Welker was excused from practice Aug. 20-21 to attend his appeal hearing, sources told ESPN Senior NFL Analyst Chris Mortensen.

Welker tested positive from a sample taken shortly after he attended the Kentucky Derby, according to sources. He argued that the sample was tainted.

The Broncos announced that Welker will be suspended for the first four games of the season for violating the NFL’s policy on performance enhancing substances. The Broncos open the season Sunday night against the Indianapolis Colts. Welker will be eligible to return to the active roster Oct. 6.

In an email to The Denver Post, Welker said he would never knowingly take a substance to gain an advantage.

“I’m as shocked as everyone at today’s news,” Welker said in the report. “I want to make one thing abundantly clear: I would NEVER knowingly take a substance to gain a competitive advantage in any way. Anyone who has ever played a down with me, lifted a weight with me, even eaten a meal with me, knows that I focus purely on what I put in my body and on the hard work I put in year round to perform at the highest levels year-in and year-out.”

Welker said that he now knows the drug policy procedures are “clearly flawed,” according to the email, and that he will do everything in his power to ensure they are corrected.

Welker returned to the practice field Monday as he continues through the NFL’s concussion protocol. He would have to be symptom-free to take part in a full practice and then remain symptom-free after that and be cleared to play medically by an independent doctor. Welker suffered his third concussion since Nov. 17 during the Broncos’ Aug. 23 preseason game against the Texans.

The wide receiver had not been cleared for contact and Monday’s appearance on the practice field was his first since he suffered the concussion.

“Tonight’s news regarding Wes is very disappointing for our team, but we understand the league’s authority in this area,” Broncos coach John Fox said in a statement. “While it’s unfortunate to not have him to start the year, I have full confidence in our wide receivers and expect that group to continue playing at a high level.

“I have no doubt that Wes will remain focused on his preparations for the season and stay in excellent shape during his time away from the team.”

Welker’s suspension is a huge blow to the Broncos’ receiving game. Last season only four wide receivers caught passes for Denver and nearly 60 percent of those receptions will not be on the field in Week 1, as Eric Decker is now with the Jets and Welker is suspended, according to ESPN Stats & Information.

The Broncos signed free agent receiver Emmanuel Sanders during the offseason and drafted rookie receiver Cody Latimer.

Over the last two seasons, only five players in the NFL averaged more targets per game than Welker. Welker ranks tied for eighth in the league in total targets over that span, despite missing three games, according to ESPN Stats & Information.

The Broncos have a tough start to the season, as they open up with four straight games against teams that won 10 or more games last season.

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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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Welker’s wife, Anna Burns Welker, took to social media site Facebook to take a few shots at Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis on Sunday night after the Patriots’ 28-13 loss to the Ravens in the AFC Championship Game.

“Proud of my husband and the Pats. By the way, if anyone is bored, please go to Ray Lewis’ Wikipedia page. 6 kids 4 wives. Acquitted for murder. Paid a family off. Yay. What a hall of fame player! A true role model!” Burns Welker said in a since-deleted post on her personal Facebook page.

Burns Welker released a statement to sports blog Larry Brown Sports apologizing for her remarks:

“I’m deeply sorry for my recent post on Facebook. I let the competitiveness of the game and the comments people were making about a team I dearly love get the best of me. My actions were emotional and irrational and I sincerely apologize to Ray Lewis and anyone affected by my comment after yesterday’s game.

“It is such an accomplishment for any team to make it to the NFL playoffs, and the momentary frustration I felt should not overshadow the accomplishments of both of these amazing teams.”

Wes Welker led the Patriots in receiving Sunday with 117 yards and a touchdown on eight catches in the loss, but could have played his last game for New England as he is set to become a free agent this offseason.

Lewis, who announced weeks ago that he would retire at the conclusion of Baltimore’s season, led all players with 14 tackles.

The post Anna Burns Welker, Wes Welker’s wife, apologizes for Ray Lewis comments appeared first on IdealCapper.

However, inside the red zone is where Gronkowski definitely will be missed.

Gronkowski is almost unstoppable in the red zone. His size, long wingspan and strong hands made him an ideal target for Patriots quarterback Tom Brady to spot in the end zone. Gronkowski caught 38 touchdowns in three seasons, and a majority of his scores were inside the 20-yard line. He caught 11 touchdowns in 11 regular-season games in 2012 despite being in and out of the lineup.

The Patriots will be fine between the 20s. Aaron Hernandez can stretch the field at tight end. Wes Welker can get open over the middle and move the chains. And other Patriots like receiver Brandon Lloyd, Deion Branch and tailbacks Shane Vereen and Stevan Ridley will pick up the slack.

But the Patriots cannot afford to settle for field goals instead of touchdowns this deep in the playoffs. Outside of Gronkowski, no other Patriot caught more than six touchdown passes this season.

The post Patriots will miss Gronkowski in red zone appeared first on IdealCapper.

Houston at New England
When: 4:30 PM ET, Sunday, January 13, 2013
Where: Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts
TV: 4:30 p.m. ET, CBS.
Line: Patriots -10, O/U 47.5

Oddsmakers currently have the Patriots listed as 9½-point favorites versus the Texans, while the game’s total is sitting at 48.

Arian Foster scored the game’s lone touchdown last week and compiled 174 total yards from scrimmage (140 rushing, 34 receiving). Foster’s dual threat was rendered nearly obsolete after the Patriots breezed to an early 21-0 lead. The electric runner was held to 46 yards on the ground. Houston would be wise to feed Foster the ball on Sunday; the Texans are 8-0 when he rushes for at least 100 yards.

Last time out for Houston, they were a 19-13 winner as they battled the Bengals at home. The Texans covered in the match as a 3.5-point favorite, while 32 combined points moved the game UNDER for totals bettors.

Houston: 12-4 SU, 9-7 ATS
When playing in January are 4-4
When playing on turf are 3-7
After outgaining opponent are 7-3
When playing outside the division are 7-3
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Houston’s last 6 games
Houston is 13-4 SU in its last 17 games
Houston is 6-2 SU in its last 8 games on the road
Houston is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games on the road

Brady isn’t shy about distributing the ball as he guides the league’s highest-scoring team. Wes Welker, who had 118 catches for 1,354 yards this season, was held to just three receptions in the teams’ earlier meeting. Rob Gronkowski, who was a spectator against the Texans earlier this season, led the Patriots with 11 touchdowns. Fellow tight end Aaron Hernandez, who had two scores versus Houston, and wideout Brandon Lloyd could be the wild cards in the high-octane attack.

New England won its last outing, a 28-0 result against the Dolphins on December 30. The Patriots covered in that game as a 11.5-point favorite, while the 28 combined points took the game UNDER the total.

New England: 12-4 SU, 9-6-1 ATS
New England most recently:
When playing in January are 6-4
When playing on turf are 8-2
After outgaining opponent are 6-4
When playing outside the division are 6-4
New England is 9-1 SU in its last 10 games
New England is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 6 of New England’s last 7 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 11 of New England’s last 14 games

Prediction: Patriots 31, Texans 20

The post Houston Texans vs. New England Patriots Free Betting Pick & Matchup appeared first on IdealCapper.

A little later he was back in the same seat wearing a wide grin as teammates congratulated him on a record-setting performance.

Brady shook off a rare turnover to throw for a team-record 517 yards and four touchdowns, including a 99-yarder to Wes Welker, and the New England Patriots started with a victory for the eighth consecutive season Monday night by beating the Miami Dolphins 38-24.

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Defensive end Jared Odrick picked off a deflected pass to set up a Miami touchdown and end Brady’s NFL-record streak of 358 passes without an interception.

Otherwise Brady and the reigning AFC East champions picked up where they left off last season, when he threw for 36 TDs and his team led the league in scoring.

New England totaled 622 yards, the most in franchise history and the most allowed by Miami. Brady’s performance overshadowed Miami’s Chad Henne, who threw for a career-high 416 yards.

The 906 net yards passing by both teams was an NFL record.

“They made some plays on us,” Brady said. “We made a few more than them.”

Brady, who went 32 for 48, became the 11th quarterback to throw for at least 500 yards. Norm Van Brocklin set the record of 554 yards in 1951.

“We’re pleased to have him on our side,” teammate Danny Woodhead said with a smile.

The capper came with 5:44 left and the Patriots leading 31-17. After they stopped Miami on downs at the 1-foot line, Brady lined up in the shotgun on first down and threw from his end zone to Welker, who had slipped behind Benny Sapp near the 30-yard line.

“When I saw the coverage as we lined up, I knew there was a strong possibility I could be getting the ball,” Welker said. “I just wanted to make the most of the opportunity.”

He did, catching the pass in stride and sprinting untouched for the score to complete the longest play in Patriots history.

“I only threw it 25 yards. Wes did all the work,” Brady said. “When I saw him break away, that was awesome. Coach never lets us run that route in practice.”

Brady also threw touchdown passes on consecutive plays. He hit Aaron Hernandez for a 31-yard score, and when a replay review determined the receiver was down at the 1, Brady threw to him again for a TD on the next play.

His other scoring passes covered 10 yards to Rob Gronkowski and 2 yards to Welker.

“Some of their scores ended up looking like it was kind of easy,” Miami coach Tony Sparano said.

Said Brady: “I wouldn’t say it was easy at all.”

He was sacked only once, and good protection gave his receivers plenty of time to work their way open.

Newcomer Chad Ochocinco had only one catch for 14 yards. But Welker made eight receptions for 160 yards, and tight ends Hernandez and Gronkowski combined for 189 yards on 13 catches.

“It wasn’t a one-man band out there,” Patriots coach Bill Belichick said. “We had a lot of contributions.”

The Dolphins’ defense returned virtually intact from last season and was expected to be the team’s strength, but Brady riddled them from the start.

He completed his first eight passes for 127 yards on the Patriots’ first two possessions, and both ended with TDs.

Brady’s first interception since Oct. 17 came early in the third quarter, when he tried to hit Julian Edelman in the flat. Sapp deflected the ball to the 304-pound Odrick, who rumbled 40 yards to the 9. Two plays later, Henne hit Brian Hartline with a 10-yard touchdown pass to make the score 14-all.

Brady was so rattled it took him 10 plays to put the Pats ahead to stay. They drove 73 yards and scored on his 2-yard pass to Welker.

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Miami’s problems with Brady were nothing new. He and the Pats beat the Dolphins twice last year while outscoring them 79-21. Losing at home was nothing different for the Dolphins, either, who have dropped 10 of their past 11 home games.

There was one change for the Dolphins. They promised a more aggressive, exciting offense under new offensive coordinator Brian Daboll and showed it from the start, scoring on a season-opening drive for the first time since 2000.

They lined up 355-pound nose tackle Paul Soliai in their goal-line offense, did damage with quarterback keepers by Henne and gave newcomer Reggie Bush 20 touches. Brandon Marshall gained 139 yards on seven catches, but he and Miami couldn’t keep up with Brady.

“Not the defensive performance we were hoping for,” Sparano said. “That’s an understatement.”

Game notes
Patriots C Dan Koppen rode off in a cart late in the first half with a left leg injury. He was on crutches after the game. … Dolphins DE Tony McDaniel missed most of the second half with a hand injury. … Brady’s previous career high in passing yardage was 410 against Kansas City in 2002. … A statue of founding Dolphins owner Joe Robbie was rededicated before the game. The statue had been in a storage area during stadium renovations. … Celebrities in attendance included Dwyane Wade, Will Smith and Pitbull.

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