We heard about Peyton Manning needing to get another championship to have a successful legacy. We know about Champ Bailey trying to get his first championship of what has been a 15-year career.
What we shouldn’t forget is Wes Welker trying to get his first championship after almost getting it twice. There’s nothing worse than falling short twice in a big game. It’s something no athlete should reminisce after his career is over.
Welker thought he would have gotten a championship by now. He knows about the blown opportunity in the 2008 Super Bowl. That was the year the Patriots were undefeated heading to the Super Bowl. That team was the best team ever that did not win a championship.
Welker and the Patriots were 35 seconds away of winning that championship until Giants quarterback Eli Manning threw a game-winning touchdown pass to Plaxico Burress.
Perfection was denied. Championship was denied.
Nothing worse than being undefeated just to fall short in a big game.
Nothing worse than putting all that work in from training camp just to fall short.
Nothing worse than blowing that 14-10 lead with 35 seconds to go.
It’s something the Patriots can’t live it down. That season is more of a regret than greatness.
Welker and his teammates haven’t gotten over it, and it’s doubtful they ever will. Even if the Broncos slot wide receiver wins his first championship on Sunday, there’s no way he can get over that moment in Glendale. It was about joining the 1972 Dolphins as the undefeated team to win a championship.
Welker thought he would still get a championship. After all, he plays with Tom Brady, and he works for a coach that is driven to win a championship in Bill Belichick.
Couple of years ago, this was going to be his year when the Patriots play the Giants in the Super Bowl. It was a rare rematch of both teams from the 2008 Super Bowl. This was supposed to be redemption for him and his teammates who tasted a bitter defeat in that Super Bowl in Glendale.
It never happened for Welker and his teammates as they never had the revenge they desired. They took a 21-17 loss to the Giants in the rematch.
This game featured Welker failing to catch the ball that would have kept the Patriots’ drive going. Brady was orchestrating the drive well, too. Maybe the Patriots win it.
Instead , this was about Welker’s drop pass that denied the Patriots. Even Tom Brady’s wife Giselle Bundchen blamed the Patriots’ loss on Welker.
It was a cruel irony for Welker. His relationship with the Patriots was never the same after that.
The Patriots decided to let their slot receiver go since Belichick had no use for him going back to him ripping Jets coach Rex Ryan about his foot fetish with his wife.
Welker knew he could get an opportunity to win a Super Bowl by playing for the Broncos, which is why he signed with them this past offseason. He figured Peyton Manning could get him there, and here he is.
Third time has to be the charm for him, right? It can’t get worse.
He is offering no guarantees that it will come true for him. He knows about blown opportunities twice, and he does not want to test the football gods.
Still, he knows this could be his last chance. He knows how hard it is to get to the Super Bowl. He knows this is not an every year opportunity. If it was going to be easy, Manning and Brady would be in the big game every year.
Football is about luck as Welker is now realizing. He is hoping luck goes his way in his third try of winning a championship.
Welker could have sat out the rest of the year after having concussions, and no one would blame him. Still, he knows this is one chance. He is sacrificing his brain just to get that ring, and he will stop at nothing to not be denied again. He would love to be that guy that make a game-winning catch. He would love to be that guy to win the Super Bowl MVP after going through concussions.
That is admirable, and it’s why he is worth rooting for this Sunday.
He comes off more of a sentimental favorite than Bailey or Manning.
Contact or follow Leslie Monteiro at @LightRodWriter.
Leslie Monteiro
Leslie is a contributor for Lightning Rod Sports. He covered high school sports in Bergen County out in North Jersey, and has written op-ed columns on sports such as Bleacher Report and NY Sports Digest.
