It's Julian Edelmans Birthday Today

a blog by La Kifo

In honor of the second greatest New England Patriot, and my favorite player of all time here are some of #11's best moments.

Danny and Jules playing police.

2014 AFC Championship

Beautiful play, at a beautiful time. 

Here's Jules mic'd up a year later, in the AFC divisional round against the Chiefs.

There is an argument to make for Julian Edelman being the greatest Patriot of all time. Out of respect for TB12, I will say he is 1b. I found out about #11 in his first professional game. Preseason 2009, it was the Patriots at the Eagles. There was 11 minutes on the clock when the Eagles punted the ball to Jules. He sprung into full speed almost immediately making a few small cuts leading him to end zone. At that moment I loved him. 

Year after year, I kept saying, Julian Edelman is the next Welker. He's gonna be huge. Honestly, I don't know how or why I was so excited about him. He had swag, and an unreal ability to cut then accelerate. He was gritty, time and time again he would dance around the sideline only to lower a shoulder into a defender who thought he was gonna step out of bounds. He was everything I wanted to be in a football player and more.

A few years would pass from that introductory punt return and Jules role on the team would exponentially increase. He is the ultimate weapon, #11 lined up on the defensive side more than once. While he was not a true defender, he did have his moments racking up 15 tackles in one season. I don't care what you want to tell me, but that was incredible. 

Now here we are, The Patriots assume their rightful place on top of the NFLs elite, with Julian Edelman sitting upon the throne marked, "The best slot receiver". Again, say what you want, I don't give a fuck. Julian Edelman is the greatest slot receiver in the game right now, he might even be the best all around player in the NFL. 

Name another guy that can do what he does? There has never been another player in my lifetime that could produce as a receiver, defender, punt returner, kick returner, quarterback, and running back. All that versatility from a 7th round draft pick, who played Quarterback at Kent State.  It has been nothing short of an honor, watching #11 play.

I don't know what New England would have done without you, I don't know what I would have without you.

Happy Birthday Julian.

PS. If he decided to retire tomorrow, I wouldn't rest until the Krafts hung #11 up and retired the jersey.