FOXBORO -- One of the most underrated stories from the Patriots offseason was losing wide out Danny Amendola, as he signed with the Dolphins as a free agent in March.
One of his best friends on the team was Julian Edelman, who on Tuesday after the first minicamp session acknowledged losing a good friend to another team is part of the business.
"I mean, that's the nature of this beast, this business, is guys come and go," Edelman said. "You make a lot of relationships that you'll cherish forever, but it's sad to see a guy like him go. But, I mean, that's in the past now, and now you're looking forward to molding and getting together with your new teammates. Because I could tell you right now, this isn't the first team to lose a guy like that and it won't be the last. So, I hope he does well, but I'm more focused on the guys in our room right now and helping our team."
The wide receiver also gave an update on himself, as he's working his way back from tearing his ACL last preseason. For the first time this spring, reporters saw him participate fully in team drills, so it seems the 32-year-old is making good progress.
"I feel like I'm getting a day better than yesterday," he said.
Edelman added: "I mean, it's been good. Anytime you get to go out and see the fellas and play with them and talk with them and be in the huddle and look at guys and participate in drills – I mean, that's what you play the game for, ultimately. It was tough to watch it all on the sideline last year and to come out here and just to do little things, strap on the helmet, puts in perspective how lucky you are to get to play the game."
Overall, it seems like Edelman and the team are staying patient and not forcing anything, especially since it's only June.
"I mean, everyone's a competitor, so sometimes you're your worst own enemy when you're trying to do that," Edelman said. "But, it is what it is and there's a big part of the process and I've got a lot of guys, training staff helping me out – TB12, all that stuff – to get to where I want to be."
