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The New England Patriots were without wide receiver Julian Edelman all of last year after he suffered a torn ACL in preseason. The team missed him, although not that much as they still made the Super Bowl without him. But Edelman is already training with the team during OTAs and is getting himself ready for the upcoming year.
As Patriots safety Duron Harmon sees it, having Edelman back on the field is big not only because he’s one of the team’s top receivers, but also because he brings several other intangibles to the table that benefit the team overall.
“Having him out there brings leadership to this team, he brings excitement to this team and he brings an aggressive nature to this team,” said Harmon per Karen Guregian of the Boston Herald. “Having him out here makes the team better.”
The Patriots already lost one hard-working wide receiver this season in Danny Amendola, whose work ethic has quickly rubbed off on his new Dolphins teammates. But with Edelman back, the Patriots have that experienced veteran to serve as the shining example other players can emulate, especially while Tom Brady is still away.
While Edelman’s leadership and competitive spirit are important qualities the team should be glad are back, the Patriots will also be hoping his excellent on-field production returns as well. Prior to his injury, Edelman was coming off an outstanding year in 2016 as he had 98 catches and 1,106 yards－a new career-high.
Edelman is Brady’s go-to guy, his most trusted receiver who can make key plays when needed. With the departure of both Amendola and Brandin Cooks, the Patriots will need Edelman to be that guy once again in order to help make up for what they lost with those two.
