Patriots’ receiver Wes Welker, who has spent the better part of the offseason rehabbing his knee following an injury that occurred in Week 17 of last year, is catching flack from some fans after he attended a party at the Playboy Mansion and a photo of him and Ashley Dupre started making the Internet rounds.

From the Boston Globe:

“It’s funny, man,” Welker told the Herald during a break at the Old Spice Wes Welker Football Camp yesterday. “I’ve been working so hard, and it’s like, ‘Oh, Wes is rehabbing at the Playboy Mansion or something.’ I’m like, ‘Dude, it’s one night.’ ”

“And then I get a picture with somebody – I don’t even know who it is,” Welker said, laughing and incredulous. “And it ends up to be who it is. And I’m like, ‘Oh man, that’s great.’ My mom is like, ‘Wes, what are you doing?’ And I’m like, ‘I had no idea who it was!’ ”

As the NFL’s leading receiver and a public figure, Welker acknowledged the reality that he might want to avoid such situations in the future.

Welker never got to meet Hugh Hefner, but he lauded the party.

“Probably my last,’ a joking Welker said.

If this is the worst thing Welker ever does as a player in the NFL, consider himself Mother Teresa among his peers. He’s a young, single guy – the fans that are criticizing him need to give him a break.

I’ll be honest, I had to look up who Ashley Dupre was, so it’s not far-fetched that he wasn’t familiar with her either. I’m sure he’s posed for many photo ops throughout his career and not known who the person was. The fact that this photo was taken at the Playboy Mansion doesn’t mean much and neither does him being there in the middle of his rehab. A guy has the right to go out and there have been many an athlete that have visited Hugh Hefner’s love palace. It’s not a big deal.

Photo from fOTOGLIF
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