It was music to Patriots’ fans ears when franchise player Wes Welker announced today that he would not hold out into the regular season, saying he has “9.5 million reasons” why he won’t miss any regular season games. The 9.5 million refers to the franchise tender value that he is guaranteed this season. Welker has expressed the desire to get a long term deal and remain a Patriot for life, but the Patriots habitually play hardball with these types of negotiations. Welker has not ruled out skipping OTAs and minicamps, but he will not miss any games.

The biggest concern with him is a long off-season holdout where he gets out of shape. Darrelle Revis and Chris Johnson have had down seasons in the last 2 years respectively after skipping most of the offseason workouts. However, if Welker is willing to rule out skipping games as early as now, I doubt this holdout lasts very long. There’s also a very good chance that Welker is extended by the July 16^th deadline for franchise players to be extended.

Along with linebacker, safety was a large and publicly shamed part of the Eagles’ defensive struggles last year as they went 8-8 and missed the playoffs in a season where most projected them to win 12, 13, or even 14 games. They addressed the linebacker position both through the draft and through trade this offseason, but have not added a safety to the mix, instead opting to hope their young talent improves.

Nate Allen and Jaiquawn Jarrett have been 2^nd round picks in 2010 and 2011 respectively, but neither have played well. According to Head Coach Andy Reid, Allen is in the starting lineup and they expect him to have a bounce back or potentially breakout season this year. Jarrett, on the other hand, is not in the starting lineup as the Eagles are opting for the more veteran Kurt Coleman, who started most of last season. That could change in training camp, but it appears Jarrett has an uphill battle to be the starter week 1.

Maurice Jones Drew is set to make 4.45 million dollars in 2012 in the 4^th year of a 5 year deal, but he knows how short running backs’ careers can be so he wants the Jaguars to give him a new extension now, with 2 years left on his old one. The situation is not dissimilar to Chris Johnson’s last offseason, though there are no guarantees MJD will hold out as long as CJ2K. For now, however, he’s skipping voluntary team workout and OTAs and has entertained the possibility of skipping mandatory minicamp in June. MJD is the entirety of the Jaguars’ offense so they obviously hope they can get him into camp without having to pay him.

After having shoulder and hernia surgery, there were some questions about Brent Celek’s health this offseason and the habitually mum Andy Reid was not providing any light on the situation. However, today Reid did comment that Celek would get only “limited reps” in next month’s mandatory minicamp. The first week of the season is still a long way off and I wouldn’t expect Celek to miss any time, but it’s a situation worth monitoring.

The last we saw of Billy Cundiff, he was missing a chip shot field goal that would have sent the AFC Championship to overtime. The Ravens opted not to draft another kicker, but it appears Cundiff is not out of the woods yet. According to the Carroll County Times, Cundiff will have to beat undrafted free agent Justin Tucker for the job in training camp. Cundiff, who hit 28 of 37 last season, is the early leader for the job most likely, but he’s no sure thing to make the Ravens’ 53 man roster.

Donovan McNabb might be the biggest name left on the free agency market and he went on SportsCenter today to say that he’s been training with quarterback guru George Whitfield this offseason and that he’s lost 15-20 pounds. McNabb started last season as a starter for the Vikings, but lost his job to rookie Christian Ponder midseason before being cut. He was not picked up by any team during the season and he has been without a job since.

At one point, McNabb said he was still looking to start, but now he’s changed his tune, saying that his wish list has every team in the league on it. However, with most teams having their starters and backups at quarterback already signed, McNabb might have to take a #3 quarterback job. I’m not sure McNabb’s ego would let him take one, if he’s even offered one. McNabb might be more trouble than he’s worth as a #3 quarterback. He could be done in the NFL at age 35.

The biggest name still franchise tagged is probably the Saints’ Drew Brees, with apologies to the Bears’ Matt Forte and the Ravens’ Ray Rice. However, the two sides are still not any closer on a long term deal, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Schefter reported the same thing 2 weeks ago. Before the draft, it sounded like the two sides were making progress, but reports say they’re still 2-3 million per year apart.

The Saints almost have to reach a long term deal with Brees during the offseason. GM Mickey Loomis is not allowed near the team during the season because of his suspension in the BountyGate scandal and if Brees plays out the season on his franchise tender, he’d become a free agent next season with the franchise tender value increasing by 20%. Besides, it’s never a good idea to piss off your franchise player, which seems to be what the Saints are doing. Brees is worth almost whatever the Saints pay him. Hopefully they can get a deal done as we get closer to the July 16^th deadline to sign franchise players to long term extensions.

When the Dolphins traded Brandon Marshall to the Bears for just a pair of 3rd round picks back in March, it raised some eyebrows, but then it made more sense as reports came out that the oft troubled Marshall had been involved in yet another off the field incident, this time a fight at a night club. There was some talk that Marshall could be charged and suspended as reports said Marshall slugged a woman in this melee, but that no longer sounds like the case.

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, police cannot find any evidence that suggests Marshall is guilty of any wrongdoing and he believes that there would be no charges. If this, in fact, ends up being the case, it doesn’t sound like Marshall, who recently said he didn’t fear any suspension from the commissioner, will be available for all 16 games for the Bears this season, though you certainly never know with Roger Goodell.

Dallas Clark is just 2 seasons removed from a 100 catch season in 2009, but injuries and age have slowed him over the past 2 years. Clark managed just 34 catches in 11 games last year for the poorly quarterbacked Colts. 33 in June, there was some talk that Clark would reunite with Peyton Manning in Denver, but the Colts signed Jacob Tamme, another former Colt tight end, instead. This was seen to be a pretty big indictment on Clark’s career and could easily be a big part of the reason why he is still unsigned.

The only team visit he’s been on has been with the Broncos’ AFC West rival, the Kansas City Chiefs. SI’s Peter King believes that he’ll eventually end up in a Chiefs uniform. The Chiefs are getting Tony Moeaki back from injury and signed Kevin Boss this offseason so it’s unclear what Clark’s role would be immediately in Kansas City. He might need an injury to see much of the field. It’ll be up to Clark to decide whether or not to sign in Kansas City. The only other option at this point might be retirement.