The Patriots made a big move this offseason, letting WR Wes Welker leave for Denver before signing Danny Amendola as his replacement. Problem solved, right? Not so fast. Steelers safety Ryan Clark had some strong opinions about this matter. On Amendola: “I know they think Danny Amendola can come in and have the same type of numbers he had with the Rams, but we also have to remember, he’s fragile," Clark said on ESPN. "He’s not a guy who has completed a whole season, especially playing inside in what can be a physical AFC East. OK, so was it a mistake for the Patriots to let Welker leave? “I think what’s really underestimated is Wes Welker’s importance to not only the New England Patriots, but Tom Brady," Clark said. ”A lot of what they do is timing. A lot of what they do is option reads, when you’re working inside against that nickelback or against those linebackers. Losing him is huge.” Well, maybe so, but it's Tom Brady! He's still a nightmare to stop and the Steelers should have quite a challenge on their hands when they host the Patriots in November, right? Nope, Clark isn't worried. In fact, he says Brady tends to "see ghosts" when he faces pressure. Oh boy. "Even when guys aren’t around him, even when he’s not about to be sacked, when his clock goes off in his head that the ball should be out, we’ll see him duck, we’ll see him flinch," Clark said. "When you get Tom Brady doing that, the whole New England Patriots mystique goes away.” Well, there you have it. We like it when athletes say what's on their mind and Clark has done just that. It remains to be seen if these quotes will be plastered all over the Patriots' locker room in the week before the Steelers and Patriots battle on Nov. 3.
