ATLANTA — When it comes to ranking Julian Edelman's abilities against other receivers in the NFL, we’ll defer to the esteemed Cordarrelle Patterson.
Asked after Sunday’s Super Bowl win where Edelman — the Super Bowl MVP — ranks among the best receivers in the game, Patterson is exceedingly blunt.
“Jules? He’s No. 1. No. 1,” Patterson said with a smile. “Nobody can (expletive) with Jules in the slot, man. Nobody. He gets so much separation and control. The things he can do, it’s just different. For real.
“For a guy like me to see the things he can do, it really is amazing. The hard work he puts in each and every day, he’s second to none.”
To Patterson’s point, Edelman was an absolute beast on Sunday, finishing with 10 catches on 12 targets for 141 yards. Eight of his 10 catches went for first downs, and he accounted for more than half of Tom Brady’s total passing yardage on the night. (The quarterback went 21-for-35 for 262 yards in all.)
In a game where offense was just a rumor, Edelman was the main attraction.
“He’s a fighter, man, that kid,” Brady said after the game. “He’s … I’m just so proud of him. He’s been an incredible player for this team in the playoffs and he just cemented himself, again, in the history of the NFL for what his accomplishments are.”
For Edelman, it caps off an eventful year. He was out all last season because of a torn ACL he sustained in the preseason, and when he did come back, he had to sit for the first four games of the 2018 regular season because of a PED violation.
“No, I wasn’t really thinking about that,” he said when he was asked about the journey he’s been on the last year-plus. “My head was down, just trying to go out and try to win ballgames and help the team. It’s pretty surreal. Tough times don’t last. Tough people do. I preach that, and I guess you have to live to it.
“It’s hard to (imagine), that’s for sure,” he added. “I’m getting to live out a dream, so it’s pretty surreal right now. I think everything happens for a reason. I was always taught as a young boy that you always just have to work hard. Work as hard as you can, put in the extra time and we will see where it goes. Worry about what you have on your plate at that time. That’s what I've tried to do.”
Against the Rams, Edelman faced a variety of coverage and a variety of defensive backs, and he was able to deliver on a consistent basis. Here’s a 25-yarder in the first quarter against former teammate Aqib Talib.
It's squirrel season.@edelman11 | #EverythingWeGot pic.twitter.com/AnIB48Nnsk
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) February 4, 2019
.@edelman11 is in playoff mode. #EverythingWeGot pic.twitter.com/R2xRNCA3Xl
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) February 4, 2019