New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft made the pecking order in Foxborough perfectly clear in his actions last week, when popular wide receiver Wes Welker was allowed to depart for Denver over a difference of $2 million for the next two seasons.
On Monday, he made certain the message was received.
“I don’t answer to Tom Brady,” Kraft said, discussing any peripheral damage of allowing Welker to leave after five 100-catch seasons as Brady’s favorite outlet.
Kraft said he believed the Patriots’ two-year offer was better for Welker, and that agent David Dunn overvalued Welker and wound up getting him less money — and security — with a two-year, $12 million deal in Denver.
Point of fact — Welker is guaranteed only $6 million, all in 2013, and can be released with minimal repercussions.
Kraft said the Patriots were putting more money in the first year of the deal, but didn’t advance to granular details of that contract offer.
Brady is not upset, according to the owner, and Kraft said the entire franchise still has a lot of respect for Welker.