New England Patriots star wide receiver Julian Edelman announced his retirement on Monday in a farewell video posted to social media. His fans and fellow players went into a frenzy wishing Edelman well. But the betting odds for the 2021 Patriots were unfazed.
Prior to the Patriots terminating Edelman’s contract and the subsequent retirement, the team’s odds to win the AFC East Division title were +350 (odds courtesy of SportsBetting.com). And they remain the same after the news was announced.
The lack of change in these odds following the loss of Edelman is not surprising, but he did defy odds in his 12-year NFL career. He transferred to Kent State from San Mateo Junior College as a quarterback, wasn’t invited to the combine as a draft prospect, and was a seventh-round draft pick, 232nd overall, in 2009.
He went on to become a three-time Super Bowl champion and Super Bowl LIII MVP. Not to mention gutting it out through his lingering knee issues that ultimately led to this retirement.
Stay tuned for his odds to make it into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. And maybe odds of him unretiring and joining the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. But those latter odds are, admittedly, not great. Unless you ask Rob Gronkowski.