When the New England Patriots released Julian Edelman earlier this week, thus actually doing him a favor in the grand scheme of things, they did not just lose their most experienced wide receiver but also put the finishing touches on of the best stories in recent franchise history. Edelman’s story was that of perseverance and, ultimately, success.
It has, of course, been told multiple times. A dual-threat college quarterback who entered the NFL draft without a clear position, Edelman grew from seventh-round draft pick, to part time receiver and punt return, to a key cog in three Super Bowl-winning teams.