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New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, left, celebrates his touchdown pass to Julian Edelman, right, in the first half of an NFL football game against the New York Jets, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2019, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, left, celebrates his touchdown pass to Julian Edelman, right, in the first half of an NFL football game against the New York Jets, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2019, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)Elise Amendola/Associated Press

Tom Brady Has High Praise for Julian Edelman; Talks 'Thursday Night Football'

Megan Armstrong
Oct 7, 2019

Julian Edelman led the New England Patriots in receiving Sunday afternoon with 110 yards and a touchdown on eight receptions as the team beat Washington 33-7 to remain undefeated.

The reigning Super Bowl MVP's efforts did not go unnoticed by quarterback Tom Brady, who told WEEI'sย The Greg Hill Showย Monday morning that Edelman is "one of the best players in the history of the franchise." Brady also lauded Edelman for his toughness, as the 33-year-old has been playing through a chest injury he suffered in Week 3 (h/t Ryan Hannable).

Aย Thursday Night Football matchup with theย 2-3 New York Giantsย shouldn't slow the Pats down.

"I don't mind them," Brady said of Thursday night contests (h/t Hannable). "I've played quite a few over the course of my career. ... It's pretty cool on the back end to rest and recover."

In contrast, Los Angeles Rams running back Todd Gurley said the following last week, perย ESPN'sย Lindsey Thiry:ย "You know how I feel about Thursday night games. I feel like they are the dumbest thing ever."

Gurley isn't alone.

Notably,ย Richard Shermanย wrote an articleย for The Players' Tribune in 2016, titled, "Why I Hate Thursday Night Football."ย Othersย had voiced their frustrationsย as well, includingย Duane Brown,ย Josh Sitton andย Jon Beason.

Brady chose not to chime in.

Entering their Week 6 matchup with the Giants, the Pats have outscored opponents 155-34, and Edelman has been Brady's favored weapon, with aย team-leadingย 41 targets, 29 receptions and 336 yards. His two receiving touchdowns are second to Phillip Dorsett's three.

Edelman, drafted in theย seventh round in 2009,ย is Brady's longest-tenured receiver.

"All I can say is whoever in the Pats organization who pushed to draft Julian Edelman should be pensioned off at high 6 figures,"ย Bob Ryanย of theย Boston Globeย tweeted Sunday.

With his performance against Washington, Edelman passed Troy Brown on New England's all-time touchdown list:

Edelman was also active for the Patriots' 16-10 win over Buffalo in Week 4 but posted only four catches for 30 yards.

All signs indicate Edelman will play Thursday night. To Brady's point, he and the team will then have 11 days of recovery time before facing the New York Jets.