Julian Edelman and Tom Brady had a special connection for years with the New England Patriots and won three Super Bowls together, and the two appear to have remained close even with their playing days behind them.
As strong as their bond was and has been, you don’t win three Super Bowls without going at each other once in a while, and Edelman recently revealed what times were like when he would get mad at Brady.
Edelman and former teammate Rob Gronkowski have launched a podcast called “Dudes on Dudes,” and the two discussed the times they were angriest at their quarterback.
The wide receiver recalled a kick return from his rookie season.
“It was my first punt return. I see Tom on the sideline. He was like coaching me up on how to return a punt. … I’m looking at him like, ‘This guy has never done this. He does not know what I’m feeling right now.’ I was so annoyed with him,” Edelman said.
Edelman reiterated he was “so annoyed” with Brady when he did that and immediately ran the punt back for a touchdown out of frustration.
Gronkowski said his moment of being most annoyed with Brady also happened when he was a rookie and couldn’t get outside a defender on a corner route and Brady told him if he never got outside the defender he’d never throw him the ball.
The tight end then added how Brady stood up in a film meeting and said, “Gronk, I’m f—— done throwing you the ball,” which made him sad before eventually firing him up and making him want to be better.
In both examples, Brady’s tough love and leadership seemed to work, which is maybe why he has seven Super Bowl rings.
