:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/photo_images/4786920/133596456.jpg)
Twitter / @WesWelker
I signed my tender today. I love the game and I love my teammates! Hopefully doing the right thing gets the right results. #leapoffaith
Mark Daniels notes Donte Stallworth considers himself a changed man. Stallworth felt 'surreal' stepping back in Gillette Stadium.
"I’m a lot more mature now than I was then. I feel like I’m playing better. I’m in a better place, mentally, physically," Stallworth said. "I just felt like at that time I was trying to mature and grow into a professional athlete. I feel like I’m a lot further down the road than I was last time."
He says he returns to the Patriots a different player, now understanding the game and running better routes. And he’ll need every advantage he can get, joining a loaded receiving group that added Brandon Lloyd, Jabar Gaffney [stats] and Anthony Gonzalez to the returning Wes Welker, Deion Branch and Chad Ochocinco. Competition is nothing new to Stallworth, who’s played on six different teams in his last six NFL seasons.
"I think you just come to the reality that basically you have one shot to prove yourself," said Stallworth. "And then whatever happens after that is really up to me and my performance."
TEAM TALK
- Erik Scalavino gives his take on the news that Wes Welker signed his franchise tender.
- Patriots sign second-round Draft choice DB Tavon Wilson; QB Mike Hartline released.
- Erik Scalavino tackles the Ask PFW mailbag: A mid-May mix.
- Cast your ballot for the 2012 Patriots Hall of Fame enshrinee.
- Patriots Today - Markell Carter is a happy camper. (2:32 min. video)
- Patriots Today - Meet FB Spencer Larsen. (02:37 min. video)
- Player Interview: Donte Stallworth (9.39 min.)
- PFW in Progress - The PFW crew recaps the recent Patriots rookie mini camp; Donte Stallworth joins in for a while. (2 hour program)
LOCAL LINKS
- Christopher Price takes a closer look at Wes Welker's decision to sign his franchise tender.
- Shalise Manza Young reports now that Wes Welker signed his franchise tender, he can now re-join his team ASAP.
- Christopher Price discovers that five years later, Donte Stallworth is ready for his second stint in New England.
- Karen Guregian notes that Tom Brady has reached out to another expert to help watch over his throwing mechanics as his friend, the late Tom Martinez, used to.
- Paul Kenyon wonders what Josh McDaniels will do, now that the offense is loaded with wide receivers.
- Field Yates catches up with Julian Edelman and Devin McCourty Tuesday afternoon at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.
- Field Yates posts a few soundbites from Julian Edelman and Devin McCourty at the Kraft Family Blood Donor Center yesterday.
- Jeff Howe thinks Chandler Jones is ready to take on Patriots' 'heavy' playbook, and 19 other Patriots thoughts.
- Mike Reiss runs down the signing bonuses and guaranteed salaries for the seven rookie free agents signed after the draft.
- Mike Reiss takes a closer look at the one-year contract signed by running back Joseph Addai, and what it might mean for the Patriots.
- Mike Reiss answers his weekly reader mailbag: Mixed bag this week.
NATIONAL NEWS
- Matt Bowen (Nat'l Football Post) Patriots still have work to do with Welker.
- Ian Rapoport (NFL.com) Why Patriots WR Wes Welker played the only hand he could in signing his franchise tag.
- First Take (ESPN) Did Welker give up his leverage? (4.58 min. video)
- Don Banks (SI) 7 strong hunches for 2012 season. "News flash: The Bills are closer to dethroning the mighty Patriots in the AFC East than the big, brash Jets."
- Tom Van Riper (Forbes) The highest-paid coaches in sports. Bill Belichick tops the list.
- Report (Omaha World-Herald) Alfonzo Dennard waives preliminary hearing.
- Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Not every first-round contract will be easy to negotiate.
- Peter King (SI) MMQB Tuesday Edition; Mail.
- Dan Arkush (Pro Football Weekly) Not-ready-for-prime-time gems.
- Greg Gabriel (Na'tl Football Post) Is the new CBA good for young players?
- Matt Bowen (Nat'l Football Post) My offseason film study guide for rookie DBs.
- Jason Whitlock (Fox Sports) How to make football worth the risk.
- NFL Total Access (NFL.com) Which 2011 playoff team will miss out in 2012? (1.51 min. video)