Wes Welker never complained about the hard hit he took from Ryan Clark last season, but he thinks new rules to protect defenseless receivers are a good thing.

Journal photo / Mary Murphy

FOXBORO – As far as Wes Welker is concerned, Tom Brady now looks like the same Tom Brady pre-knee injury.

“He could never run that well anyway,” the receiver quipped yesterday.

But Welker, like many of his Patriots teammates, has been happy to see Brady around Gillette Stadium, particularly on the fields for work. Welker allowed that he’s caught a few passes from the rehabbing quarterback as he progresses from the torn ACL and MCL he suffered last September.

Welker, who has 223 receptions in two seasons with New England, talked yesterday after a workout at the stadium, and hit on a variety of topics, including making his first Pro Bowl appearance in February.

He seemed to enjoy the low-key experience.

“It went really well. I had fun out there; I went with a few buddies and enjoyed the weather, did some fishing, hung out by the pool,” he said. “It was about what I expected. You’re far away from the action in Waikiki, so it was a good family atmosphere.”

Colts quarterback Peyton Manning, a nine-time Pro Bowler, has become the de-facto mayor of the festivities, and Welker said Manning held court poolside, exchanging stories with the other players.

Welker went home to Oklahoma after the regular season ended, but had to work out for the month-plus between the final game against Buffalo and the Pro Bowl, which was the second Sunday in February.

Without much else to do, his daily workouts at least gave him one scheduled thing to do a day in January.

Welker was asked about his friend and former Dolphins teammate, Jason Taylor, whom he saw recently at Taylor’s charity event in Miami. There are rumors that the 2007 NFL defensive player of the year might be headed for New England.

“I don’t know,” Welker said. “To me, he made it sound like he could go to the Patriots, [but] I don’t really know. He’ll have to figure that out with his family and the other teams in the NFL.

“He’s a great player, and the more great players you can get, the better off you’ll be.”

Welker said new teammate Greg Lewis has been “great so far,” flashing his speed and running routes; fellow newcomer Joey Galloway hasn’t started working in Foxboro yet, but Welker anticipates he’ll arrive soon.

Welker also spoke about the NFL’s new rule designed to protect defenseless receivers, a move that was spurred in part by Pittsburgh safety Ryan Clark’s vicious hit on an unknowing Welker last season.

Though Welker maintains that Clark just put a good hit on him – and guys he’s played with on the other side of the ball, like Adalius Thomas and Rodney Harrison, think such rules water down the game of football – the wideout doesn’t mind moves aimed at protecting players.

“I’m sure it’s good, but at the same time it’s football; it’s a physical game,” he said. “You don’t want to take that away, but you want to protect guys too. It will be interesting to see how it all plays out.”

When it comes to the potential of an 18-game regular season, Welker thinks it’s for people “a lot smarter than me to figure out. But my opinion, if we have two extra games, it should be like overtime: time-and-a-half.”

On a sadder note, Welker addressed the the situation involving former Patriot Donte’ Stallworth, who is facing DUI manslaughter charges in Florida after he struck and killed pedestrian Mario Reyes on March 14.

Stallworth’s only season with New England, in 2007, was Welker’s first with the team; Welker has exchanged texts with Stallworth to offer support.

“I’m just telling him I’m thinking about him, wishing him well, things like that,” Welker said. “I send prayers to the Reyes family and everything they’ve been through; it’s just a bad situation all around.”

smanza@projo.com