Thank you, Julian Edelman

Leather

given himself a skunk spot
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Jul 18, 2005
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Fun guy, fun career.

I remember him showing up on the field in 2009 as a poor man's Welker replacement, and then he seemed to disappear for a couple of years, only to emerge as Welker's equal and, in some ways, his better for the last third of the 2001-2019 dynasty.

Easy Pats HOFer. I hope he can find some way to remain productive and happy post-retirement.
 

Mugsy's Jock

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Hoping how hard he played football doesn't interfere with his enjoying a full and happy life.

Good job, Jules.

PS. What an awesome punt returner he was, on top of the rest.
 

CaptainLaddie

dj paul pfieffer
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Sep 6, 2004
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where the darn libs live
My favorite non-Brady Pat ever. Just the toughest motherfucker on the planet, funny as hell (like legitimiately funny... his Burger Tyme videos made me belly laugh at times), and had a knack for making all the big plays.

His catch against the Falcons is the best catch I've ever seen, especially considering the moment it happened.
 

Jed Zeppelin

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My favorite non-Brady Pat ever. Just the toughest motherfucker on the planet, funny as hell (like legitimiately funny... his Burger Tyme videos made me belly laugh at times), and had a knack for making all the big plays.

His catch against the Falcons is the best catch I've ever seen, especially considering the moment it happened.
One of the great mic'd up moments was hearing him scream "I CAUGHT IT, I CAUGHT IT" while the whole world assumed it hit the ground.
 

NickEsasky

Please Hammer, Don't Hurt 'Em
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Total warrior and a guy you could almost always count on to make a play when you needed it. Hopefully, his knee issues don't plague him in retirement.
 

DourDoerr

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An icon - one of the biggest personalities of the dynasty and he helped shape the Patriot Way in the public's mind. Even the Pats haters I know gave him grudging respect.
 

lexrageorge

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So many of his 620 career receptions seemed to count; granted, 366 were for first downs. The ratio was even higher in the playoffs: 82 of 118 catches were for first downs. And he'll retire as 2nd all time in playoff receptions and receiving yards, second only to Jerry Rice.

And don't forget he took some defensive snaps in 2011 and 2012 to boost what was otherwise a rather horrific secondary. #11 should be a shoo-in for the Pats Hall of Fame. Doubt he'll sniff the NFL HoF, but wouldn't be surprised if his name at least is mentioned in passing due to his playoff numbers.
'
 

CaptainLaddie

dj paul pfieffer
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Sep 6, 2004
36,684
where the darn libs live
So many of his 620 career receptions seemed to count; granted, 366 were for first downs. The ratio was even higher in the playoffs: 82 of 118 catches were for first downs. And he'll retire as 2nd all time in playoff receptions and receiving yards, second only to Jerry Rice.

And don't forget he took some defensive snaps in 2011 and 2012 to boost what was otherwise a rather horrific secondary. #11 should be a shoo-in for the Pats Hall of Fame. Doubt he'll sniff the NFL HoF, but wouldn't be surprised if his name at least is mentioned in passing due to his playoff numbers.
'
God, I forgot about that. What a true team player.

At one point, he had the highest punt return average in the Super Bowl era, too -- entering the 2014 season, he was at 12.3. That was tied with Devin Hester, and you'd never confuse those two.
 

FL4WL3SS

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I'm absolutely gutted by this. I think mostly because I hadn't been paying attention and didn't realize he was still injured. I also didn't know he was thinking about retiring.

He'll be missed. With Jules retiring, we can close the book on the Brady era.
 

DeJesus Built My Hotrod

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Is there a thread about him leaving?
Well, per Skrubby, we can always use more threads!

In all seriousness, he was a joy to root for as a Patriot. I suspect he will have lots of options in media etc but if he did something with the team or the league or coaching in general that wouldn't surprise at all.
 

Mystic Merlin

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I'm absolutely gutted by this. I think mostly because I hadn't been paying attention and didn't realize he was still injured. I also didn't know he was thinking about retiring.

He'll be missed. With Jules retiring, we can close the book on the Brady era.
In fairness, and hopefully as some consolation, Matthew Slater is senior to Jules, drafted a year ahead of him. Slater is the last active player bridging the two eras of the dynasty, as he played as a rookie on the 08 team with Rodney, Bruschi, Vrabel, Seymour, Faulk, etc.
 

Lose Remerswaal

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Well, per Skrubby, we can always use more threads!

In all seriousness, he was a joy to root for as a Patriot. I suspect he will have lots of options in media etc but if he did something with the team or the league or coaching in general that wouldn't surprise at all.
Agreed and agreed. Well, maybe less so on point 1
 

nattysez

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I met Julian in person many years ago. I'm 5'10 and feel like I had at least an inch on him. To have excelled in the NFL for as long he did at that size is just remarkable. As someone said upthread, I really hope he's able to live a comfortable life after the beating he took.
 

Dim13

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Oh my God. Anoint him. Waive the Patriots HOF waiting period. Hell, I'm willing to destroy my own knees to honor this guy.
 

azsoxpatsfan

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May 23, 2014
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Of course he ends the announcement in a funny way. I love Jules, easily my second favorite patriot of all time after Brady, and my third favorite athlete ever after Brady and Ortiz. So many huge moments, and such a fucking warrior. Easily the toughest player I’ve ever seen. New England hof first ballot without a doubt. And a great guy off the field, I met him once and he was hilarious and awesome, and his advocacy against antisemitism in sports is great to see. Honored to have watched him play, and love to see him retire a patriot
 

PedroKsBambino

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There’s a snippet from the Falcons Super Bowl, I believe coming out of halftime with him saying “let’s go baby. It’s going to be a helluva story” that I assume is the inspiration for the text near the close of the video. Always gives me chills—how do you come back from 28-3? You have guys like Edelman and Brady who never for a second doubted they were going to come back and win.

He and Troy Brown epitomize the Pats for me...
 

IdiotKicker

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Man this one stings. Just so many big moments. The SB catch that others have mentioned, but his pass against the Ravens is one that I’ll remember forever too. Dude just showed up and brought it every single week. It was clear his body was failing him in the fall, and it’s clear it was time. One of my three favorite non-Brady Pats with Vinatieri and Wilfork.
 

SMU_Sox

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@The Allented Mr Ripley that is fantastic.

What can you say to sum up this guy? He had such charisma and personality. He had so many clutch plays. His catch against the Falcons was the best catch I have ever seen.
 

FFCI

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Non Stop Chills in that video...God speed Jules - your play showed how much you loved football and it's been a privilege to watch your entire career in New England... WE Love You Buddy!!!
 

Remagellan

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Thanks, Jules. Subject matter of the favorite drawing/painting I've ever created, solely because it was him. You were a warrior.

This is stunning.

The end in sports is almost always cruel, in football particularly so because of the toll it takes on a participant's body. The picture in the opening post is most fitting, because that moment encapsulates what made him special: his canniness in working himself free for that TD, and his toughness, because he probably should have been pulled from the game after getting his bell rung earlier in the game.

Thank you, Julian, and all success with whatever comes after this for you! (I'm guessing it will be in the broadcast booth on one of the networks.)
 

Ralphwiggum

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Not surprising, but still this news shreds me. What a player. Got a little dusty in the room watching that video.

Thanks for everything Jules.
 

NavaHo

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He's enough of a rascal that I was sure he was gonna be answering a call from Tom at the end of the video.
 

FL4WL3SS

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I take his word that he's proud to have retired a Patriot. I also think he was a bit turned off by Brady leaving that I can't see a reunion.

Coaching or broadcasting is my guess. Sleeper pick of going into entertainment business.
 

Dotrat

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He was really one of a kind--just a great player who kept getting better and always gave everything he had.
 

lostjumper

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My favorite Patriots player ever. I'm glad he's not coming back this year to potentially damage his body even more. He gave everything for the team. I hope he sticks around in some sort of media or team capacity.
 

Ed Hillel

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Gotta be one of the most improbable careers ever, right? Short little QB from a non-football college drafted basically as a “football player,” who turned into a borderline HoF WR and one of the better special teams players of his era as well. Pleasure and a joy to watch grow.
 

fairlee76

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I met Julian in person many years ago. I'm 5'10 and feel like I had at least an inch on him. To have excelled in the NFL for as long he did at that size is just remarkable. As someone said upthread, I really hope he's able to live a comfortable life after the beating he took.
Also met him years ago. I arrived at a bar maybe thirty minutes early for an engagement ceremony for two of my favorite people. It was 2014 and the Royals were playing the Giants in the World Series. Not sure which game it was, but I took a seat at the bar and was watching pre-game and having a drink. A group sat down next to me. I looked over and it was Julian and a group of three (I think?) of his friends. We made eye contact, he nodded, and we chatted for a second and he said "let's make this a Giants bar for the night." He asked why I was there and I told him the occasion. I thought that was that but maybe two hours later, with the engagement celebration in full swing away from the bar, Julian approached our group and said "I hear congratulations are in order? Who is the lucky couple?!" It was amazing. So on-brand for how he presents on the field and in interviews. I thought he was a fun player to root for prior to that exchange. Loved him after it.

Thanks for the memories and for being one of the real ones, Julian.
 

Eck'sSneakyCheese

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One of the toughest and most agile WRs I've ever had the chance to see play. Clutch in every sense of the word. Huge heart and huge sense of humor. Hope he can heal up and enjoy his non football career. Fully expect to see him on TV in some fashion. Thank you Jules.
 

soxhop411

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Dec 4, 2009
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If he is anything like Pedroia (ie wont be able to leave the game behind), would BB offer him a coaching role with the pats?
 

Ale Xander

Hamilton
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Oct 31, 2013
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Damn. I've cried before at retirements. But never twice at a retirement video. (The 2nd, just before the beaming up, where he just looks around, is so powerful)

He is my 2nd favorite Patriot player ever (Gronk), but if he stays retired, he will have something Gronk doesn't have, a career entirely as a Patriot. So it's entirely possible, maybe even probable, that he'll become my favorite, assuming he doesn't go for Tom's 9th in 2022-3. I kind of wanted to see him attempt to break Rice's playoff record. But #2 ain't bad.

Such a hard worker, such an upbeat personality, such a fearless warrior, all in a frame that's more relatable.

He brought so many amazing memories to Patriots fandom, more than Gronk, more than everyone besides Tom and Bill. He will be so missed. Hope to see his punim, bearded or not, in the media or coaching space. One of a kind.
 

Caspir

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Jul 16, 2005
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I knew that I loved Jules. I did not realize how much until that video. He’s my favorite Patriot ever, and while I can’t come up with anyone better I’ll ask the older folks. Is he the greatest WR in team history? I have him as number 1 without debate, but he’s got three rings and played with the goat so he’s got a head start on the competition.

Most accomplished wide receiver in playoff history not named Jerry Rice.