New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick said Denver wide receiver Wes Welker’s hit on Patriots defensive back Aqib Talib was a “deliberate” attempt to “take out” the star defensive back during Sunday’s AFC title game that the Broncos won.
“The way that play turned out, I went back and watched it, which I didn’t have a chance to [Sunday],” Belichick said on Monday morning. “It was a deliberate play by the receiver to take out Aqib. No attempt to get open. I’ll let the league handle the discipline on that play, whatever they decide. It’s one of the worst plays I’ve seen.”
On Sunday, Buffalo Bills safety Jim Leonhard said that Welker was on a “suicide mission” on Talib.
The hit changed the game, as the Patriots lost their best defensive back for much of the game. Talib was most likely their only defensive back that could have given Peyton Manning any trouble during the game. Welker denied the hit was intentional after the game.