Patriots rumors: Why Julian Edelman needs to retire

One of the most beloved members of the New England Patriots has to be Julian Edelman. The wideout has been great for the franchise but it seems like now is the time for him to say goodbye to the game that he loves.

Edelman has been great for New England. He was the one guy that Tom Brady could constantly rely on to make catches when the Pats needed them the most.

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Who can forget about all the amazing and important catches that Edelman has made over his career? His catch against the Atlanta Falcons in Super Bowl LI reigns supreme. Edelman honestly might have rewritten the laws of physics in order to make that grab.

Prior to 2020, Edelman had three straight seasons where he was targeted more than 100 times.  His best season has to be his 100 catch season in 2019 where he also had 1,117 yards and six touchdowns.

But Edelman dealt with knee issues throughout 2020. The wideout was only able to play in six games and looked like a shell of himself.

Now at the age of 34, Edelman’s prime is long gone. For a receiver, he is classified as an ancient artifact. It seems like father time is showing its dominance over the wideout.

According to the Karen Guregian of the Boston Herald, it is doubtful that Edelman plays the entirety of the 2021 season.

Why New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman needs to retire

It seems as though Edelman’s knee is causing him some serious problems. Seeing that he is a slot receiver, this injury is especially crippling to Edelman.

At this point, the best decision for Edelman would be to retire. It would save the Patriots the pain of having to cut him since he would be a waste of a roster spot.

Edelman deserves to spend his entire career in New England. He should recognize the opportunity that he has to be remembered as a Patriots legend.

If Edelman does retire this year he will be a lock for the Patriots Hall of Fame. While his case for the Pro Football Hall of Fame would be a bit more difficult, it seems likely that Edelman ends up enshrined in Canton.

But if Edelman tries to force himself through one more season it could do a lot of harm. The main focus would be the possible physical effects if he was to further injure himself. Edelman has to think about his life after football.

Also, there is something special about a player spending his entire career with one team. Edelman shouldn’t ruin that to just play one more season. He already has three Super Bowl rings, what more does he need?

So the best decision that Julian Edelman can make is retiring before the start of the 2021 season. He will be remembered as a Patriots legend and ensure that his legacy is just that.