Super Bowl 2012: Blaming Tom Brady for Wes Welker's Costly Drop Is Foolish

Wes Welker has to take all the blame for his untimely dropped pass in the fourth quarter of Super Bowl XLIV because as an elite receiver he has to make that catch, especially since he was able to get two hands on the football.

Quarterback Tom Brady didn't give Welker an absolutely perfect pass, but how often does a receiver in a playoff game against a great defense like the New York Giants get a perfectly thrown ball to the numbers?

Brady had to avoid Giants safety Kenny Phillips, who maybe could have made a play on the ball if Brady didn't throw it where he did.

Welker's drop ruined the Patriots' chances of killing off the last few minutes of the game and scoring at least a field goal at the same time.

He felt awful after the game, and was clearly saddened by what had happened.

Per Yahoo! Sports:

"

“It’s one of those plays I made 1,000 times,” Welker said.

“The ball is right there,” he continued. “I’ve just got to make the play. It’s a play I’ve made 1,000 times in practice and everything else. It comes to be the biggest moment of my life and I don’t come up with it. It’s discouraging.”

“Just trying to make an adjustment on the ball and it’s a play I’ve got to bring in,” he added.

“Yeah it hit me in the hands,” he admitted. “I mean it’s a play I never drop. I always make. Most critical situation and I let the team down.”

"

There is no excuse for dropping that pass, especially when many would consider Welker the most sure-handed receiver in football, not just on the Patriots.

Welker led the NFL in receptions this season with 122, and you could have made a pretty good case for him being not just the MVP of the Patriots, but the MVP of the entire league.

What bothers Patriots fans so much is the ball that Welker dropped was a catch he makes 100 out of 100 times. You never see him drop balls like that.

When the Patriots receivers dropped passes and let the team down in critical, late-game situations, the Giants receivers made brilliant catches and helped quarterback Eli Manning lead another fourth quarter comeback against New England in the Super Bowl.

That was the difference in the game.

Welker has to take all the blame for this drop. Yes, the throw wasn't perfect, but Brady put in right in Welker's hands and he still dropped it. Welker couldn't have asked for a much better chance to prolong the game.

After the game, Brady's wife, Gisele Bundchen, made some controversial comments, saying via The Insider, “My husband cannot [bleeping] throw the ball and catch the ball at the same time. I can’t believe they dropped the ball so many times.”

She's absolutely right. It was amazing how many dropped passes there were, especially when drops haven't been an issue for the Patriots this season.

In the end, it was Welker's ball to catch and despite getting two hands on the ball, he missed it. He's the only one to blame for that missed opportunity that would have likely won the Patriots the Super Bowl had he not made the mistake.

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