Julian Edelman released & retires

[Ralphwiggum]

In terms of retired numbers, I think 12 and 87 are the only automatics, with 24 a possibility. Other than that I don't think they'll retire any of the rest.

54 you could argue Bruschi or High, I don't think it'll be retired for either. 11 is being discussed above. If Seymour ever makes the HOF I could possibly see 93. These guys will all ultimately get inducted into the Pats HOF but I don't see retired numbers given the way the team has gone about things.

 

[MuppetAsteriskTalk]

I don't think too many here are arguing #11 should be retired for Bledsoe or Jules. Just some disagreement in who is the greater #11.

 

[jsinger121]

I’m retiring Brady and only Brady. That’s it.

 

[RedOctober3829]

I’m retiring Brady and only Brady. That’s it.

I'm retiring Gronk's number too. He's the best ever to play at that position in NFL history. Fences will be mended.

 

[Jungleland]

While I'm with everyone else that it's on the wrong side of the line, I wouldn't really have a problem retiring 11 as a combo for both of them. I completely understand that you have to be choosy about which numbers to retire, but the team just wrapped up a virtually unrepeatable 20 year run of success. The team has had two dynasties - not crazy to me that you'd have a couple retirees for each.

As far as 11 vs 11, I think it has to go to Edelman. I'm 32, Bledsoe is literally my first football memory and I have no opposition to the argument that he changed the fate of the franchise and had the better counting stat career. But the team has two rings they literally don't win without Edelman and a third where he was a key contributor for the season. He's in the top 4 most important players of dynasty 2 for me.

Separately, while it seems they won't, 24 should absolutely be retired imo.

 

[Hoya81]

It’s probably a moot point since they haven’t retired a number since Armstrong in 2001. They’ve made an effort to expand membership in the team hall of fame since they opened the physical space at Gillette, so aside from #12 I doubt we see many numbers retired going forward. Even with the changes to the uniform rules, they still need almost 70 numbers between the active roster and practice squads.

 

[Jimbodandy]

I think the best comp for JE is Troy Brown — both above-average WRs and fan favorites who won three rings, but were never mentioned in any serious “best WR in the league” discussion and clearly won’t be getting into Canton without buying a ticket. I didn’t recall any upset when Troy Brown’s #80 was handed out — but they waited several years, and the guy they gave it to (Amendola) was an established player, not a random midseason pickup.

So I guess I can understand the pique. Sort of. For me, I don’t care about any numbers besides 12, and even then, I’d be more upset about putting that kind of expectations on a new guy than denigrating Brady’s legacy.

I don't care much about retiring numbers or not. Just want to add that Troy and Julian being slots was always going to depress production numbers. Tough to hold being a great slot against a guy, like comparing the WAR of a good starting pitcher against a fantastic reliever/closer. There are guys with way more receiving yards than Julian and Welker that weren't as impactful.

I'm almost 53. Drew was more important to the trajectory of this franchise and belongs in the HOF and all that. But Julian was a huge cog in the offense for 3 winners. There are guys ahead of him like Randall Cobb and Shawn Jefferson who simply weren't as good. They just played a different position. The Yankees wouldn't give back Mo Rivera's career for Mark Buehrle or Jerry Koosman either.

And Troy was on the 12th hole during the second bowl run and still caught 11 balls for first downs in those playoffs. My favorite player ever, so I'm biased.

 

[Morgan's Magic Snowplow]

While we’re sharing Bledsoe memories…I’ll always remember that game winning TD pass to Michael Timpson to beat Miami in OT in week 16 of Drew’s rookie year. That was an electric atmosphere even though the team was going home. We knocked Miami out of playoff contention and it was just this “holy shit” moment that really crystallized the idea that this might not be the same old Patriots with Drew slinging it and the Tuna running the show. The team itself was really happy when everybody rushed the field after the play. You could tell the players felt like something new was going on.

Edit: Found the video. It was classic Bledsoe, stands tall and hardly moves in the pocket, drops a deep dime despite getting hammered by the d lineman.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zuATsnCqCro

 

[NobodyInteresting]

Dumb question--can you retire the number for BOTH of them? And if not, why not?

Drules Bledelman is a great name to retire

 

[lexrageorge]

It's not easy to retire numbers in football, unless and until they allow 3 digit uniform numbers. The Patriots Hall of Fame seems like the best place to honor the team's greats. Bledsoe is already there; Edelman will definitely get there, especially as he will not be competing with Brady or Gronk during his eligibility year.

I've posted before about a pending logjam of worthy candidates in the next few years.

The arrival of Parcells and Bledsoe was, IMO, a game changer for the franchise, which had essentially become irrelevant in most fans minds.

 

[PedroKsBambino]

Celtics have retired same number twice for two different people - 18 is retired for Dave Cowens but also Jim Loscutoff

 

[worm0082]

Dickey/Berra 8 with the Yankees. And I think eventually Evans/Manny 24 will happen.

If it were up to me I’d put up 4, 11 (both Edelman & Bledsoe) 12, 14, 24, 54, 80, 87

 

[leftfieldlegacy]

If a shortage of available numbers is the issue, they should just induct palyers into the Patriots HoF with the number each wore even if there are duplicates. They should only retire the number if the player is inducted into the NFL HoF. 73 and 40 so far with 12 and 87 soon to follow.

 

[jmcc5400]

While we’re sharing Bledsoe memories…I’ll always remember that game winning TD pass to Michael Timpson to beat Miami in OT in week 16 of Drew’s rookie year. That was an electric atmosphere even though the team was going home. We knocked Miami out of playoff contention and it was just this “holy shit” moment that really crystallized the idea that this might not be the same old Patriots with Drew slinging it and the Tuna running the show. The team itself was really happy when everybody rushed the field after the play. You could tell the players felt like something new was going on.

Edit: Found the video. It was classic Bledsoe, stands tall and hardly moves in the pocket, drops a deep dime despite getting hammered by the d lineman.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zuATsnCqCro

I’ve always marked that game as when the franchise’s fortunes changed. I don’t think a fan base has ever been happier or optimistic about a 5-11 team.

 

[Kliq]

While we’re sharing Bledsoe memories…I’ll always remember that game winning TD pass to Michael Timpson to beat Miami in OT in week 16 of Drew’s rookie year. That was an electric atmosphere even though the team was going home. We knocked Miami out of playoff contention and it was just this “holy shit” moment that really crystallized the idea that this might not be the same old Patriots with Drew slinging it and the Tuna running the show. The team itself was really happy when everybody rushed the field after the play. You could tell the players felt like something new was going on.

Edit: Found the video. It was classic Bledsoe, stands tall and hardly moves in the pocket, drops a deep dime despite getting hammered by the d lineman.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zuATsnCqCro

I've never seen that clip before; the crowd reaction is incredible. Just a sustained cheer of enthusiasm ringing throughout the stadium. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Harry Hooper]

If a shortage of available numbers is the issue, they should just induct palyers into the Patriots HoF with the number each wore even if there are duplicates. They should only retire the number if the player is inducted into the NFL HoF. 73 and 40 so far with 12 and 87 soon to follow.

Given the Pats HoF, I wouldn't retire any numbers. Your proposal works too, though

 

[snowmanny]

Dickey/Berra 8 with the Yankees. And I think eventually Evans/Manny 24 will happen.

If it were up to me I’d put up 4, 11 (both Edelman & Bledsoe) 12, 14, 24, 54, 80, 87

I'd retire 75 before most of those.