Denver Broncos wide receiver Wes Welker has denied intentionally hitting New England Patriots cornerback Aqib Talib during Sunday's AFC championship game between the two sides.
Talib was forced off with a knee injury after a collision with Welker in the second quarter, leaving the Patriots struggling to cover Demaryius Thomas for the rest of the game as the Broncos ran out 26-16 winners.
Patriots head coach Bill Belichick slammed the play as one of the worst he had ever seen, but Welker insists that he did not mean to hit Talib.
"It was one of those plays where it's kind of a rough play and I was trying to get him to go over the top, and I think he was thinking the same thing and wanted to come underneath and we just kind of collided," ESPN quotes Welker as saying.
"It wasn't a deal where I was trying to hit him or anything like that. I hope he's OK. He's a great player and a big part of their defense."
Welker and the Broncos will face the Seattle Seahawks in the Super Bowl on February 2.
Barney Corkhill
