Since becoming a Patriot in 2007, Wes Welker has blossomed into one of the game's best pass catchers. Welker grew up in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and attended Texas Tech University, the only Division 1 college to offer him a football scholarship.
What is your earliest football memory?
Geez ... I don't know. I'm sure it had to do with the Dallas Cowboys or Oklahoma Sooners. I'm trying to think ... maybe when OU won the national championship in 1985.
Do you remember your first big play?
I know it was sixth grade, the first year I played. I can't think of the very first one. There were a lot of them. There were a few reversing the field - start one way, run around the whole other side and scoring a touchdown.
What was your first job?
Probably mowing yards.
How about your first car?
It was a Honda Prelude, 1989. White.
If you could pick any talent that you don't have right now - anything at all - what would you want to do?
I really suck at music stuff, so, anything musically, that'd be pretty cool to be able to do.
When they make the Wes Welker life story, who would you want to play you?
I don't really care. Whoever ... Mark Wahlberg did a pretty good job with Vince Papale [in 'Invincible'], so, I'll go with him.
What would you be doing right now if you weren't playing football for a living?
Shoot, I don't know. Taking out the trash. Garbage man ... no, probably be coaching.
Aside from your playbook, what was the last book you read?
I forget the name, but I'm reading right now this Delta Force war book, and I did read the Pat Tillman one [Where Men Win Glory, by John Krakauer].
Do you have any nicknames?
In college, I had a coach call me The Natural.
Do you have any pets?
Yeah, I've got a dog. A chocolate lab. Lives with my parents now. I love him.
You'd be surprised how many guys in this locker room are really afraid of it.
(Laughs) Yeah, I know. It's kind of funny to watch. Our flights with the team are always bumpy. Our landings are always just, like ...
We hear you guys screaming in the back sometimes.
Yeah, the back is ... I don't know what it is ... everybody up in the front says everything's fine, but in the back of those planes, it's always rough.
Favorite place you've ever visited, or would like to visit?
Probably my favorite place is ... my girlfriend's boss has a 100-foot boat and wherever that is or where it's going, that's my favorite place.
