Julian Edelman facing four-game suspension for PEDs

Today was supposed to be Tom Brady Day at Foxboro as the future Hall of Famer addressed media for the first time since he missed OTAs for the first time in his career. But soon after Brady claimed this offseason has been like any other and was noncommittal about attending the next week’s final OTAs, the Patriots were dealt a much more immediate blow.

As first reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Brady’s favorite receiving target, Julian Edelman, is facing a four-game suspension for the use of performance enhancing steroids.

Edelman was seemingly ready for a monster return season after tearing his ACL in a preseason game last August.  This is Edelman’s first violation since entering the league in 2009, and he is likely to appeal the suspension.  Richard Sherman won his appeal for PED use in 2012.

If Edelman’s suspension is retained, it will be a huge blow to Brady and a thinned out Patriots receiving corps. This offseason, New England traded Brandin Cooks, its second-leading receiver and let Danny Amendola walk in free agency. The team did sign Jordan Matthews and is hoping to revitalize Cordarrelle Patterson’s disappointing career to date. But Edelman’s presence is key.

Brady is as close with Edelman as anyone on the team, and the wideout has previously touted the services of the TB12 facility and controversial trainer Alex Guerrero.

Edelman on @OMFonWEEI in Nov: “I come in & do my rehab, then I go up to TB12’s Center & I do more rehab… Tom [Brady] is living proof of how that has helped his career. I am a huge advocate of it. It helps me with a lot of my stuff and I like consulting with Alex (Guerrero)” 🤔 https://t.co/E1tUhkt0aa

— Manish Mehta (@MMehtaNYDN) June 7, 2018

Ah, things are never boring in Patriots Land.