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Patriots gridiron news: Julian Edelman won’t back down from NFL appeal

By Tarringo Basile-vaughan

FOXBORO, MA - JANUARY 14: Julian Edelman #11 of the New England Patriots looks on prior to the AFC Divisional Playoff Game against the Houston Texans at Gillette Stadium on January 14, 2017 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
FOXBORO, MA - JANUARY 14: Julian Edelman #11 of the New England Patriots looks on prior to the AFC Divisional Playoff Game against the Houston Texans at Gillette Stadium on January 14, 2017 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /
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Facing a four-game suspension for violating the NFL’s banned substance policy, New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman is expected to go down fighting. 

In another round of the New England Patriots versus the NFL grudge match, Julian Edelman is expected to fight hard in his appeal against the league for his four-game suspension for violating the league’s performance-enhancing drug policy.

With the appeal scheduled to be heard Monday, the Patriots relentless wide receiver is expected to challenge how the NFL has handle his case, according to a report by ESPN’s Dan Graziano.

Just this month, Edelman tested positive for what turned out to be an unrecognizable substance.  While that in itself has created raised eyebrows about the suspension, the 32-year-old receiver is also expected to challenge how test results were handled and delivered.  That could be the main reason for Julian Edelman to be exonerated.

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If there is any doubt about Edelman possibly winning the appeal, let’s go back to 2012.  Then-Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman scored a rare victory against the league when he argued and proved that his urine specimen was not handled correctly.

It is that argument, and not necessarily the unrecognizable substance, that could lift Edelman’s four-game suspension and have him back on track for a successful comeback from his 2017 season-ending ACL injury.

The court of public appeal

With damage already being done as far as Julian Edelman’s reputation goes, the outcome of the appeal would weigh greatly in the legacy he has created as a member of the New England Patriots.

Though Edelman has apologized for to fans and the organization, he also made it clear that he is mystified about how his test came up positive.  They all say that you would say, but former NFL player and ESPN host Mike Golic has given some credence to Edelman’s argument.

Following the report by MMQB that the substance wasn’t immediately recognizable, Golic went off on the NFL for how the case was handled.

Must Read: How Julian Edelman will defy ‘cheater’ label

"“There’s no way I buy this,” Golic said during a segment on ESPN’s Golic and Wingo.  “There’s no conceivable way you can sell me on this one that they don’t know what it is, yet they suspended him for four games.  I mean, how is the union…how have we not heard from them?  How are they not screaming from the highest mountain top right now saying, ‘Wait a minute, you what?’  That, to me, is an impossibility.”"

In any event, don’t expect Julian Edelman to go down without swinging.  As Graziano further states in the report, Edelman’s addition of New York-based attorney Alex Spiro to his defense team could mean the receiver is willing to take his appeal to the federal court if he loses the case at the arbitration level.

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As a player who never gives up on the field, that same fight will be necessary for the New England Patriots to finally win one against the NFL off the field.

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