Julian Edelman recalls receiving punt return advice from Tom Brady

Former New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman recalled once receiving punt return advice from none other than retired quarterback Tom Brady. 

As shared by Nick O'Malley of MassLive, Edelman explained during an appearance on the "Cold as Balls" program with actor and comedian Kevin Hart how he returned a punt for a touchdown during his first preseason game after the Patriots made him a seventh-round pick in the 2009 draft. 

"I was actually p----- at Brady because they had to re-kick this punt and I could hear him on the sidelines saying, 'Get upfield!' What does this (expletive) guy know? He’s a quarterback. He’s never ran side-to-side in his life," Edelman said. "I was so p-----. I was like, (expletive), in the middle of the next punt and I ended up housing it, so I went by like, 'Yeah boy! What?' So it was crazy." 

Brady was watching from the sidelines after he missed nearly all of the previous campaign with a torn ACL and MCL. Edelman, meanwhile, was logging exhibition playing time in place of the sitting Wes Welker as the then-rookie worked through his position change after he played quarterback at Kent State. 

"Welker, he didn’t play that game, and this was when Brady was just coming off his ACL," Edelman continued. "So, like everyone was like, 'Is he gonna be all right?' So this was like a big test. They punted. The first punt I took back, I took back 75 yards. Then I had five catches from Brady that game. So after that happened, that’s when my confidence was like, 'All right, I can play with these guys.'"

This isn't the first time Edelman has pointed out how Brady was unsure of the WR during his rookie season. Earlier this year, Edelman mentioned how he "went home and cried" after he earned a scolding from Brady over a dropped pass in 2009.

Of course, Edelman eventually proved to be one of Brady's favorite targets and went on to earn three Super Bowl rings and Super Bowl LIII Most Valuable Player honors. As for Brady's advice, fans will always be left wondering what could have been had he been allowed to return just one punt during his Hall of Fame career: