BY NICK ST. DENIS
After the Patriots were shut out in the first half Saturday against the Dolphins, Wes Welker spoke to the offense. With his team in an unusual 17-point deficit, Welker owned up to his play and motivated the rest of the team to do so.
"He came in at halftime, and he said, 'Guys, I'm telling you I didn't play a very good half, and I'm gonna go out there and I'm gonna bust my butt and play a much better second half.'" Patriots quarterback Tom Brady told WEEI Monday. "He looked everyone in the eyes and the offense listened to him. Wes being the leader that he is on the offense, it means a lot when somebody says something like that.
"... Wes is as competitive a player as I've ever been around."
Welker finished the game with 12 receptions for 138 yards, including a 42-yarder, and the Patriots scored 27 straight points after halftime. Welker caught a pass for a first down with under two minutes to go to seal the victory, and he showed plenty of emotion after the catch.
"He's usually not that fired up, but he certainly was this game," Brady said.
Welker leads the NFL with 1,518 yards on 116 receptions.
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