Believe it or not, there was a time a few seasons ago that the New England Patriots let wide receiver Julian Edelman twist in the wind as a free agent. It was a year after cut ties with Wes Welker and Edelman had stepped masterfully into his shows, catching 105 passes for 1,056 yards and six touchdowns. Still, that was the era that head coach Bill Belicheck didn’t care to let key players go. So Edelman nearly went.
The Patriots convinced Edelman to take a four-year, $19 million deal with a $5 million signing bonus and he was worth every penny and more. The man never rocked the boat and never came close to threatening a hold out even though he was severely underpaid, considering his value as quarterback Tom Brady’s favorite target. Thursday, he got rewarded for his patience and loyalty with a two-year, $11 million contract that could be worth $15 million with incentives that Edelman will most likely meet barring injury.
Deal. Done.
The @Patriots and @Edelman11 agree to a multi-year contract. More from @MikeGarafolo. pic.twitter.com/QwAUNEcrC2
— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) June 8, 2017
Last season Edelman caught 98 passes for 1,106 yards and three touchdowns. No one was bigger in the playoffs and Super Bowl, with Edelman pulling of a circus catch to keep a drive alive that eventually won the Patriots the game.
Locking up Edelman is all part of the Patriots’ unusual spending spree this offseason and more evidence that makes me believe Belichick believes Brady’s NFL career is wrapping up.
Jets continue to make “moves.”
This offseason the New York Jets signed former San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Quinton Patton to a one-year, $825,000 contract. Thursday they cut him.
While on its face this looks like the Jets moving on from an injured player, Patton was still recovering from his foot surgery when the Jets signed him this offseason. They only had him on injured reserve to free up his roster spot. The plan seemed to be to utilize Patton’s services after the season started since he wasn’t even slated to be healthy in time for training camp.
#Jets cut WR Quinton Patton from IR, with an injury settlement, per league personnel wire.
— Rich Cimini (@RichCimini) June 8, 2017
But all that was before the Jets decided to tank the season. Patton caught 37 passes for 408 yards with the 49ers last season. Once healthy, he would have been a solid target on the opposite side of the field from projected starter Quicny Enunwa. That is, unless New York ends up trading or cutting Enunwa too.
He’s good. They really shouldn’t.
Was the injury or the recovery time a factor? Facts like that can change on a dime and if the Jets were any other team I’d just automatically assume that’s the case. But they’re doing the first, confirmed NFL tank job I’ve ever witnessed. Every move has to be viewed under that lens.
Nick Fairly seeks third opinion on heart issue
New Orleans Saints defensive tackle Nick Fairley is fighting to save his NFL career Fairly has been advised to stop playing football after medical tests showed a previously-known heart condition could be life threatening if he stays on the field.
Fairley and the teams he’s played for have known about the condition since he came out of Auburn and was drafted in the first round by the Detroit Lions back in 2011.
#Saints DL Nick Fairley had a heart condition that came up in his pre-draft physical. The one being checked out & tested now is the same one
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) June 4, 2017
Fairly is obviously searching for a doctor to give him the go-ahead to play football. He’s been held out of organized team activities since medical tests showed the heart issue could be a real problem.
“He (Fairly) has gotten two professional opinions, ” Saints head coach Sean Payton said. “The first one was one that advised that he shouldn’t play football again. The second opinion was a little different, and he’s getting a third opinion or he’s already gotten a third opinion, we’re waiting on that opinion. The things we know are this, it’s obviously something significant and serious that we’ve got to pay attention to, obviously both for Nick and for the club. So we’re hopeful and yet we’re guarded because of the type of condition that we’re talking about.”
Last year the Saints signed Fairley to a four-year, $28 million contract with $14 million in guaranteed money. Fairley started all 16 games for the saints and had career highs in tackles with 43 and sacks with 6.5.
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