(WEEI.com reporting from FOXBORO) -- It's been quite the last couple of years for New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman.
After winning Super Bowl LI against the Atlanta Falcons, Edelman tore his ACL during the 2017 preseason. He was forced to miss all of last season as the Patriots advanced to the Super Bowl before falling to the Phiadelphia Eagles. He then was suspended for the first four games of this season for violating the league's performance-enhancing drug policy. But ever since returning in Week 5, he's made his presence felt.
In 12 regular-season games, Edelman finished with 74 catches for 850 yards and six touchdowns. In two playoff games, he has 16 catches for 247 yards.
Next Sunday in Atlanta, Edelman will get to play in a Super Bowl again.
"It means the world," he said. "This is what you play the game for and it's been a crazy year for me, two years. I have a kid, tear your ACL, you miss four games. It's been a mentally, physically, emotionally exhausting year. You put all that effort into overcoming that for this game. It's been a heck of a year to get to go out and play with your teammates and see how this thing's evolved out. It's always a great thing getting to play in the last game of the year."
Edelman welcomed his first daughter, Lily, into the world late in the 2016 season.
The 31-year-old said that has given him a new perspective.
"One hundred percent," he said. "When you become a pa, you have different priorities now and you're not living for yourself, you're living for someone else now. It's pretty cool to go out and experience success and having your little human that's just running around saying 'Da-Da' that doesn't know anything is going on. She's like a little good-luck charm. It's unbelievable when you get to see her after a game.
"The feeling has changed. My whole family's been a part of my road with how close we are and to welcome her in, it just makes it bigger and better."
By Ryan Hannable
