"Wes Welker took some time off after the season, traveling and relaxing. After roughly a month, he was back to work.

Welker still has a house in Florida from his Dolphins days, so he's staying there and working out at Bommarito Performance Systems.

It's not as convenient as Gillette Stadium. But with the NFL lockout, it's the next best thing.

"It's a one-stop shop there," said Welker, taking a break from his football camp yesterday at Bishop Fenwick. "I can get massages there, train there, they have a swimming pool, a field like this outside. They got everything."

That Welker even can train full-speed this offseason puts him in a far different place than he was in 2010. A year ago, Welker was rehabilitating a torn ACL and a torn rotator cuff. Now, he's healthy and working toward next season.

"I feel so much better," Welker said. "I've actually been able to train instead of rehabbing, and it's been a little different. I've been able to bench press for the first time and able to squat. Some of those things are key when it comes to football. I'm definitely excited about that."

That Welker, quarterback Tom Brady and other veterans are staying in shape is no surprise. More pressing, as Welker pointed out, is that not all rookies have figured out how to be professionals yet. This lockout will hurt them.

"(Rookies) probably need to pay for some workouts and spend a little money," Welker said. "That's the tough part right now. A lot of guys are going into their own wallets to be able to train. That's how much we care about football. We want to make sure we're putting out a good product on the field."

Welker did as much for the more than 400 children at the Old Spice Wes Welker Football Clinic camp. He was all over the field, bringing energy, participating in drills and using a hands-on approach. He said the children "energize" him, and it worked both ways."