FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — The New England Patriots placed the franchise tag on Wes Welker, the receiver who caught more passes than anyone else in the NFL last season but couldn’t come down with one that might have clinched a Super Bowl victory.

The move means Welker would be paid about $9.5 million for next season unless the sides work out a long-term deal. Another team could still try to sign Welker, but the Patriots would have the right to match the offer or receive two first-round draft picks as compensation if they don’t.

Welker’s exact salary would not be set until the league determines the salary cap for next season.

Welker has been selected to the Pro Bowl for four consecutive seasons. Last year, he led the NFL with 122 receptions and was second in the league with 1,569 yards receiving.

But he could not come down with a critical pass from Tom Brady in the Super Bowl on a second-and-11 with 4:06 to play. Welker twisted to reach for the ball, which was thrown behind him, but it bounced off his hands.

The Patriots failed to make a first down, and the Giants then drove down the field for the go-ahead touchdown.

SAINTS: Owner Tom Benson isn’t backing off his support of his general manager and coach, even as his team is accused by the NFL of maintaining a bounty program to injure opponents.

While Benson cooperates with NFL officials in their investigation of the bounty program that spanned the last three seasons, he is standing behind GM Mickey Loomis and Coach Sean Payton – even though the league says they knew about the bounties.

The NFL investigation found between 22 and 27 defensive players on the Saints, as well as former assistant coach Gregg Williams, maintained a bounty system for inflicting injuries on targeted players.

Former defensive coordinator Williams has admitted to running the pool, and the NFL’s investigation concluded that Loomis and Payton did nothing to prevent it, even after Benson was alerted of the pool by the NFL last year and asked Loomis to put a stop to it.

Williams met Monday with NFL investigators. Commissioner Roger Goodell did not attend.

Williams now is defensive coordinator in St. Louis.

• Redskins defensive lineman Kedric Golston says Williams offered cash incentives for certain plays when Williams was the defensive coordinator.

Golston said Williams would reward players for a “sack or an interception” or “a pivotal play.” But Golston also said: “I’ve never seen a player get any money for hurting anybody.”
Williams was the Redskins defensive coordinator from 2004-07.

COLTS: Indianapolis agreed to terms on a new contract with Pro Bowl defensive end Robert Mathis.

FRANCHISE TAGS: Wide receiver Dwayne Bowe of the Chiefs was given a franchise tags just before the deadline.
Also tagged were Titans safety Michael Griffin, Cowboys linebacker Anthony Spencer, Lions defensive end Cliff Avril, and several kickers: Giants punter Steve Weatherford, Denver place-kicker Doug Prater, Tampa Bay placekicker Connor Barth, and Jacksonville placekicker Josh Scobee.

BUCCANEERS: Tampa Bay re-signed free agent offensive lineman Jeremy Zuttah to a four-year contract.

TEXANS: The agent for Arian Foster says the running back agreed to a five-year deal with  Houston.

BILLS: Wide receiver Stevie Johnson signed a contract extension.

SEAHAWKS: Running back Marshawn Lynch agreed to a multiyear deal.