Seahawks CB Walter Thurmond calls out Wes Welker, NFL over hit on Aqib Talib

Seahawks cornerback Walter Thurmond said Wes Welker may have received a "star" call from officials. (Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)

The discussion continues on whether Broncos wide receiver Wes Welker made a legal hit on Patriots cornerback Aqib Talib during Denver's AFC Championship win last Sunday.

In the days following, Pats head coach Bill Belichick called it "one of the worst plays I've seen," the NFL ruled it was legal, and now Seahawks cornerback Walter Thurmond, who will face Welker and the Broncos in the Super Bowl on Feb. 2, has chimed in.

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Thurmond told the media that the hit on Talib was "uncalled for," and he called out the league for not staying true to its commitment to protect its players, according to a report from ESPN.com

"It was really uncalled for," Thurmond said. "The receiver ran right into the guy. I don't know the extent of the injury Talib had, but I thought we were supposed to protect football players in this league now. I guess not. I guess that only goes one way...If you're intentionally coming at somebody, it's supposed to be a flag. But they didn't throw the flag on him. Some players get away with a lot more than other players depending on status, but that's just the nature of the game...Welker had his head down, like he was coming down the whole time. That should be a flag, and he should be getting fined. There's a whole bunch of things that should happen in that situation, but I don't run the NFL."

The controversial play, which occurred during the first drive of the second quarter, can be seen below. Talib ended up with a knee injury on the play and didn't return to the game.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZQU8nrtyL4

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