![]() As anticipation built Friday night, Kraft introduced the combination by noting that it was the amount of time on the clock when the Patriots first possessed the ball in the third quarter after falling behind 28-3, and also the same amount of time on the clock in the fourth quarter when linebacker Dont'a Hightower strip-sacked Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan. (While the ceremony was private, the following information is based on my conversations with those at the event.)Įach ring was enclosed in a case that included a three-digit combination lock, and once owner Robert Kraft revealed the combination, everyone could open theirs at the same time (in the past, there was simply a countdown to when the rings could be opened). One aspect of the Patriots' private Super Bowl ring ceremony on Friday that was different from the previous four - and added a unique twist to what was being celebrated - was how each player received his precious hardware. Other thoughts and notes around the New England Patriots and the NFL:Ģ. "So it's always nice when it does, even when you get a feeling that it might have been hard for them to do it." "For a time, you're thinking maybe it won't happen," Frank said. When contract talks began about two months ago, Frank and Julian talked about how they never wanted to see the talks get to the point where anger or jealousy entered the equation, because the Patriots have a reputation for hard-line stances. ![]() One of the Edelmans' favorite sayings is, "The early bird catches the worm and the night owl sees it all." That is in reference to the round-the-clock work ethic required to succeed, and explains why Julian is often the first Patriots player at the facility each day, and also why he values a hard-driving environment like New England's in which players compete at everything.įrank Edelman also talked about their appreciation for an organization that gave Julian his NFL start by drafting him and developing him. The culture on both teams was also similar. Winning obviously helps and both teams did that. ![]() There was a special camaraderie on that team, a loving bond between the players that also extended to coaches and families. In some ways, the situation reminds Frank Edelman of where his son's football journey began, with the Redwood City (California) 49ers Pop Warner team. Julian, 31, reinforced those thoughts in a tweet after news of the extension became public. ![]() There are also a lot of off-field opportunities if you stay in Boston. "He loves Boston and everything about the Patriots. Boston is also all about what Julian is you just go to work and grind it out," Frank said. "Boston loves their athletes, and if you're in, you're in. The conversation confirmed what I thought: Edelman pushed hard for the deal because of how happy he is with the Patriots. That emotional exchange highlighted the strong bond between them, and with that in mind, I reached out to Frank late last week after Julian signed a two-year extension with the Patriots that gives him a chance to earn a maximum of $19.5 million over the next three seasons. "You gotta believe," Julian said as he locked in tight. Just hold on to Daddy," Frank Edelman said in that moment. One of the most poignant moments in the immediate aftermath of Super Bowl LI, as Patriots players and their families celebrated on the field, was receiver Julian Edelman locked in a long embrace with his father Frank. The Julian Edelman story: When a player falls in love with a city and teamįOXBOROUGH, Mass. You have reached a degraded version of because you're using an unsupported version of Internet Explorer.įor a complete experience, please upgrade or use a supported browser
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