Welker’s deal is worth $12 million, ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter reports.

Broncos executive vice president of football operations John Elway tweeted the club’s agreement with the former New England Patriot.

“Excited to have Wes join the Broncos. His production & toughness will be a great asset!” Elway wrote.

The Patriots had been negotiating with Welker leading up to free agency but the sides could not find common ground on a deal. The 31-year-old Welker played under the franchise tag and a $9.5 million salary for the 2012 season and finished with a team-high 118 catches and 1,354 yards to go with six touchdowns.

The team elected not to tag him this offseason. If they had, Welker would have received an escalated salary of $11.4 million for the 2013 season.

Welker has been a fan favorite in New England ever since he arrived via trade in 2007. His 672 receptions over six seasons (an average of 112 per season) since joining the Patriots are the most in the NFL over that span. He became the first player in NFL history with five 110-catch seasons.

Among Welker’s biggest supporters is quarterback Tom Brady, who helped the Patriots clear $15 million in cap space over the next two seasons by restructuring his deal and signing an extension.

Brady was willing to accept the deal, which was considered below market value, because of the trust that exists between the two-time Super Bowl MVP and the team. Brady felt that in giving New England this cap flexibility, a source told ESPNBoston.com, he trusted the Patriots would add the right players to finish his career with the best chance to win another championship. Now, it’s unclear whether Welker will be catching passes from Brady or from Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning.

Just two days ago, Patriots owner Robert Kraft said he hoped Welker would be “a Patriot for life, just like Tom Brady.”

Welker had a team-high eight catches for 117 yards in New England’s 28-13 AFC Championship Game loss to the Baltimore Ravens.

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The Baltimore Sun reported talks went fine between Flacco’s agent, Joe Litna, and Ravens vice president of football administration Pat Moriarty. Talks are expected to continue as both sides try to hammer out a deal before the March 4 deadline that teams have to use their franchise tag. If no deal is reached, Flacco is expected to be tagged.

Earlier this month, Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome said he is optimistic that the team will get a long-term deal done with the quarterback. Flacco is not under contract for the coming season. The franchise tag, which would take the 28-year-old Flacco off the free-agent market, would take $20 million of cap space this season.

Newsome said Feb. 7 that the sides were close to a deal before the season began, but it was a mutual agreement to stop negotiations until the end of the season.

Flacco, who made less than $7 million last season, is expected to become one of the NFL’s highest-paid quarterbacks. Drew Brees, at an average of $20 million per season, and Peyton Manning, who made $18 million last season, currently top the pay scale for quarterbacks.

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The Ravens and Flacco’s agent, Joe Linta, had been trading telephone calls in recent days to try to schedule the face-to-face negotiating session. Both sides will try to hammer out a deal before the March 4 deadline that teams have to use their franchise tag. If no deal is reached, Flacco is expected to be tagged.

Earlier this month, Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome said he is optimistic that the team will get a long-term deal done with the quarterback. Flacco is not under contract for the coming season. The franchise tag, which would take the 28-year-old Flacco off the free-agent market, would take $20 million of cap space this season.

Newsome said Feb. 7 that the sides were close to a deal before the season began, but it was a mutual agreement to stop negotiations until the end of the season.

Flacco, who made less than $7 million last season, is expected to become one of the NFL’s highest-paid quarterbacks. Drew Brees, at an average of $20 million per season, and Peyton Manning, who made $18 million last season, currently top the pay scale for quarterbacks.

The post Ravens, Joe Flacco’s agent to meet appeared first on IdealCapper.

Flacco, the MVP of Super Bowl XLVII, is set to become an unrestricted free agent. His new deal is expected to rival those of Peyton Manning and Drew Brees, whose contracts are among the most lucrative in NFL history for quarterbacks.

Flacco’s agent, Joe Linta, said in an interview with CNBC that Flacco should be the NFL’s highest-paid quarterback.

“I think everybody is going to see what Joe [Flacco] ends up signing for,” Rodgers said Tuesday on his weekly radio show on 540 ESPN. “I’m sure they want to lock him up. He’s a great player — had an incredible run in the playoffs — and I’m sure they want to keep him around. A guy like that, with the postseason success he’s had, you want to keep a guy like that around for a while.”

Also a former Super Bowl MVP, Rodgers is under contract through 2014, having signed a six-year, $65 million contract in October 2008. Rodgers’ base salary next season is $9.25 million, while his 2014 deal is worth $10.5 million. Manning ($18 million base salary) and Brees ($20 million base) also are former Super Bowl MVPs.

Rodgers, who didn’t discuss whether he would give the Packers a hometown discount, understands that the market will dictate his next contract.

“It kind of is what it is, as far as that goes. The team, when they’re ready to talk contract, we’ll get there when we get there,” Rodgers said.

Rodgers also is confident that things will work out with the Packers, saying, “When that time comes, we’ll get a deal done. I’m not worried about that. I think the Packers want to keep me around for a little while longer, and I’d love to be a Packer for life.”

The post Aaron Rodgers monitoring QB deal appeared first on IdealCapper.

“He’s ready to go,” Harbaugh said. “He’s going to play in this game and he should be full speed.”

It’s uncertain how much Lewis — who has missed the last 10 games since suffering the injury on Oct. 14 — will play.

It’s possible that Sunday could be the final game of Lewis’ storied career. The two-time defensive player of the year and former Super Bowl MVP announced Wednesday that he is retiring after this season.

Sunday will also likely be Lewis’ final game in Baltimore even if the Ravens win because of their No. 4 seed entering the playoffs. He is also close to signing a multiyear contract with ESPN to join the network as an NFL analyst, according to an SI.com report.

Lewis, 37, returned to practice on Dec. 5. For him to be eligible for the playoffs, the Ravens added him to the active roster later in the month.

The post Ray Lewis to return against Colts appeared first on IdealCapper.

This one should be a great game, no doubt about it. The Cowboys always show up against the Giants, and a feature matchup to kick off the season should be no different.

Will two-time Super Bowl MVP Eli Manning get his team off to a winning start? Or will Tony Romo and America’s Team shut down the G-Men at home?

Oddsmakers currently have the Giants listed as 3-point favorites versus the Cowboys, while the game’s total is sitting at 46½.

Team records:
Dallas: 8-8 SU, 5-10-1 ATS
New York: 9-7 SU, 8-7-1 ATS

Dallas most recently:
When playing in September are 5-5
When playing on turf are 5-5
After being outgained are 5-5
When playing within the division are 5-5

New York most recently:
When playing in September are 7-3
When playing on turf are 6-4
After outgaining opponent are 8-2
When playing within the division are 5-5

A few trends to consider:
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Dallas’s last 6 games
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Dallas’s last 6 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Dallas’s last 6 games when playing NY Giants
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Dallas’s last 5 games when playing on the road against NY Giants
NY Giants are 5-0 SU in their last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of the NY Giants last 7 games
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of the NY Giants last 6 games at home
NY Giants are 5-1 SU in their last 6 games when playing Dallas

Next up:
Dallas at Seattle, Sunday, September 16
NY Giants home to Tampa Bay, Sunday, September 16

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