Rob Gronkowski on Julian Edelman: ‘Julian is a warrior’

New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman is clearly the focal point of the team’s offensive attack, as star quarterback Tom Brady trusts the scrappy receiver more than anyone else on the team right now. While Edelman has enough speed to stretch defenses if asked, the most important role he can play on the offense right now is as the reliable, chain-moving guy, especially since Danny Amendola has clearly been lost in the shuffle. After catching 105 passes last season, Edelman is off to another great start this year with 22 receptions for 260 yards and a touchdown, and he’s also gotten involved in the running game with four carries for 35 yards.

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In a narrow victory over the Oakland Raiders yesterday, Edelman was the Patriots most important player on offense with ten catches for 84 yards in an important, possession-type day. He’s a tough, important piece on the team, and his work ethic is outstanding. In fact, he tries so hard to improve his connection with Brady to the point of perfection (these guys are both notorious perfectionists and work-a-holics) that he humbly- and, perhaps, laughably- stated that the connection needs to get better, citing just 16 points scored yesterday.

Whatever, Jules. Patriots star TE Rob Gronkowski knows just how awesome Edelman is, and he called the team’s inside-outside aficionado a “warrior” (our Modi Ramos prefers the affectionate nickname “Minitron”).

Gronkowski said, via the Providence Journal’s underrated Mark Daniels, “Oh, Julian is a warrior. He has the ball, he goes full-speed — practice, game, whatever it is. He’s a warrior. He’s one of the hardest workers I’ve been around. Definitely love playing with him and get motivated by him with how hard he works.”

As Gronk can attest, Edelman is one of the hardest workers around, and his remarks about needing better chemistry reflect that.