The Official Julian Edelman Bandwagon

[BradyManny]

I want to see what he does on the field in a role that actually requires him to produce before I say he's not worthy of being there. It's really too early to judge.

Perhaps you are right. This is a case where I clearly hope I am wrong, because if Edelman can play on the outside and be effective enough in the slot, he saves us several roster spots.

 

[shmessy]

Edelman isn't as good a receiver as Welker, but he apparently is good enough that the drop-off isn't catastrophic. Another key is that he's quite arguably a better punt returner than Wes. It seems likely to me that Welker won't be back next season and that Edelman is his (younger) replacement.

Finally, Edelman has shown added versatility playing defensive back AND I would presume he's likely the third (emergency) quarterback given his college background. Add it up and his elevation of status makes sense from the team's perspective while not boding well for Welker being a Patriot after this season.

It might end up that Wes shot himself in the foot by playing hardball in contract negotiations (especially at his age) and not signing a team-friendly pact vs. signing the franchise tag.

This.

Plus, the fact that, between the two future contracts, there will probably be about a $5-7million/yr difference meaning the TEAM could use that difference on shoring up other FA's.

That being said, I'd love for them to sign Welker to a multi-year contract if it makes sense for the TEAM.

 

[JJDChE]

Perhaps you are right. This is a case where I clearly hope I am wrong, because if Edelman can play on the outside and be effective enough in the slot, he saves us several roster spots.

That's all I'm saying. Give Julie a chance!

People are acting like he sent Welker to the bench or something. He's gone from what? 90% of offensive snaps to 75%? I mean, c'mon.

 

[shmessy]

Yeah, he's awesome. Pretty much every interception or major screw-up on offense has been on a play where was the main target over the last two years. But hey, he's "worked his way into the starting lineup." Forget that it was Welker's hard work throughout his entire career as the reason why Julie was even given a chance in the NFL.

You will me see rolling my eyes from the rear view mirror of your bandwagon.

Hey, do you know Linda_The_Pats_Fan?

 

[shmessy]

Who?

This is my issue. The hyperbole surrounding Edelman has gotten out of control and surpassed anyone else on the team.

Edelman at 26 and $1.5 million/yr is a better value to the TEAM than Welker at 33 and $8 million/yr.

I don't think there are many at all claiming Edelman is a better WR (or even in the same universe at WR) than Welker at this time.

If this were Major League Baseball or the NBA, the Pats would have Welker, Megatron, Larry Fitzgerald and Victor Cruz lining up with Gronk and Hernandez in the 4 WR/2TE "End of the World Offense".

.....but this is the NFL.

 

[The Scrizz]

Hop aboard, this bus was empty when I got on.

As you'll note under my screen name I have had JE's back all off-season when people were complaining about the stats of a guy who

a: was backing up an all-pro

and

b: playing defense for a good chunk of the year.

I said HA! to all of the Edelman haters who didn't have him on the 53 man roster.

And again I say HA! HA!

 

[brdmaverick]

I'm not 100% sure Wes is better. .

Why is that? Is this based on observations from past years, training camp, preseason, or this year's games that lead to that? Or this is a "in Bill we trust" comment that suggests, 'if Julian is getting more snaps, Bill must think he is better than Wes"?

 

[JJDChE]

Welker has struggled mightily against the Ravens (16 rec, 119 yds, 0 TD in 4 games). This could be a spot for Edelman to shine (or be benched for Branch ).

Heck, I wouldn't be surprised if that's why they brought Branch in. Maybe they've already decided that Edelman outside isn't going to work.

This is all still way up in the air IMO.

 

[Ivan]

Welcome aboard from those who've been here (and have taken alot of crap for it) a few years now.

Can't imagine why?


JULIAN EDELMAN CAREER RECEIVING STATISTICS:

Career 41 11 54 536 9.9 1 40 1.3 13.1


Welker has played like a hall of fame player for the Patriots and this is what you think he should be replaced with.


The 49ers should replace Patrick Willis with Gary Guyton, it's a better bargain.

 

[SyN65]

He is worthy. He's an incredibly fast and shifty player. Electric with the ball in his hands. He's our slot WR of the future.

 

[randomk1]

Wes Welker 4 life.


This bandwagon will face a full on locomotive that there is no stopping of. It is inevitable and it will be a slaughter. Back to D for this quarterback.

 

[JJDChE]

Why is that? Is this based on observations from past years, training camp, preseason, or this year's games that lead to that? Or this is a "in Bill we trust" comment that suggests, 'if Julian is getting more snaps, Bill must think he is better than Wes"?

Just because I haven't seen enough to say unequivocally that Wes is better, even though there's a 99% chance that he is.

No one thought Wes was anything more than a decent dual threat slot receiver/punt returner when we signed him, so it would be kind of short-sighted to prescribe the same assessment to Edelman now, who is at about the same stage in his career as Wes was at that time (though Wes had a few years jump on Julie because he was doing virtually the exact same thing at Texas Tech as he does in the NFL, while Julie was playing a running QB at Kent).

 

[shmessy]

Can't imagine why?


JULIAN EDELMAN CAREER RECEIVING STATISTICS:

Career 41 11 54 536 9.9 1 40 1.3 13.1


Welker has played like a hall of fame player for the Patriots and this is what you think he should be replaced with.


The 49ers should replace Patrick Willis with Gary Guyton, it's a better bargain.

If you've been watching the past few years, you would understand that Edelman is a FOOTBALL PLAYER, not just a WR.

Also, any Patriots fan would understand that the Pats DO NOT pay up for PRIOR performance but for future projections.

The TEAM is the Patriots - - the TEAM that has the most widely used and devastating pass receiving TE combination on the face of this planet. Using up precious cap space on a THIRD SLOT RECEIVER (Gronk/Hernandez and Welker) is ridiculous.

So to sum up: The Patriots DID pay a huge, 8 year long-term contract for their slot receiver. His name is Aaaron Hernandez and he is 22 years old.

Your Patrick Willis for Guyton analogy is piffle - - once again, if it were just about having the best best WR's, then the Patriots would go cheap everywhere else and have Welker, Megaton, Fitzgerald and Cruz......why do anything else in your world?

 

[ctpatsfan77]

You do know his nickname is "Jules," not "Julie," right?

 

[JJDChE]

Can't imagine why?


JULIAN EDELMAN CAREER RECEIVING STATISTICS:

If he's such a crappy receiver why is he seeing the field so much? There are certainly other options, but he's still out there.

 

[JJDChE]

You do know his nickname is "Jules," not "Julie," right?

Yeah, but Julie makes me chuckle.

 

[SyN65]

For the record, I DO believe Welker should start over him because he's just...well...better.

I don't think the Patriots are "punishing" him, or at least...hope not. It would be a terrible (and irresponsible to the fans) thing for a franchise to do to a player who has worked his ass off for you.

I think they're either:

A. Phasing Welker out of the offense, getting ready to trade him
B. Phasing Welker out to prepare Edelman to be the slot WR of the future (more likely)

I can't believe people actually buy the excuse as "game planning" or whatever BS the Pats have been saying. It's not game planning. Welker is not a guy you sit, ever, unless there's a reason behind it. He's never sat before like this in his entire career with the Pats and he's been Brady's favorite target for 5 yrs.

 

[brdmaverick]

Just because I haven't seen enough to say unequivocally that Wes is better, even though there's a 99% chance that he is.

No one thought Wes was anything more than a decent dual threat slot receiver/punt returner when we signed him, so it would be kind of short-sighted to prescribe the same assessment to Edelman now, who is at about the same stage in his career as Wes was at that time (though Wes had a few years jump on Julie because he was doing virtually the exact same thing at Texas Tech as he does in the NFL, while Julie was playing a running QB at Kent).

100% vs. 99%, fair enough

My concern was that going into the season (and last season for that matter) Wes Welker was considered by many on this board to be the greatest slot receiver in NFL history. It's just crazy to see how much that has changed just two weeks into the season.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

You do know his nickname is "Jules," not "Julie," right?

Damn! You figured out that this was really a passive-aggressive, damn with faint praise thread, eh?

 

[JJDChE]

I don't necessarily think it's a bad thing is Welker 'only' catches 85 balls. I think we do need some diversity in the offense.