Twitter account Friday apologizing for “any negative attention this has brought to the Broncos, our fans and the league.” He said he was confident he will be cleared. Carter attended Cheyenne High School in North Las Vegas and was an All-American at Oklahoma before being drafted in 2011 by the Broncos. He started at free safety his rookie year in 2011, but injured a knee last summer and missed all but a few games of the 2012 season. – By Ken Ritter, AP Writer (© Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
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Lawyer: Broncos Safety Quinton Carter Denies Vegas Casino Charge
Free agent defensive end Elvis Dumervil could be back with the Denver Broncos by the end of the week.
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NFL roundup: Dumervil may be back with Broncos soon (The SportsXchange)
PHOENIX (AP) — New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft says his team’s contract offer to Wes Welker was better than what the receiver got in Denver.
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Kraft says Patriots made better offer to Welker (The Associated Press)
Elvis Dumervil’s new agent, Tom Condon, and the Denver Broncos lost an appeal to get the verbal agreement honored by the NFL. The agreement was turned…
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Longshot to keep Dumervil in Denver fails
Restricted free agent cornerback Cassius Vaughn signed his qualifying offer with the Indianapolis Colts.
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Colts’ CB Vaughn signs qualifying offer (The SportsXchange)
Last week Pro Bowl receiver Wes Welker held his introductory news conference with the Denver Broncos. He thanked the New England Patriots organization…
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Wes Welker blame game a fruitless exercise
NORTH LAS VEGAS, Nev. (AP) — A lawyer says he’s trying to resolve criminal allegations that Denver Broncos safety Quinton Carter cheated at a craps game at a Las Vegas-area casino.
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Lawyer: Broncos safety denies Vegas casino charge (The Associated Press)
PHOENIX – New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft answered questions from reporters at the NFL annual meeting on Monday afternoon, and he provided det…
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Kraft: Welker was our first choice
Denver Broncos safety Quinton Carter was confused by the rules of a craps game, and wasn’t trying to cheat before he was arrested at a Las Vegas-area casino, his attorney said Monday.
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Denver Broncos’ Quinton Carter denies Vegas casino charge, lawyer says