FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Patriots receiver Wes Welker said the failure to reach a long-term contract with the Patriots has been removed from his mindset, and his focus is on playing well and helping the team win games.

"The contract, and everything else, is out of my mind," he told reporters after Thursday's opening training practice, which drew more than 12,000 spectators, a team single-session record.

Welker insisted he isn't disappointed that contract talks didn't produce an extension.

"Everyone tried," he said. "I tried, they tried, and it just didn't work out. It's in the past, and we've moved on to this season, which we expect to be a good one."

Asked if he felt this was a year in which he had to prove he deserves a long-term contract, Welker responded, "You got to prove it every year. There is no year where you don't need to prove it."

Welker was also asked if there was concern that he might have a big year and then get the franchise tag again.

"Not at all," he answered. "Actually, that's a great situation. I'm not too worried about that."