Extension for Edelman
Source: Receiver agrees to new deal
FOXBORO — Julian
Edelman may very well be a Patriot for life.
Edelman and the Patriots agreed to the terms of a multiyear contract extension, according to a source.
The 31-year-old wide receiver was originally signed through 2017, but now his status is secure for quite a bit longer. The exact details of the extension were not disclosed, as Edelman was still waiting to put the pen to paper, which could seemingly happen at any moment. The Pats wrapped up minicamp yesterday and have their Super Bowl ring ceremony at owner Robert
Kraft’s residence tonight. It’s been a terrific week for Edelman. His six connections with Tom Brady in three minicamp practices were tied for the second most on the team. Edelman caught a team-high 10 passes overall yesterday from Brady and backup quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo in team drills.
This will yield a great degree of comfort for Edelman after far more stressful contract negotiations in prior years. As a first-time free agent in 2013, Edelman visited with the Giants for a couple days before re-signing on a one-year, $1.015 million contract.
And despite leading the Patriots with 105 catches for 1,056 yards and six touchdowns in 2013, Bill
Belichick still played hardball during free agency. Edelman returned the favor by taking a two-day visit with his hometown 49ers before reeling in a fouryear, $17 million pact from the Pats.
So this is the first time Edelman has gotten out ahead of the process, and there’s no denying the magnitude of inking their leading pass catcher over three of the past four seasons.
Edelman has also been the league’s premier playoff performer over that time. Since 2013, Edelman has 80 catches for 949 yards and three touchdowns in 10 playoff games. He has twice as many postseason receptions as anyone in the league except for the Seahawks’ Doug Baldwin (52) and twice as many yards as all but five players during that stretch.
And now Edelman has the long-term financial security to boot.
Rowe steps up
Brady was unblemished in minicamp until Eric
Rowe crashed his party. The cornerback darted in front of receiver Danny Amendola, leaped and intercepted a pass down the right sideline for Brady’s lone pick of camp.
Rowe was asked if he ever talks trash to Brady when he gets the better of him during practice, considering those moments are few and far between for every defensive player, and quickly replied no. “(Linebacker) Elandon ( Roberts) told me he did that his rookie year and Tom just exposed him,” Rowe said. “I’d never. I don’t want to say anything to him.”
Rowe was the most active player in coverage this week with three pass breakups in team drills, including an interception. He has completely settled in after joining the Pats last season in a Week 1 trade with the Eagles.
“Now that I’ve got an offseason, it’s better than coming in on the fly during the season when the coaches are trying to get in the game plan and I’m just trying to learn the defense,” Rowe said. “The learning curve has gone up because now I’m here to actually learn the techniques, the ins and outs of the defense. It is a lot better.”
Roll call for Day 3
Malcolm Butler was absent from the final practice of minicamp. The reason remains unclear, but nobody appeared concerned about the cornerback’s absence. It wouldn’t be a surprise if he’s back on the field next week for the final stretch of OTAs.
A source said Butler will definitely be in attendance tonight at the championship ring ceremony.
Duron Harmon participated during some third-string team drills before departing for the lower field for conditioning work. It was the longest the defensive back practiced while recovering from offseason surgery. Linebacker Dont’a Hightower, defensive lineman Alan Branch and receiver
Malcolm Mitchell stuck with their routine of watching the early walkthrough before departing for the lower field.
Defensive end Kony Ealy slowly walked back to the locker room late in practice and didn’t return. He wasn’t accompanied by the training staff, though.
Take that, New York
The Patriots Charitable Foundation awards banquet was held in the Putnam Club at Gillette Stadium. Brady, Edelman and tight end Ron Gronkowski came straight from practice to greet the 26 winners of the 2017 Myra Kraft Community MVP Awards. Foundation president
Josh Kraft was the emcee and the awards were presented by Robert Kraft and director of community affairs Andre Tippett. Josh Kraft concluded the event by inviting all the attendees to take a tour of the team’s Hall of Fame.
“It’s a lot better than the (New York) Jets’ Hall of Fame, which is nonexistent,” Kraft said.