Life for Tom Brady and life for Julian Edelman is much different this offseason.
The 43-year-old quarterback is prepping for his 14th conference championship and the 34-year-old receiver is contemplating retirement after his first losing season in the league. Edelman played in a career-low six games this season after getting knee surgery halfway through.
When Brady was with the New England Patriots, the duo had an unbreakable bond and it was apparent to everyone watching. Now that Brady’s with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Edelman detailed their relationship.
“Yeah, we’re kind of like Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell. We never got married. We may have had a couple of different relationships. But we’ll always love each other. We have a couple kids,” Edelman told Patriots Wire this month.
He built upon that analogy on Barstool’s Pardon My Take
“It’s kind of like a relationship or a marriage where you grew apart but you still love each other. You still love each other. You may have a couple kids. We have three kids,” Edelman said, likely about the Super Bowl victories. “So there’s still communication of what you guys are going through and how you’re doing. But you’ve both got your own lives that you have to keep on going towards. That’s kind of how it’s like. I want to see those guys do well. It’s awesome seeing Gronk and Tommy doing well and playing and making big plays. Right now it’s obviously definitely weird, but it is what it is.”
Just because there’s distance, it doesn’t mean Edelman respects Brady any less.
“My respect level for Tom goes up each year, the older I get,” Edelman said. “I’m 34 turning 35 and it gets more and more difficult when you compound years in this league. To see him going out at 43, playing really good football, it’s inspiring. That’s what it is.
“I don’t know what his plan is, but knowing him, it’s all when that little fire turns off in his little chest, and I don’t think that thing is going to be turning off here soon. That’s the one thing you can pull away from Tom. I’ve played with a lot of guys. His competitive stamina is second to zero. To no one. Absolutely no one. He comes in every day with a purpose. Trying to improve something. He eats, breathes and sleeps this stuff. I’ve never doubted him and I don’t think anyone should. So I think he’ll go when he wants to go.”
If Brady defeats Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers, he’ll continue to breeze past NFL legends, arriving in his tenth Super Bowl appearance.
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