Come back, Welker

I've withheld my comments thus far on the Patriots' treacherous loss to the Jets on Sunday, unable to stomach the lackluster performance by New England.

What was worse? The defense putting up a great opening effort, then getting hung out to dry by the offense? How about Rex Ryan not getting one where he should have (straight in the gullet)? Losing the undefeated season? Not looking like the Patriots?

Sigh. As I sit, Wes Welker is on my wall, clutching the football and making a move in the September spread of my Patriots calendar. I have decided he is the reason the Pats lost.

Welker is supposed to be indestructable. Look at all the ways he got smeared last year then stood up, shaking it off like a penguin. But he was out this Sunday, and the guys who came in were adequate, but they were no Wes Welkers.

The rookie, Julian Edelman, looked great, especially considering he used to be a quarterback. But he had some drops; that's understandable for a newcomer, but not what the Patriots needed on Sunday.

Randy Moss was there, but he was in typical thick coverage the whole game, and was doing his classic "I'm Randy Moss, and I'm asleep" impression. Oh, and that cool trick he does when the ball is right in his hands but he still doesn't catch it, despite being one of the best wide receivers.

And then there was Joey Galloway, an adequate enough receiver whose true fault is not being a real Patriot. Early in the game, a defender tugged on his jersey a little, and he totally missed a pass. His response was to make faces and big gestures with his arm, crowing all the way back to the huddle. Patriots don't act that way, Joey.

So, with the game on the line, Tom Brady had to scamper around in the pocket and take his chances with guys he knew wouldn't come up with the ball every time. (Where was Kevin Faulk, too? That's just poor play-calling there.) No wonder there was no chemistry in the offense.

Please come back, Welker. I think you're the missing piece.

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