Hey Bubs! Jules. Edelman! Buddy. Whatever name you prefer to go by these days. Sorry to interrupt your rehab/holidays, but, umm, well, I’m just gonna shoot you straight ... we need ya. Your team needs ya. Badly. In every sense. Like calling Thornton Melon out of the stands to attempt the Triple Lindy badly.
Look, we wouldn’t ring the bell and make the call if we didn’t think it was a time of need in Foxboro, nor a prime opportunity for you as well (these arrangements need to be mutually beneficial after all). And yes, we understand you have another issue to deal with at the moment, but hopefully one you can clear sooner than later.
You’ve already given more than anyone could ask for to the team, the organization, your fans. The clutch catches, epic comebacks, multiple championships. You’ve done it all. Yet some thought when you opted for the knee surgery a few weeks back in what most consider a down year in Foxboro that that could be it. Your doubters have been proven wrong. The critics silenced. What more could you give? What else is there to prove? For those who’ve watched your rise from 7th round pick to three time Super Bowl champion, the answer? Plenty.
About the rehab, hope it’s gone well. All reports are you’re on the mend, that perhaps the knee and any subsequent aggravation may be more of a tolerance issue. Word was the knee had been bothering you for some time. Back to last season, at least, if not longer. And you’ve played through the pain of that and a host of other nagging injuries. It’s kind of what you do, tough it out. Nobody wants to see you set your progress back, or injure yourself in the long-term. But we know where you belong; back on the football field (plenty of time to be handsome in designer jeans and hawk toys on IG later). You’re a warrior, for sure. A real grinder. Some might call you relentless, even.
You seemed to learn so much playing with and at the side of your buddy, Tom Brady (we miss him too). From playing skill to body maintenance, reading defenses to self-promotion (TB12 and JE11?), he was quite the influence. And now he’s off playing in Florida with your pal Gronky (and it’s far from perfect, but that’s not our problem now). He had a point to prove, and a brand to expand, and playing at a high level beyond expectations seemed the best avenue for him. So why not look to your former QB and object of your bromantic affections one more time for inspiration? But TB12 has put himself in a position where it’s borderline title or bust on his plan. All you have to do is come back and lead the team to a few clutch wins and BOOM! Edelmania is running wild all over Pats Nation again.
The team benefits from your return in manifold ways, almost immediately. You immediately return to No. 1 receiver status, which means opposing defenses have to account for you when you’re on the field, dragging top coverage away from the rest of the receivers, backs and other pass catchers. Grateful among them would be Meyers and Byrd, who’d have a better chance to win against lesser coverage. As far as dealing with No. 1 corners and double teams like you might see again? A.) what an honor, and B.) you love a challenge! Pretty sure it was you stalking the sidelines, saying “They can’t cover me!” in Super Bowl 53.
This Patriots offense has missed you something wicked, obviously (no need to check the numbers, just trust me). They’re desperate for someone who can get open, find the holes in a zone and work leverage regularly. Can you imagine how happy Cam Newton would be if he saw a road 11 jersey on the field Sunday, or Thursday, or both, in Los Angeles? I mean, did you see him against the Cardinals Sunday? Double your jersey number and that was basically his passer rating. His passing game, despite the Houston stat line, has struggled mightily since you left. And there’s no denying you guys clicked instantly, a QB/WR force of nature in Seattle just this September (yeah, Seattle’s pass defense is matzoh ball soft but that’s not the point). Plus, if you help rekindle the passing attack, or at least provide a spark, that will open up running lanes for Harris, Sweet Feet. As you can clearly see the impact will be felt at every level. Knowing you’d do that? Gotta feel good.
But why risk your recently repaired knee on a team with currently a losing record? You might have plans on more games after 2020, and what effect could just one man have on a team that’s 5-6 and facing a massive uphill climb to the postseason? Quite a bit, as we’ve just laid out. You watch the games. You know they’ve been in every game except one this season. You went to the wire with the Seahawks. Someone like you can be the difference in a field goal game, and all of the remaining five are winnable. If your return goes in tandem with the 2020 Pats making a playoff push? They won’t be able to heap enough praise on your strong bearded chin.
And for your brand, your image, your future? Whether it’s here in Foxboro or elsewhere (please not Tompa Bay!), a healthy return to the field would show others you can still shake ’n bake, make your moves, cut on a dime, catch first downs, be an integral part to an NFL offense. You know as well as anyone how short the football career can be. That you’ve played as long as you have a testament to our toughness and the ethic Frank instilled in you when he was hucking footballs at you in the rain decades ago. And if there’s more in the tank then what better promotional advertisement for the ability, longevity and excellence of JE11 than a return to action, big catches, and maybe even the playoff push of a team everyone wrote off as dead the day after Halloween?
There may not be fans in the stands at Gillette for you to race down the field and greet coming out of the tunnel for intros, but the ones at home would be juiced, especially if that next home game, vs Buffalo, has January significance! Be a hell of a story for a guy who loves the motivation.
Consider this a flashing in the sky of The JE11 Signal.
Twelve isn’t here to blow the conch shell.
Eight-seven isn’t here to bring you to the stadium in a party bus.
Bubs, the Pats need you back. They need you back now. And you need them, too.
The stage is set for your triumphant return. All you have to do now is come back, be healthy, catch some passes, win some games. You know, be Happily Miserable.
Besides, how are you gonna sell the inevitable JE11 Comeback merch if you’re not back?
