It only took about 4 years, but Julian Edelman finally revealed why he did not decide to join the New England Patriots reunion in Tampa Bay. Apparently, Tom Brady tried very hard to keep his Patriot teammates together when he made his move over to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
He did get his future Hall of Fame tight end Rob Gronkowski to join him but he could not manage to get Edelman to come with them. Edelman finally revealed, appearing on The Rush, exactly how that conversation between him and Brady went down, and why he decided against the Tampa Bay reunion.
Julian Edelman Could Not Follow Tom Brady
On The Rush, Julian Edelman told star Maxx Crosby that Brady contacted him after going to Tampa Bay to help out with a Super Bowl run. Edelman could not make the move as he saw his career was going to be ending soon and he’s too loyal to go to another team.
“He hit me up when he left, and he goes, ‘Hey baby, you want me to get you down here?’ I’m like, ‘Nah, I’m good, bro. I’m a one-team man.'”
Edelman made a quick joke after calling himself a “loyal guy”, at least in terms of football. While Edelman could have retired “walking out of the sunset” if he had one with Brady in Tampa Bay, there is a lost art these days in sports to be a one-team man. Edelman is one of the old school type of players on and off the field and it is fitting that his legacy will be attached to the New England Patriots alone.
It is crazy to say no to Tom Brady though.
Julian Edelman The New England Patriot
Edelman joins few historic greats to only play for one team, and that allows for a much stronger legacy when fans look back on a player years after they retire. Edelman is now known as a real Patriot and he accomplished all time great feats in his career. He was a Super Bowl MVP after all.
Edelman will always be remembered as a gritty and tough winner through and through. He finished his career with 3 Super Bowls, the third most receiving yards in post season history, as well as Tom Brady’s favorite weapon. Edelman is beloved around the league for his accomplishments and continues to give fans amazing football content on his podcast Games With Names.
Edelman is now looked at as one of the major voices for Patriot and even Boston fans at large. So all in all, he has no regrets for not joining his best friends in Tampa Bay.
Julian Edelman reveals that Tom Brady joked with him about leaving the #Patriots for four years.
“He would joke around about leaving with me for like four years… and then he left… he hit me up when he left and he goes ‘Hey Babe do you want me to get you down here?’ and I’m… pic.twitter.com/AJSEnI9FDD
— Carlos Talks Pats (@LosTalksPats) April 6, 2024
Julian Edelman says Tom Brady would simulate game situations every time he practiced — Brady would even simulate a flag being thrown, so they would run the same play back-to-back multiple times.
“One thing with Tom Brady is, he always practiced with a purpose… it didn’t matter… pic.twitter.com/t0b00KPqwd
— Carlos Talks Pats (@LosTalksPats) April 6, 2024