By Danny Picard
CSNNE.com
FOXBORO -- By now, you know the only thing the Patriots can take out of Sunday's game against the Miami Dolphins at Gillette Stadium is retained health and a momentum boost heading into the playoffs.
How much momentum you can gain prior to a first-round bye remains to be seen. But staying healthy is nothing to be trifled with. After all, it was in the last regular-season game of 2009 that Wes Welker blew out his knee, forcing him to miss the playoffs . . . as short as they were for the one-and-done Pats.
But the memory of crumbling to the Reliant Stadium turf last week isn't haunting Patriots wide receiver Wes Welker. He wants to play Sunday, since he thinks it's better than having two consecutive weeks off.
"Not playing for a week, and taking that week off, it's good for you physically, but at the same time, you want to keep it going," said Welker prior to Thursday's practice. "So definitely, this week is key for us to keep that momentum, stay on top of everything, and be ready to play."
Welker said he hasn't been told how much playing time he'll receive on Sunday against the Dolphins. But he sounds like someone who wants to help finish off the season in dominating fashion.
"I'm here to play football," said Welker. "That's what I get paid to do, and I love playing. So, no matter what's at stake, or what the deal is, I want to play.
New England Patriots
"I know people are probably thinking different about that, but I don't worry about other stuff. Whatever Coach Bill Belichick decides for me, that's what I'm going to do. I'm always ready to play."
Danny Picard is on Twitter at http:twitter.comDannyPicard. You can listen to Danny on his streaming radio show I'm Just Sayin'Monday-Friday from 9-10 a.m. on CSNNE.com.