Mike Florio isn’t buying Julian Edelman’s retirement. In fact, the founder of ProFootballTalk suggests Edelman could now take advantage of a loophole to return next season at full strength — all while joining up with Tom Brady in Tampa Bay.
On a recent edition of PFT Live (captured by OMF), Florio correctly pointed out retired players are free to come back and play whenever they want.
“Nothing prevents a guy from coming back,” Florio said. “As of right now, Julian Edelman says, ‘I was going to play until the wheels came off. The wheel came off.’ Well, between now and November or December, they can put the wheel back on. That’s what wheels do.”
Edelman, 34, underwent knee surgery last October, which sidelined him for the rest of the season. It was the scrappy wideout’s second knee injury in three years. Edelman tore his ACL in August 2017, and of course, missed the entire campaign.
The following summer, Edelman was suspended four games for violating the NFL’s performance enhancing-drug policy. He appealed the suspension, but it was denied. At the time, Edelman said he doesn’t “know what happened.”
He came back and won Super Bowl MVP.
Since the Patriots released Edelman prior to his retirement announcement, he’s not currently beholden to league policy. In his video, Edelman said his body can no longer last through the rigors of an NFL schedule.
But it’s possible he could feel differently once the season starts. Time, and some modern medical advancement, can heal all physical wounds — at least according to Florio.
"He can go use whatever he was using when he got busted three years ago,” Florio said. “Do what you have to do. Take what you have to take. Get yourself back to the point where you knee is in good shape, cycle off, show up, get tested, be clean, play for the Buccaneers.”
That's a pretty wild accusation to throw out there. But Edelman's positive PED test opens him up to that speculation -- no matter how unprofessional it may be.
