“In every decision he makes, in everything he does, in what he eats to what he drinks to what his travel schedule is, everything is centered around football,” said Welker, who’s grown very close to Brady since coming to the Patriots five years ago.

“It’s almost sickening. Its almost like an illness he has. But every decision is toward making him a better football player and I commend him on it because it’s not hard. It’s not easy to eat the way he does, to train the way he does and do the things he needs to do to be better. Especially in the position he’s in. He doesn’t have to but he loves it. It’s what he strives for and what he loves.”