Bill Belichick Rips Welker Over Hit On Talib AFC Championship

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Patriots coach Bill Belichick called Wes Welker's collision Sunday with New England cornerback Aqib Talib "one of the worst plays I've seen," a sharp critique of the actions of one of his former stars. Belichick delivered the comments roughly one minute into his news conference at Gillette Stadium on Monday morning, less than 24 hours after the Patriots fell to the Denver Broncos 26-16 in the AFC Championship Game. Belichick's criticism was unprovoked, part of the coach's opening remarks, and stands as stinging commentary from a man who usually limits what he provides in a public forum."It was a deliberate play by the receiver to take out Aqib. No attempt to get open," Belichick said. "I'll let the league handle the discipline on that play, whatever they decide. It's one of the worst plays I've seen. That's all I'll say about that." The play that will now be talked about for years to come occurred in the second quarter Sunday. With the Broncos in the early portions of a drive that would put them up 10-0, Welker streaked through the middle of the field and smacked into a crossing Talib, who left with a knee injury and did not return."I was asked about the hit on Talib, and I feel badly for Aqib. The way that play turned out, I went back and watched it, which I didn't have a chance to yesterday. It was a deliberate play by the receiver to take out Aqib," Belichick said on Monday. "No attempt to get open. I'll let the league handle the discipline on that play. It's not for me to decide but it's one of the worst plays I've seen. That's all I'll say about that."The defense, just as it did when Talib was injured in the AFC title game a year ago, could not recover and Peyton Manning started picking it apart. Talib suffered a knee injury on a collision with Welker as he attempted to cover Demaryius Thomas on a crossing pattern early in the second quarter. Talib did not return to the game. After the game, Welker was asked about the play and said, “I think he was thinking the same thing and wanted to come underneath and we just kind of collided. … It wasn’t a deal where I was trying to hit him or anything like that.” Belichick's relationship with Welker dissipated toward the end of the receiver's six-year run with the Patriots, and the slot machine signed a two-year deal with the Broncos last offseason. They shared a very brief exchange after yesterday's game, though Welker did hug Robert Kraft during pregame warmups. It was obvious today Belichick didn't take too kindly to Welker when he only referred to him as "the receiver." Another point that shouldn't be lost: Belichick went all-out to defend Talib, who has become an in-house favorite in his season and a half with the Patriots, and the cornerback will be a free agent again this offseason. But that's for another time. For today, Belichick didn't pull any punches while publicly admonishing one of the most productive players of his coaching career.