Wes Welker on jab at Bill Belichick: "It was a joke"

FOXBOROUGH, Mass Wes Welker told reporters he was only joking when he said after Sunday's game that he enjoyed catching 13 passes against the Denver Broncos to "stick it" in coach Bill Belichick's face.

Welker made a rare Monday appearance in the locker room during media availability to straighten things out.

"It was a joke," Welker said. "I don't know what else to say about it."

Welker did not start in three games so far this season after unsuccessful negotiations on a long-term deal, leading to speculation that Belichick was upset with him over the negotiations.

After catching 13 passes for 104 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 31-21 victory over the Broncos, he told Comcast SportsNet with a wink, "Yeah it's kind of nice to stick it in Bill's face once in a while."

But he said on Monday that he has a good relationship with Belichick.

CBSSports.com's Will Brinson noted that Welker was clearly being funny and we've seen him do this stuff before (notably at the Super Bowl, when he said Belichick's been nicer due to a "lady in his life").