“I signed my tender today,” Welker wrote. “I love the game and I love my teammates! Hopefully doing the right thing gets the right results. #leapoffaith”

By putting his name to the one-year contract, valued at the average of the top 10 player contracts at his position (approximately $9.5 million), Welker is now eligible to take part in any and all of the Patriots’ offseason workouts. In the meantime, as he alluded to in his tweet, Welker and the team can continue to negotiate a longer-term deal as well, but only until July 15. According to NFL rules, if they cannot hammer out an agreement by then, Welker must play the 2012 season under the franchise tender.

It’s still possible the club could decide to trade Welker. The team had been steadily upgrading its wide receiver corps throughout the offseason, mostly with veteran free agents on one-, two-, or three-year deals. Consequently, competition at this position could be the fiercest of any in New England this summer, with or without Welker.

In all likelihood, however, the Patriots will retain the services of quarterback Tom Brady’s favorite receiver for at least one more season.

How do you feel about Welker’s signing the franchise tender? As always, we welcome your comments below.

Monday the franchised receiver sounded a bit more upbeat about the possibility that he could be on the practice field.

“We’re still kind of waiting, but I’d really like to be there,” Welker told WEEI radio. “I don’t know. To say I’m going one way or another right now, I’m not going to say definite or anything like that. But I would definitely like to be at those minicamps for sure.”

Welker clearly wants a lucrative long term contract after playing out the five-year, $18 million deal that brought him to New England in 2007. As it stands today, he is scheduled to play under the Patriots franchise tag, which would pay him a guaranteed $9.5 million at whatever point he might decide to sign that tender.

Some have wondered if Welker might stay away from the team and miss regular season games if he doesn’t get the contract he so covets. But it doesn’t sound that way.

“There’s 9 1/2 million reasons why I wouldn’t miss any regular-season game,” referring to the franchise tag. “So, I don’t have to worry about that.”

Overall the tone of the interview seemed rather optimistic.

“I think we’re all on the same page,” Welker told WEEI. “And we’re all trying to collectively come together and make something happen. I think everybody just needs to know that. We’re all on the same page and we’re trying to work toward something.

“We’re just kind of moving along. I have a great relationship with coach [Bill Belichick] and Mr. Kraft and with the front office and everybody else. I don’t think there’s any sort of hard feelings on my side or their side. I think we’re all looking forward to the 2012 season and hopefully do some big things there.”

Welker is in New England for the Wes Welker Football Clinic that takes place this weekend in Peabody.

For the entire audio from the WEEI appearance click here.

What do you think of Welker’s comments? Do they make you feel better about his future with the team and the 2012 season? Let us know with a comment below!

A little good ol’ fashioned analysis should be able to narrow us in on who that player might be in this ranking of top talent as voted on by other NFL players.

First, it’s probably safe to say that while Tom Brady, Rob Gronkowski and Wes Welker are all clearly locks to be represented on the list, they also should find themselves much higher in the top 100. Brady, who was No. 1 overall a year ago, should remain near the top spot. Coming off the greatest season in the history of the league by a tight end, Gronkowski could be in the top 10 or 15. And another 100-catch season leading the NFL could have Welker in the top 20 or higher, after coming in at No. 50 last year.

So for this year’s 61-70 grouping, who are some other Patriots in that next tier of top NFL talent? Let’s start with the team’s other Pro Bowl players from last season. That includes Vince Wilfork, who was already on the list at the No. 81 spot overall after coming in 35th on last year’s list.

Eliminating Wilfork as a possibility leaves Logan Mankins (39 in 2011), Brian Waters, Andre Carter and Jerod Mayo (62 in 2011).

Two guys not invited to the Pro Bowl who had very impressive 2012 seasons also need to be pondered – the recently-retired Matt Light and Aaron Hernandez.

Since Light didn’t get a Pro Bowl nod a year ago, which includes player votes, let’s eliminate him. Hernandez was an alternate for the Hawaii all-star game, even if overshadowed a bit by Gronkowski. Hernandez ranked t-15th in the NFL in receptions and 14th in yards. Those would be great numbers if he didn’t play with Gronkowski and Welker.

Waters and Carter also had great years in their first season in New England, so they could be legitimate options here as well respected veterans basking in the attention of playing on a Super Bowl team late in their careers.

But if I had to guess, I’d go with Hernandez due to the overall success of the Patriots offense and the attention that the passing game gets in today’s NFL.

Now it’s your turn, which Patriot do you think will hear his name called Wednesday night as one of the Top 100 NFL Players of 2012? Voice your opinion below!

Click here to vote on a mobile device.

King kicks off the piece with the revelation that Brady is the last of the 90 active players remaining with either team from his first career start against the Colts back in 2001. (King notes that Reggie Wayne, who’s still with Indy, was inactive that day.) Matt Light, who officially announced his retirement last week, had been in that mix as well.

And Brady, who’ll turn 35 in training camp, doesn’t plan changing teams or jobs anytime soon.

“My wife [Gisele Bundchen] said to me, ‘When I met you [in 2006], you said you wanted to play 10 more years. How come that number never goes down?’ It’s that I love the game. I love the game. I’m going to play until they tell me they don’t want me anymore,” Brady relayed to MMQB.

Brady also said he met with Bill Belichick last Thursday, presumably in Foxborough.

“I still feel like I’m in my first year trying to prove myself,” Brady said. “There’s no entitlement around coach Belichick. I’ve got to be the best guy for him to keep playing me. When I’m not, someone else will play.”

Talking about his arm strength, Brady brought up former 40-something QB Brett Favre and nearly 50-year-old pitcher Jamie Moyer as guys who could still throw at the required velocity at an advanced age.

The Best Buddies fund raising weekend includes a June 1 touch football game that includes Brady and a number of teammates at Harvard. Then there is the June 2 100-mile bike ride.

“For as long as I’m here in Boston, and beyond, I’ll spread the message,” Brady told MMQB.

For more information on Best Buddies and the Brady-hosted June fundraising weekend, go to http://www.bestbuddies.org/

Lloyd enjoyed a renaissance of sorts after joining forces with McDaniels in Denver. He struggled bouncing from team to team until he found his home operating as an outside threat in the Patriots offensive system while with the Broncos, and largely for that reason he was brought to New England.

McDaniels spoke about the chemistry between he and Lloyd, who also worked with the Patriots offensive coordinator last season after being traded to St. Louis.

“He’s a guy I’m familiar with from the last few years,” McDaniels said. “He gives us an outside receiver to compete with a lot of the guys that we have here. Brandon is certainly a guy who is familiar with our system, first of all. He understands what we ask of the receiver position. He’s brought a skill set on the outside, on the perimeter, that has definitely been helpful to the offenses that I’ve had a part in the last few years. How he fits in, and what we end up doing with him along with the other receiving corps, we’ll find out as we go through the spring and the summer. I’m excited to have an opportunity to coach him again.”

McDaniels alluded to the crowded group of receivers in addition to Lloyd and talked about the process of whittling down the group to a more workable number for the regular season.

“Not only do we have a lot of people that have been successful and provided some results individually, but a lot of them have some real background and knowledge of our system too, which is a little bit of a unique situation,” McDaniels said, referencing Lloyd, Jabar Gaffney and Donte’ Stallworth – all newcomers who have played in the system.

“I think that makes for great competition. I know every year we talk about having great competition at every spot, and the receiver position is certainly going to be filled with that. We have a ton of guys here, working hard, and making sure they’re ready for OTAs in the spring. We’re going to give them all an opportunity. I don’t think you want to assume too many things. Let them go back out there and demonstrate what they know, what they can do, what they can provide our team, and let the competition play out.”

In addition to the 11 wide receivers McDaniels is currently working with, he also will have the luxury of a pair of weapons he didn’t have when helping to set records with the Patriots offense in 2007 – namely a pair of tight ends. Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez will offer McDaniels another dimension to work with, and he’s excited about the possibilities.

“They certainly can do some things similar, but I still think that the tight end position is defended differently than the receiver position is,” McDaniels said, when asked about the matchup nightmares the tandem creates.

“It depends on what personnel groupings we have on the field and what the defense has on the field. You know, what are the matchups? If they’re being played with safeties and linebackers – which many times they are – then certainly it’s more of a tight end-oriented position for them. At times, they’re covered by defensive backs and you can do some different things with them there. The versatility they provide our offense is really unique. The skill sets they’ve demonstrated in the first two years are pretty special. It’ll be exciting to see how this year evolves and what we can do to continue to challenge – they all can continue to grow and get better.”

Jeremy Ebert, a 5-11 speedster out of Northwestern, was tabbed by New England with its final pick two weeks ago. But unlike Julian Edelman, who was similarly chosen in the seventh-round back in 2009, Ebert made his transition from quarterback to receiver went he jumped from high school to college – not college to the pros like the Patriots jack-of-all-trades.

“Having quarterback experience does help you understand the game from a different perspective,” Ebert said as he prepared for rookie mini-camp at Gillette Stadium. “As a receiver, I try to be more cognizant of not constantly complaining to the quarterback about being open and wanting the ball all the time. Viewing the game through a quarterback’s eyes is definitely helpful in terms of being a receiver.”

Ebert enjoyed a highly productive career with the Wildcats, working almost exclusively out of the slot similar to the manner in which Wes Welker has terrorized NFL defenses. It’s a role he definitely envisions himself in and he’s looking forward to soaking up as much as he can from all the Patriots wideouts.

“All the wide receivers here, they’re all great,” Ebert said. “They’re playing in the NFL, so learning from all these guys is going to be awesome. I’m just really excited to meet them and be a sponge and soak up all I can.”

Despite Ebert’s background at such a prestigious academic school as Northwestern, he admitted to being a tad intimidated by the prospect of learning the Patriots cumbersome offensive system while also finishing up his studies.

“It’s stressful but it comes with the territory,” he said. “I want to get my degree so I am happy to stay there and get that. It’s Northwestern, you kind of have to take it seriously. School comes first, not athletics. It’s a great academic school and I wanted to get a degree from the best place I could. I know that football is not going to last forever.”

Interestingly, Ebert donned a sweatshirt with the number 80 on it. He was predictably asked if he was aware of the digits’ history in New England, and while he was he displayed some rookie nerves when answering.

“I know it was Brown, Tim Brown,” he said, confusing the former Raiders perennial Pro Bowler with Mr. Patriot, Troy Brown before immediately correcting himself. “Troy Brown. He was obviously a great player. I don’t even know if this is going to be my number. They just gave me a sweatshirt and I put it on.”

That’s what happens when a virtually unknown player gets drafted in the second round.

Wilson, though, said this weekend during Patriots rookie mini-camp that he doesn’t feel any added pressure to prove any of his critics wrong.

“I’m just very fortunate Coach Belichick made the pick. It was out of my hands. I’m just trying to be the best player I can be. It’s really not about proving anybody wrong. It’s about Tavon being the best player he can be. I’ve never been a person who tries to go out and prove something to someone.”

What does he hope to accomplish this weekend, then?

“I’m just trying to be the best player I can become,” Wilson continued. “Just try to get better every day. Just do whatever I’m asked by the coaches and take a step every day.”

One of the reasons the Patriots may have been attracted to the former Illinois defensive back is his penchant for film study.

“As I got older, I tried to attack the film room and understand offenses and how they wanted to attack me,” he explained. “I just like the advantage it gives you on the field, when it pays off and you know what’s happening. That’s something I’m going to do here also.”

In the meantime, he’s trying to get to know everyone in the organization as quickly as possible and absorb the intricate defensive playbook. Wilson said he’s already found his veteran teammates to be more than willing to help.

“This is a pretty tight group, so, I feel comfortable reaching out to the older players if I need to.

“It’s been great. Excited to be here,” he concluded. “I’m new to this, so, I’m just trying to learn as much as possible.”

Of course, the object of the fans’ ire is Red Sox pitcher Josh Beckett, not the team’s rookie defensive end. On Friday before practice for the start of rookie mini-camp, Bequette (same pronunciation) mentioned that he enjoys golfing as well as football.

A follow-up question asked if he’d been playing with the embattled Red Sox pitcher, who was caught in a firestorm this week when it was learned he went golfing two days before having to miss a start due to a strained lat muscle. Bequette laughed it off.

“It’s funny. Everyone’s asking me how to pronounce my last name. I said, ‘just like Josh Beckett.’ Different spelling but same pronunciation,” he said with a big smile.

There will be plenty of time for everyone to understand the difference, but until then the “new” Bequette is content following orders and working toward his goal of succeeding in the National Football League.

“It’s very exciting for me and my fellow rookies. We’re just looking forward to going to work, we’ve already started and we just want to keep it going,” Bequette said. “I just want to do whatever I can to help the team. Just kind of be here, be seen and work as hard as I can to establish myself.

“For me it’s very exciting. It’s been a lifelong dream to play in the NFL, especially for an organization like the Patriots. Like I said, it’s awesome and I can’t wait to get started.”

Bequette comes to New England with a pretty solid resume as a pass rusher. He was used in a variety of ways as a Razorback and has an understanding of what it takes to succeed when it comes to getting after the quarterback.

“Any good pass rusher has to have a great, quick first step, has to keep their pads down, have a couple of good moves and countermoves,” he said. “If I can incorporate that into my game, learn from the coaches and veterans, I’ll have a great chance.

“I was able to do a bunch of different things at Arkansas. Here I’m going to do what I’m told.”

Sounds like a good plan.

Bolden, a team captain as a senior, had been suspended for a game against Alabama for violating team rules.

Now in New England as an undrafted free agent at rookie mini-camp, Bolden had a simple answer to those wanting to investigate his character.

“Come investigate it,” Bolden said with a confident edge. “Just come investigate it. Just watch me. I really don’t have an answer for them.”

Bolden lands at Gillette Stadium looking to follow the footsteps of another former Ole Miss running back. BenJarvus Green-Ellis was also undrafted out of the school before earning a job as a free agent player and finally developing into a 1,000-yard back.

While Bolden has heard the stories of Green-Ellis in college and now in New England, he’s looking more to make his own bones at this point.

“Ben was at Ole Miss for the four years before I go there,” Bolden said. “He was walking out the door I was coming int. Great guy. Great running back. Watched a lot of film on him.

“Honestly I haven’t paid much attention to it. Ben did what he did because that’s what Ben does. I’m coming in to try to make it as he did.”

Bolden’s best season in Oxford came as a junior when he ran 163 times for 976 yards (6.0 avg.) while also catching 32 passes for 344 yards. A hairline fracture in his left ankle in last fall’s season opener cut into his production and playing time as a senior in 2011. He played in 10 games with four starts, tallying 462 yards on 96 attempts (4.8 avg.).

Not exactly the same resume as Green-Ellis who had multiple 1,000-yard seasons in college. Bolden also fumbled eight times in 562 touches, compared to zero fumbles in the Law Firm’s life.

But at this point the comparisons with Green-Ellis are irrelevant. Bolden is just another young body on the practice fields, trying to throw his hat in the ring for a role in New England’s relatively young backfield committee.

“It’s a lot of young guys,” Bolden acknowledged of the Patriots running back depth chart. “Everybody is trying to prove the same point. Why not throw my two-cents in as well. I’m just here to make them better, to push them as well as they’re going to push me.

“I’m just coming in here trying to make my spot. I’m a guy that looks forward. The injury happened. Everything happens for a reason. Just keep moving.”

As an undrafted player Bolden could have chosen to pursue his pro dreams anywhere. While many probably assumed he choose New England in some way due to Green-Ellis’ success, that’s not the case.

“It just felt like the right thing to do,” Bolden said.

Although the team’s winning history and organizational respect clearly had something to do with it.

“Watching from since maybe 2000, it’s a great organization,” Bolden concluded. “You hear everyone talking about the owner and how good of a coach Coach Belichick is. Just kind of wanted to find out for myself.”

Like all the rest of the rookies, that’s exactly what Bolden is doing this week on the practice fields of Foxborough.

“I need to learn all the dos and don’ts. Just be a sponge,” Jones said when asked about meeting with his new teammates in the near future. “Know your role and just earn respect from everyone.”

Jones, the 21st overall pick and the Patriots top selection, said he didn’t have much of an idea of how things would go once he got on the field but was only concerned with taking his directions from the coaches.

“I have no idea what to expect,” Jones said. “I’m just going in there blind and just taking it a day at a time. A lot of people tell me I only get the opportunity to make one first impression. This week is my opportunity to make a first impression. What I’m trying to do is learn this playbook and impress the coaches.”

Jones worked with other edge players attacking a sled working on tackling technique under the watch of new coaching assistant Joe Judge (who has a special teams background) and safeties coach Brian Flores during the brief period open to the media at practice.