ENGLEWOOD – Denver Broncos coach John Fox chose not to fire back at Bill Belichick on Monday afternoon after the New England Patriots coach inferred earlier in the day that Broncos receiver Wes Welker made a dirty hit on cornerback Aqib Talib in the AFC championship game.
Talib, who was covering Demaryius Thomas, was injured in a collision with Welker, who was running a crossing route by Thomas. Talib was unable to return the game.
“I don’t think I can comment on that other than to say that Wes Welker is a great player. High integrity,” Fox said. “I can say that we weren’t doing anything with intent, so that’s really the only comment I have.”
Fox went on to say that many NFL teams using crossing routes to try to find advantages in the crowded middle of the field.
“We’re not the only team by any stretch. In fact, I think our opponents Sunday did the same thing,” Fox said.
That was the closest Fox would get to exchanging barbs with Belichick.
Fox said he spent his morning working on Super Bowl logistics with his staff and had not seen Belichick’s comments about the controversial play. Belichick made his remarks, unsolicited, during his opening statement of his morning media session.
Belichick called it “one of the worst plays I’ve ever seen” and said he didn’t believe Welker – whom he did not call by name – made no attempt to get open on the play.
“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,” Belichick said to reporters in Foxborough, Mass. Welker, who was not available to reporters Monday, described the play on Sunday evening as a “rub play.”
“I was trying to get him to go over the top, and I think he was thinking the same thing and wanted to come underneath,” Welker said Sunday. “We just kind of collided. It wasn’t a deal where I was trying to hit him or anything like that. I hope he’s OK. He’s a great player and a big part of their defense.”
The Broncos were able to exploit the Patriots defense without Talib’s coverage on Thomas, who caught seven passes for 134 yards and a touchdown.
Broncos tight end Julius Thomas said he also hadn’t seen or heard Belichick’s comments but backed up his teammate.
“I’ve known Wes for a while now, and he’s definitely not that kind of guy,” Thomas said. “Things happen in football; sometimes people get hurt. I don’t believe that Wes would intentionally try to hurt anybody out there.”
