The Facts: Following up on a previous item. ... Welker may have done himself a big disservice in contract negotiations with the Patriots Thursday when he spoke publicly about the progress -- or lack thereof -- in recent talks. According to a team source, Welker’s decision to go public in recent weeks about negotiations has not gone over well with the Patriots. His words have only increased the chances that 2012 will be his final season with the team.

Diehards Line:Welker’s agents, David Dunn and Brian Murphy, came to Foxborough earlier this week, two league sources said, in an attempt to move negotiations along, but things apparently did not go well. Shortly thereafter, Welker signed his franchise tag, calling it a “leap of faith’’ via Twitter, and then aired his frustrations Thursday. “There have been talks, but nothing that’s brightened anything at all,’’ Welker told the Boston Herald. “It’s actually gotten worse.’’ Welker explained that “worse’’ means the Patriots’ offer is now less than the two-year, fully guaranteed $16 million the team proposed during the 2011 regular season. As Boston Globe staffer Shalise Manza Young suggests, Welker potentially hurt his bargaining position by showing that his love of the game and his teammates overruled any desire to play hardball. By league rule, the sides have until July 16 to hammer out a longer-term deal, or Welker must play the coming season under the franchise tag worth just over $9.5 million.