Patriots WR Welker Signs Franchise Offer

New England Patriots wide receiver Wes Welker, who had career-highs in reception yards and touchdowns last season, has signed his franchise tender with the team.

The signed tender, worth $9.5 million, means the team and the player "have avoided what could have been a messy [camp] hold-out [in June]," as WBZ-TV reports.

Said Welker on Twitter:

I signed my tender today. I love the game and I love my teammates! Hopefully doing the right thing gets the right results. #leapoffaith

ESPN Boston reports:

The team must now decide if it wants to pay Welker $9.5 million on a one-year deal — which accounts for just shy of 8 percent of the $120 million salary cap — or a longer-term deal that lessens the salary cap charge.

The 31-year-old Welker has said he'd prefer a longer-term deal.