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== NFL career ==

== NFL career ==

In 2004 Wes Welker entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent. He signed with the [[San Diego Chargers]] and made the team. Wes played in the season opener with the Chargers but was cut from the roster shortly after the game. Once again Welker was a free agent and he next signed with the [[Miami Dolphins]]. Surprisingly enough, he played in all 15 of their regular season games in 2004 as a kick and punt returner. In the 2004 week four matchup vs the [[New England Patriots]], Welker made the NFL record books. Due to the Dolphins kicker Olindo Mare injuring himself before the [http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/live/NFL_20041010_MIA@NE game] began - Wes Welker became the first player in NFL history to return a punt and kickoff and also kick the kickoffs and complete an extra point and a (29 yard)field goal. He ended the 2004 season statically with 61 kickoff returns for 1415 yards and a touchdown; he also had 43 punt returns for 464 yards. The following 2005 and 2006 season were equally if not more productive for Welker as he expanded his role on the team from just returning punts and kicks to also playing wide receiver. In the 2005 and 2006 seasons combined, he caught 96 passes for 1121 yards. Spending more time playing wide receiver didn't stop Welker from still be very effective as a punt and kick returner. In 2005 he gained 1379 yards on 61 kick returns and in 2006 he returned 48 kicks for 1064 yards. On the punting side, he had a total of 84 punt returns for 768 yards during the 2005 through 2006 seasons. By the end of the 2006 season he was Miami's all time leader in kickoff yardage and returns and second a time in punt yardage and returns. Amazingly durable, Welker in his three seasons in the NFL, has never missed a game due to a injury.

In 2004 Wes Welker entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent. He signed with the [[San Diego Chargers]] and made the team. Wes played in the season opener with the Chargers but was cut from the roster shortly after the game. Once again Welker was a free agent and he next signed with the [[Miami Dolphins]]. Surprisingly enough, he played in all 15 of their regular season games in 2004 as a kick and punt returner. In the 2004 week four matchup vs the [[New England Patriots]], Welker made the NFL record books. Due to the Dolphins kicker Olindo Mare injuring himself before the [http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/live/NFL_20041010_MIA@NE game] began - Wes Welker became the first player in NFL history to return a punt and kickoff and also kick the kickoffs and complete an extra point and a (29 yard)field goal. He ended the 2004 season statically with 61 kickoff returns for 1415 yards and a touchdown; he also had 43 punt returns for 464 yards. The following 2005 and 2006 season were equally if not more productive for Welker as he expanded his role on the team from just returning punts and kicks to also playing wide receiver. In the 2005 and 2006 seasons combined, he caught 96 passes for 1121 yards. Spending more time playing wide receiver didn't stop Welker from still be very effective as a punt and kick returner. In 2005 he gained 1379 yards on 61 kick returns and in 2006 he returned 48 kicks for 1064 yards. On the punting side, he had a total of 84 punt returns for 768 yards during the 2005 through 2006 seasons. By the end of the 2006 season he was Miami's all-time leader in kickoff yardage and returns and second a time in punt yardage and returns. Amazingly durable, Welker in his three seasons in the NFL, has never missed a game due to an injury.

The March 2007 free agency brought a change of teams for Welker. On March 6, 2007, he was traded from the Dolphins to the New England Patriots for New England's second and seventh round  [[2007 NFL Draft]] choices. Shortly following the trade the Patriots signed to a five-year, $18.1 million contract that included a $9 million signing bonus.<ref>[http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2788847 ESPN, March 6, 2007, Len Pasquarelli,"Patriots snag Welker from Dolphins via trade"]</ref>  

The March 2007 free agency brought a change of teams for Welker. On March 6, 2007, he was traded from the Dolphins to the New England Patriots for New England's second and seventh round  [[2007 NFL Draft]] choices. Shortly following the trade the Patriots signed to a five-year, $18.1 million contract that included a $9 million signing bonus.<ref>[http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2788847 ESPN, March 6, 2007, Len Pasquarelli,"Patriots snag Welker from Dolphins via trade"]</ref>