It's always startling how quickly some NFL players fade away. Not everyone gets a retirement news conference because so few go out on their own terms. Most become "Oh yeah, that guy!"
Check a 2014 fantasy football draft for some of them. Montee Ball. Ben Tate. Knowshon Moreno. Steven Jackson. Jarrett Boykin. Hakeem Nicks. If you play in a league with any depth at all, they were all drafted. That was roughly 15 months ago. Now they're all looking for work, mostly forgotten as the NFL train moved past them.
Wes Welker was probably drafted about 60th in your fantasy league last year, give or take a few spots. People had high hopes for him with the Denver Broncos after he had 10 touchdowns in 2013. Then he had two touchdowns as his numbers dropped across the board in 2014, he became a free agent and he didn't sign with anyone. Until Monday, that is.
The St. Louis Rams announced on Monday evening they signed Welker after a workout. NFL Network's Ian Rapoport first reported the Rams decided to sign the 34-year-old former New England Patriots and Broncos star.
Welker told NFL.com last week that he was looking for the right opportunity and being selective.
"The frustrating part sometimes is you look out there on the field and you see guys who are playing, and you're like, 'I should be playing,'" Welker told NFL.com.
Welker has had health issues, specifically with concussions, and as a veteran of 11 seasons he wasn't cheap for any team, even at the minimum salary. Perhaps this move will work out like the Arizona Cardinals signing running back Chris Johnson. Johnson seemed to be on his way out after being unsigned all offseason, but now is one of the NFL's leading rushers. Now Welker has a chance to add to his impressive and potentially Hall of Fame career, weeks after most people probably figured he wouldn't resurface in the NFL.
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