Julian Edelman’s pending suspension caught most of the Patriots organization by surprise
It’s unknown when Edelman learned of the suspension.
Fans and media weren’t the only ones caught off guard by Thursday’s news that Julian Edelman is facing a four-game league suspension. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, who spoke on WEEI Friday morning, “the overwhelming majority of the Patriots organization didn’t know anything about this.’’ Schefter described it as a “very closely guarded piece of information’’ and said some of the sources he initially reached out to were surprised by the news.
A league source confirmed Edelman is appealing the four-game penalty for violating the NFL’s policy on performance-enhancing substances. The substance Edelman tested positive for is unknown. It’s difficult to have these suspensions overturned, but not impossible.
“Most people don’t win appeals, but he’s going to go in and argue whatever he’s going to argue, and we’ll see, because the system is not infallible,’’ Schefter said. “But you have a guy that had had, as I was told, hundreds of tests and never tested positive before. In this particular case, the test came back positive. Right now, it’s four games unless he can present compelling evidence otherwise.’’
Schefter described it as a “very closely guarded piece of information’’ and said some of the sources he initially reached out to were surprised by the news. He also said Edelman’s positive test was a recent development, perhaps in the last month.
“I don’t think this is something that happened late last season [or] early this offseason,’’ Schefter said.
Edelman missed all of last season after tearing the ACL in his right knee during a preseason game in Detroit.
There was no indication anything was wrong during the first two days of mandatory minicamp this week as Edelman was a near full participant in sessions on Tuesday and Wednesday.
The slot receiver was in good spirits when he met with reporters following the first practice of minicamp Tuesday afternoon and said he was pleased with where he was in his comeback. He gave no indication there was bad news looming.
“It’s been good,’’ he said. “Anytime you get to go out and see the fellas and play with them and talk with them and be in the huddle and look at guys and participate in drills – I mean, that’s what you play the game for, ultimately. It was tough to watch it all on the sideline last year and to come out here and just do little things, strap on the helmet, puts in perspective how lucky you are to play this game.’’
Edelman was less of a participant in Thursday’s final session.
Though it’s unknown when Edelman learned of the suspension, he arrived to the final practice a few minutes after his teammates and wasn’t as active as he had been the first two days. At one point he rode the stationary bike during full team drills and later spent time chatting with owner Robert Kraft during another series of 11 on 11 drills.
The news of the impending suspension came minutes after the players had retreated to meetings following practice.
