The Patriots’ off-season overhaul continued Monday.
The power of the AFC East veteran receiver Julian Edelman’s contract terminated with a failed physical designation, NFL Network first reported.
Edelman has missed the last ten games of the 2020 season while recovering from knee surgery, and the Boston Herald reported last week that there was doubt in Foxborough that the 34-year-old could play the entire 2021 season.
ESPN.com reported this Edelman considers retiring and this deal could be the first official step on the way out of the sport.
Coach and de facto general manager Bill Belichick rebuilt the off-season from an offense that struggled last season during a 7-9 campaign, his first in 20 years without Tom Brady as quarterback.
The team added receivers Nelson Agholor and Kendrick Bourne, along with Henry Henry and Jonnu Smith, to provide more weapons for fullback Cam Newton.
Edelman is close friends with Brady and has been desperately trying to convince him to stay in New England this past season. If Edelman chooses to continue playing, it will be speculated that he could sign with the Buccaneers.
In his 12-year career with the Patriots, Edelman had 620 catches for 6,820 yards and 36 touchdowns.