Patriots Julian Edelman: Trip to Israel A Model For Athletes
By Blake Yagman
New England Patriots star Wide Receiver Julian Edelman is known best in the football world for his versatility. A rare package of quickness, intellect and grit, the former college quarterback has quietly emerged as one of the best receivers in the National Football League. The Patriots’ Julian Edelman is a special player.
When the Patriots drafted Julian Edelman out of Kent State University in 2009, he was an unheralded and unknown prospect. Edelman was not invited to the NFL Scouting Combine, which is where players are given the chance to try out for teams before the draft, and had only been known to the Patriots through privately arranged workouts. (Bless you Bill Belichick.)
Edelman, picked in the last round of the 2009 NFL Draft, was considered nothing more than a gimicky-“wildcat QB” option by some analysts. Little did they know, Julian Edelman arrived in Foxboro, Massachusetts with much, much bigger plans.Since Edelman’s inconspicuous entry into the NFL, he has parlayed his knowledge of the game (from his time playing quarterback) into making himself into an elite receiver.
Through hard work, Julian Edelman was able to become a key cog in the New England Patriots Super Bowl championship team. Today, Edelman is the Robin to Tom Brady’s Batman.
But what makes Julian Edelman so truly special is his work off the field. Edelman has been a staple in the New England/Boston-area Best Buddies organization as part of “Team Tom Brady.” Recently, Julian Edelman diversified his talents yet again; adding international ambassador to his resume.
Julian Edelman is one of few players in the NFL history with Jewish heritage. Over the past two years, Edelman has become focused on learning as much as he can about his heritage; in 2014, he wore a United States-Israel lapel pin on his jersey during a game. Edelman’s focus on his Judaism, at a time of increasing anti-semitism and violence in the Middle East, speaks volumes that should reverberate with athletes across the United States.
In 2015, Edelman traveled to Israel on a program called “Birthright,” which allows non-Israelis the opportunity to travel there and experience the culture. Flanked by a group of mostly college students, Julian Edelman visited various religious sites in Israel and even tossed around the football with some local children.
Professional athletes have a capacity to push progress and heal wounds that most in the public eye do not. While Julian Edelman’s trip to Israel is wonderful for the Jewish community (as I myself am part of it), what it really does is help to improve America’s standing in the international community.
American citizens should not fear international travel; such fear impedes human progress and sends a message that our standing across the world is one of intentional blindness and ignorance. Sports are one aspect of American life that helps to connect our society internationally with those that would otherwise struggle to understand our way of life.
When Julian Edelman travels to Israel, he not only represents himself, but the National Football League, New England Patriots, various brands which endorse him (like PUMA) and American football fans. And, during a time where the football (and the United States) reputation has been bruised as of late, we need all the international goodwill we can get. If athletes have the money and time to travel and serve as an ambassador to the game and our culture, they absolutely should. As is the case with Edelman, they can represent some of the best our country has to offer.
P.S. I would be remiss if I didn’t say… Happy 30th Birthday to Julian Edelman on behalf of Chowder and Champions. Keep it locked here for continued Patriots, Red Sox and New England sports news. Yalla!