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          New England Patriots

          Writer: Welker, Waters All-Pro caliber

          • Mike Reiss, ESPN Staff WriterNov 2, 2011, 02:45 PM ET
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              Mike Reiss is an NFL reporter at ESPN and covers the New England Patriots. Reiss has covered the Patriots since 1997 and joined ESPN in 2009. In 2019, he was named Massachusetts Sportswriter of the Year by the National Sports Media Association. You can follow Reiss on Twitter at @MikeReiss.
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          On Monday, Dan Pompei's mid-season All-Pro team was highlighted in this space, noting the presence of receiver Wes Welker.

          Along those lines, Peter King of SI.com produces his first-half All-Pro squad and Welker also makes the cut. Right guard Brian Waters does as well.

          "It's a badge of honor, Tom Brady's ever-growing reliance on Welker," King writes. "Last year, he was targeted 123 times. This year? On pace for 190. He'll challenge Jerry Rice's yardage record."

          Waters' inclusion is impressive considering he wasn't in training camp with the Patriots.

          "He shifted from left guard in Kansas City to right with the Pats, had no offseason in a complicated attack, and has been a better player than the Pro Bowler he already was," King writes.