The Patriots are resigned to the fact that they will be without wide out Wes Welker when they enter the 2010 NFL season. Welker suffered a season ending knee injury and might not be available until next Thanksgiving. New England signed former-Patriots receiver David Patten this week, but the 35-year-old was out of football in 2009 and might not even make the team next year. The Patriots’ loss to the Baltimore Ravens in the playoffs last season showed how important Welker is to the offense. In the past three seasons in New England, Welker has caught more than 110 receptions, racked up more than 1100 receiving yards, and been a big leader in the locker room. Tom Brady uses Welker almost as a running game, moving the chains with short pass attacks to the 5′9 receiver out of Texas Tech. Expect the Patriots to draft a receiver with one of their early picks to give Brady more options next season without on of his favorite targets in the lineup for a good chunk of the year.