Wes Welker has backtracked on recent comments made to the Boston Herald that his contract negotiations had "gotten worse." "That was probably a bad choice of words, saying they've gotten worse," Welker said. "They've pretty much -- they've stayed the same. I'm franchised for the year and I'm completely happy with that. "I say the same because it's a franchise tender. It was a bad choice of words because it's still one year, nine and a half (million). It's the same. It's the same contract." The wide receiver signed his franchise tender with New England this month, but he is still searching for a long-term deal.