Edelman grabs share of blame
Owns mistake, hopes to move forward
PATRIOTS NOTEBOOK
Addressing his suspension for the first time, Patriots receiver Julian Edelman accepted responsibility for the four-game ban that will keep him out for the first month of the regular season.
Edelman received the punishment for violating the NFL policy on performance-enhancing drugs. He is eligible to return for the Patriots’ Week 5 Thursday night game against Indianapolis.
“Obviously, you’re disappointed with it, but I have to follow the protocols a little better and make sure this never happens again,” Edelman said following yesterday’s practice, the third of Patriots training camp. “I’m accountable for my actions. Ultimately, my focus now is getting my knee right and going out and trying to play football at a high level. Like I keep on saying, it was a hell of a year to just sit and watch your team go to a Super Bowl and play without you and you’re on the couch. It was tough, but I’m excited to be out here, and I’m excited to work on my game.”
Edelman declined to discuss the specifics of his suspension.
“You know what? That’s in the past, and I’m just moving on forward,” Edelman said. “I already addressed it, and you guys know me, short memory.”
Edelman suffered a torn ACL in his right knee during the Patriots’ third preseason game last summer. He underwent surgery in September. Now 10 months removed from surgery, Edelman is aiming to “build confidence through constant repetition.” He has not worn a brace this summer.
“There’s some things that feel great, there’s some things I’ve got to work (on),” Edelman said. “I tell you all that I feel great right now, and you don’t know how tomorrow feels. It was a major surgery, and we all know that. I’m confident enough to go out and compete and that’s the exciting thing about it.”
Edelman has trained with Tom Brady’s body coach, Alex Guerrero, in the past. When news of Edelman’s failed test was reported, Guerrero issued a statement to deny any involvement.
Asked about his relationship with Guerrero, Edelman said, “What’s in the past is in the past. I love Alex. Ultimately, I’m worried about going out here and playing football. I’m not worried about making a headline on something.”
Running the race
There’s no clear favorite for the No. 1 running back job, perhaps because the Patriots don’t plan on using a true lead back.
“It’s a fun place to play,” said running back Rex Burkhead, who is entering his second year with the club. “We’ve got competition everywhere. It brings out the best in me. That’s what attracts me to here, is that it brings out your best abilities. It doesn’t let you settle or get comfortable. It really makes you come out here and compete every day.”
Burkhead, James White, Sony Michel, Jeremy Hill, and Mike Gillislee all received reps at yesterday’s practice.
Michel, the heralded firstround pick out of Georgia, coughed up a fumble during 11-on-11s. As he coasted into the secondary, Michel was met by safety Damarius Travis. The second-year defender didn’t go for the strip, but he bumped into Michel and the ball popped loose. Michel was sent to run a lap.
He rebounded later in practice, punching in an impressive 1-yard touchdown. The play appeared to have been blown up in the backfield, but Michel kept his feet churning and surged into the end zone.
No setback for Britt
Kenny Britt was not on the field for yesterday’s session, but the receiver did not suffer a setback with his injured hamstring, according to a source.
The Pats opted to keep the 6-foot-3, 225-pound Britt inside for the day so he could focus on treatment. The team is hoping to have Britt back on the field within the next few days, the source said. His hamstring injury occurred during June’s minicamp. He remains on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list . . . .
Defensive end Trey Flowers left late in practice after suffering an apparent injury during a goal line drill. He pressed a towel to his left eye as he walked off the field . ...
Third-year receiver Malcolm Mitchell was on the field for the second straight day. Mitchell, who has battled knee problems, did not participate in team or positional drills. He took part in warmups before heading to the lower field for conditioning . ... Offensive tackle Marcus Cannon
was present after leaving Friday’s practice. Cannon’s exit Friday was not injury related, according to a source.