"It was a deliberate play to take out Aqib" - Bill Belichick on Welker hit on Aqib Talib

The biggest game left on the Patriots calendar is the meaningless Pro Bowl. The biggest game left on the Denver Broncos calendar is Febuary's Super Bowl. Those words, that future and this reality must sting for Patriots fans and yet, it we would be sore losers if we diminished the skill it took for Denver to earn themselves such a promising future. They won 13 regular season games in 2013, obliterating defenses through tic tack tow passing and well-timed rushing while remaining disciplined on defense and never letting up no matter that in game situation. 

They were not cocky, they never underestimated an opponent and so, here they are AFC East Champions for the first time in decades and playoff winners against one of the hottest teams in football, the Chargers and the omnipresent in the playoffs Patriots. In both of these playoff games, their pass game has been critical in their victory as Peyton Manning has already hurled 630 passing yards in these two playoff games. A huge part of that passing proficiency must be attributed not to the work of Manning but instead to his receivers. Wes Welker is one of those receivers and while he once again had a huge impact on Sunday's AFC Title Game victory over his former team, the Patriots it was not made via a play he made on the football. Early in the 2nd quarter of the game, the Broncos who were up 3-0 but would soon be relishing a 10-0 lead by the end of the drive ran a play that stacked the left side of the field with 3 down field threats. As the play unfolded however, receiver, Julias Thomas crossed the middle of the field and ran unchecked as Manning reared back to deliver the screen pass. However, the separation that allowed for the play to be executed with such ease was not created by any sort of speed or movement by Thomas. That separation was caused by the sheer fact that the man who was assigned with the job of covering him was on the ground, writhing in pain after he was decked by Wes Welker. 

Aqib Talib who made 35 total tackles and grabbed 4 interceptions in 2013 was the best and brightest of this Patriots defensive unit that otherwise lacked backbone this season but sadly for Patriots fans, in this game involving such an array of offensive talents for Denver, he never returned to the field after the Welker hit that was suspected of causing both a rib and knee injury to the Pro Bowl corner back. According to Bill Belichick, the possibility of that being a coincidence was very low. 

"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."

For those who follow the Patriots, Belichick opening up at all, much less calling a play made by a former player of his "the worst he has ever seen" is as finite as humanly possible. For many, this is as mad as Bill has ever gotten at a opposing player. 

While Belichick was the only Patriot employed person to break his strongly imposed veil of no comment interaction with reporters, several other Patriots did comment on the hit amidst this media frenzy 24 hours after the fact. 

"I was asked about the hit on Talib, and I feel badly for Aqib," Tom Brady said Monday. "The way that play turned out -- I went back and watched it, which I didn't have a chance to yesterday."

Additionally, it was Welker who came to his own defense in an attempt to preserve his public image. Predictably, he denied any intent to injure on his part.

"It was one of those plays where it's kind of a rough play and I was trying to get him to go over the top, and I think he was thinking the same thing and wanted to come underneath and we just kind of collided," Welker said Sunday. "It wasn't a deal where I was trying to hit him or anything like that" he said "I hope he's OK. He's a great player and a big part of their defense."