Welker puts in the work

Receiver thrives with Manning, just as he did in Brady’s system

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. There are some things in life that just get better with age. Love letters. Fine wine. The rapport between a receiver and his quarterback.

Yet, Wes Welker hasn’t wasted any time becoming Peyton Manning’s top target, just as he quickly became Tom Brady’s bull’s-eye in New England. Welker set a franchise record with 112 catches his first year with the Patriots in 2007, when Brady set the NFL record with 50 touchdown passes

Manning is on pace to break that mark with 54 TDs this season, thanks in good measure to Welker, who has already matched his career high with nine TD catches.

The Broncos are on pace to score 636 points, which would break the NFL record of 589 set by the ’07 Patriots.

“That was a great year for us,” Brady said. “You watch what these guys are doing and they have better numbers than we had. It’s incredible to score points like that.”

Welker is the common denominator.

With a team-best 61 catches, he’s had an immediate impact in Denver, where the Broncos were already rich at receiver and even though in Manning’s mind, it takes years, not months, for a QB and a receiver to work out the kinks.

Those who know Welker say he sped up that process through an uncommon mixture of talent, work ethic and determination, the very attributes that have made him the league’s pre-eminent slot receiver.

Manning looks at Welker as a sage who has brought along youngsters Demaryius Thomas, Eric Decker and Julius Thomas, teaching them the finer points of the position.

“Wes has a great work ethic and he’s provided just good leadership to our offence. He was voted a captain, which is a real credit to him, in his first year,” Manning said. “... And he loves football. He’s a tough guy. He plays through injuries. And those are things that you appreciate about a football player, especially playing in that slot position where he’s taking a lot of hits.”