Reports surfaced in late February that three-time Super Bowl champion wide receiver and Super Bowl LIII Most Valuable Player Julian Edelman may struggle to return to the field following knee surgery.
On Monday, the New England Patriots terminated Edelman's contract.
The #Patriots have terminated the contract of WR Julian Edelman, per the wire. He’s listed as a failed physical.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 12, 2021
According to ESPN's Mike Reiss, Edelman may not be looking for a new NFL home this offseason.
While Julian Edelman showed up on today's transaction wire as having his contract terminated by the Patriots, Edelman has been mulling retirement and this could just be a precursor to that announcement.
— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) April 12, 2021
Reiss later reported "the roster move is expected to be a technicality as part of" Edelman's retirement.
Some will quickly link Edelman with what they feel is an inevitable discounted move to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers so he can reunite with former New England teammates Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski. Such a storybook ending may work out well in editions of "Madden," but Edelman turns 35 years old in May and has a lengthy injury history that could scare off any would-be employer and prevent him from playing over a month of meaningful contact football.
He appeared in just six games during the 2020 season.
Let the debates about Edelman's Hall of Fame candidacy begin.
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