It’s been a hell of a story.
From his arrival as a seventh-round athlete without a position all the way to Super Bowl MVP honors, Julian Edelman’s time in New England is a terrific tale of blue collar work ethic and clutch contributions despite perceived physical short comings and humble beginnings.
Edelman, now second only to GOAT Jerry Rice in career postseason receptions and receiving yards, is and always will be one of the greatest players in Patriots history.
More than that, the man known as JE11, Jules and Squirrel is and always will be one of the most beloved competitors in New England sports lore.
Nothing will ever change that.
Nothing.
Sadly, Edelman’s career is obviously winding down. As an undersized slot receiver, he’s surpassed his expiration date at this point.
Realistically, there is at least a chance he’s already played his final game in a Patriots uniform. Certainly his best days are behind him, his career-best 179 receiving yards in Week 2 a year ago maybe the last true highlights of a career filled with them.
But as he limps toward the career finish line as so many great football players do, it takes nothing away from what Edelman has accomplished. And, certainly does nothing to his legacy in Patriot Nation that is cemented.
No, Edelman is not a GOAT in the mold of his QB pal Tom Brady or tight end teammate Rob Gronkowski.
While Edelman is one of the better slot receivers in NFL history, his regular season numbers likely fall short of anything more than a casual debate of his supposed Pro Football Hall of Fame worthiness, even if his playoff performances on the biggest of championship stages are worthy of more accolades than they probably get.
Edelman’s 620 career catches rank second to his New England slot machine predecessor Wes Welker (672) for most in Patriots history.
His 6,822 receiving yards are fourth in team annals, well behind true Canton snub Stanley Morgan (10,352).
But Edelman’s greatness isn’t defined by just the numbers, certainly not those in the regular season when he topped 90 catches a relatively humble four times and the 1,000-yard mark on just three occasions.
He’s never even been to a Pro Bowl.
Edelman’s legacy is built on what he did in January and February.
The catches (and throws!) over the years to keep the Ravens from derailing Patriots playoff pushes on what felt like an annual basis.
The receptions he made under the physical and mental duress of the biggest game in sports to help Brady’s offense past the Seahawks in Super XLIX (nine catches, 109 yards and a touchdown), improbable “I caught it!” fingertip, replay-needed snag in the epic comeback over the Falcons in Super Bowl LI (5 catches, 87 yards) and his MVP efforts to beat the Rams in Super Bowl LIII (10 catches for 141 yards).
It was, like Welker before him, the endless third-down catches to keep drives alive, despite a physical beating that no man of his size should be able to endure. The go-to, winning rapport he had with Brady on and off the field. The timely, game-changing punt returns.
Was Edelman underpaid during his career? Hell yes, given that he’s taken home a hair under $44 million for 12 seasons of work. That’s simply the ugly side of the business that is the NFL, by no means a measurement of his greatness.
But Edelman underappreciated? Not a chance.
Not by Brady.
Not by Bill Belichick.
Not by Robert Kraft.
Not by any of his peers.
And certainly not by the fans of Patriot Nation.
Not now. Not ever.
Known more for his gritty, gutsy, body-on-the-line play than his words, Edelman famously told teammates trailing 28-3 to the Falcons prior to the greatest, most improbable comeback in Super Bowl history that is was, “Gonna be a hell of story.”
It was probably a too confident proclamation from a too confident man.
But he was right.
And whether the cocky converted Kent State quarterback uttered or even thought those words or not, they would have been just as appropriate the day he landed in New England a man with the fire and desire to be great if not the obvious path to greatness.
More than a decade later make no mistake, Edelman will indeed go down as one of true Patriots greats and clutch winners in New England sports history.
Regardless of how it ends, it truly has been a hell of a story.
