New England Patriots Re-sign Julian Edelman
The New England Patriots resigned free agent wide receiver Julian Edelman per Mike Garafolo. This day keeps getting better and better and I’m so thrilled (for lack of a better word) to know that Julian Edelman is back to Foxboro. I will admit that I previously made a case that the Patriots should consider Julian Edelman as an option.
Nov 18, 2012; Foxboro, Massachusetts, USA; New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman (11) carries the ball during the fourth quarter against the Indianapolis Colts at Gillette Stadium. The New England Patriots won 59-24. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports
The New England Patriots started this Wednesday all geared-up as Jason La Canfora first reported that the Patriots submitted an offer sheet on Pittsburgh Steelers wider receiver Emmanuel Sanders. Sanders has signed the offer sheet which details of the deal is yet to be disclosed, but I highly doubt the Steelers will be able to match as they are facing cap problems – approximately $3 million in cap space per Spotrac. Even if they restructure some contracts, it still might not be enough to keep Sanders and it would create more dead cap problems.
The re-signing of Julian Edelman comes as a surprise, although I kept my fingers crossed for his re-signing. Many were already speculating that because Sanders signed the offer sheet, Edelman would be long gone from Foxboro, but Adam Schefter reported that the deal is based on one-year deal.
One year or not, I am glad to know Edelman is back. I look forward to seeing him on the field on a Patriot uniform and witness the dynamics that he will bring in conjunction with Danny Amendola, Leon Washington, Donald Jones and Michael Jenkins.
Edelman addition also brings to attention that Bill Belichick should and (I’m sure he will) surprise us on draft day with the “best available” strategy. It might be that with only four draft picks – assuming that Steelers will not be able to match the offer sheet within the next five days, the Patriots might not go for a wide receiver in this draft at all.
We shall see on Draft day, but for now, I’m very happy and optimistic for this upcoming season. Go Pats!
Follow Celia Westbrook on Twitter @celiawestbrook