The Boston Globe - 07.09.2019

SEPTEMBER 7, 2019 3

By Jim McBride

GLOBE STAFF

FOXBOROUGH —JulianEdelman

enjoys returning punts.

ThePatriotsveteranreceiverwanted

to make that abundant-

ly clear when asked Fri-

day about the possibili-

ty of rookieGunner

Olszewskiassumingthosedutiesinan

effort to reduce Edelman’s wear and

tear.

“I love returning punts, and if the

coach asks me to return a punt, I’ll re-

turn a punt,’’ said Edelman, who is one

of the NFL’s all-time best at punt return-

ing. “But if the coach has Gunner back

there, I’m excited for him.

“But I like returning punts.’’

No concern about being aWally

Pipp?

“Who’s that?’’ Edelman asked with

knowing smirk. “How many Super

Bowls does Wally Pipp have?”

Olszewski, a college cornerback and

returner, has drawn natural compari-

sons to Edelman because of his position

flexibility. He played offense, defense,

and special teams in the Patriots’ exhibi-

tion finale, helping him secure a spot on

the 53-man roster.

Edelman declined to get into com-

parisons or scouting reports on Olsze-

wski, deflecting those chores toNickCa-

serioandBillBelichick, but it’s clear

he’s a fan.

“I love Gunner,’’ said Edelman. “He’s

got a great attitude. He comes in, he

works hard. We’re excited to have him

and I’m excited for his first game.’’

Edelman, who missed most of camp

with a broken thumb, was often spotted

mentoring some of the younger players

during practices and games. He would

help Olszewski andBraxtonBerrios

with their positioning and strategy on

punt returns during exhibition games.

“Julian’s got such a competitive atti-

tude that I think it just rubs off on ev-

erybody,’’ Belichick said when asked

about Edelman’s mentoring skills. “Ev-

erybody sees how hard he works, how

competitive he is, and it just makes you

want to do the same.’’

MessagefromGordon

JoshGordonis not going to dwell on

the past, and he hopes to be judged on

his future.

The Patriots receiver issued a signed

statement on social media Friday after-

noon just moments after saying he

would speak to reporters after Sunday’s

game against the Steelers.

“Before the 2019 season starts, I

would like to address an issue that arose

toward the end of last season,’’ Gordon

wrote. “It’s been well documented that I

have battled substance abuse for quite

some time. Unfortunately, I did not take

the time to focus on a solution to my

problem until this past year.

“I am eternally grateful for the con-

stant support from the NFL, NFLPA,

and the Patriots organization. I also

want to thank my family, friends and all

the fans who supported me while I ad-

dressed this issue.

“Going forward, I will not be discuss-

ing the details of my past. I plan to focus

on the present and getting better every

day. I hope people will judge me on

what I do now and in the future. I look

forward to being a member of the Patri-

ots once again this season and doing my

part by contributing on and off the

field.’’

Gordon was recently reinstated by

NFL commissionerRogerGoodellafter

being suspended last December for vio-

lating the terms of his conditional rein-

statement. It was the latest in a string of

bans for Gordon, who missed the 2015

and 2016 seasons because of suspen-

sions.

Gordon, who has received a ton of

support from his teammates via social

media, played in the Patriots’ final exhi-

bition game and appears poised to be a

contributor Sunday night.

“Josh has worked hard,’’ Belichick

said Friday morning, before Gordon’s

post. “He’s created an opportunity for

himself, but you know, I’m excited for

our entire team.’’

Bodinereleased

The Patriots released newly acquired

centerRussBodineFriday morning and

re-signed guard/centerJamesFerentz,

who had been released Aug. 31.

New England sent a sixth-round pick

to Buffalo in exchange for Bodine, a

sixth-year veteran. It’s entirely possible

Bodine could return at some point.

Ferentz, who has been with the orga-

nization since the start of 2017, is more

familiar with the offense, and his flexi-

bility likely was part of the reason he

was brought back.

ElatedElandon

ElandonRobertssaid it was both

“humbling” and “an honor” to be

named a Patriots captain for the first

time.

“It was a great feeling to be respected

on that level,’’ said the fourth-year line-

backer. “I’m just doing what my job is,

and being a captain is just another job

to do, and I’m going take it with pride

and respect the position.’’

Belichick called Roberts “one of the

most unselfish players” on the team and

said he’s come a long way during his pro

career.

“He’ll do whatever he can to help the

team in any way,’’ said the coach. “He’s

also one of the toughest and most physi-

cal players on the team as well. He really

is a tempo setter, an impact hitter, but

his intelligence and his awareness and

how hard he studies the game — foot-

ball is very important to him, and that’s

reflected in the way he approaches it

and the way he plays it.’’

Lookinggood

Edelman isn’t concerned aboutTom

Brady’splay falling off as the 42-year-

old quarterback starts his 20th season.

“He looks like Tom Brady,” said Edel-

man. “It’s a testament to how hard he

works, not only in the season but in the

offseason, how he takes care of himself.

He looks great. You’d have to ask [offen-

sive coordinator]Josh[McDaniels] for

more, but catching the ball from him, he

looks like Tom Brady. I’m more focused

on how I’m going to look, but Tom looks

good.”... New England had 100 percent

attendance for the final practice of the

week, a shorts-and-shells session. Re-

ceiverDemaryiusThomas(hamstring),

tightMattLaCosse(ankle), and safety

ObiMelifonwu(ankle) were listed as

limited in practice and questionable for

the game... Steelers safetySeanDavis

did not participate in practice and is

doubtful. LinebackerMarkBarronwas a

full participant.

Olszewski has a big fan in Edelman

PATRIOTS

NOTEBOOK

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Star receiverAntonioBrown
returned to the Oakland Raid-
ers on Friday after a one-day
absence and is set to play the
season opener after apologizing
following a run-in with general
managerMikeMayockthat
had put him in jeopardy of be-
ing suspended.
‘‘I’m excited to be out here
today,’’ Brown said in a brief
statement after practice. ‘‘I
want to apologize to my team-
mates, the organization.
Enough talk now. I’m excited to
be out here with my teammates
and grateful for all the fans and
I’m excited to be a part of the
Raiders and see you guys soon.’’
Brown addressed the team
earlier in a meeting, a day after
he was sent home from the fa-
cility on Thursday after a con-
frontation the previous day at
practice with Mayock. Brown
had posted a letter earlier
Wednesday from Mayock de-
tailing nearly $54,000 in fines
for missing a practice and
walkthrough.
‘‘We had a team meeting
where Antonio addressed the
team,’’ quarterbackDerekCarr
said. ‘‘We were up there with
him, a couple of captains. We
communicated back and forth
when that was done we were all
excited to move forward.’’
ESPN reported that the
Raiders were planning to sus-
pend Brown over the incident.
Teams have the right under the
collective bargaining agree-
ment to suspend players up to
four games for conduct detri-
mental to the team. A suspen-
sion would also void the more
than $29 million in guarantees
over the next two seasons con-
tainedinBrown’scontractwith
the Raiders.
CoachJonGrudensaid the
plan is for Brown to play Mon-
day night at home against Den-
ver.
‘‘Antonio is back today,’’
Gruden said. ‘‘We’re really ex-
cited about that and ready to
move on. He’s had a lot of, obvi-
ously, time to think about
things and we’re happy to have
him back and I know Raider
Nation is excited about that,
too.’’

Hillgetsextension

The Chiefs signedTyreek
Hillto a three-year, $54 million
contract extension, locking up
the playmaking wide receiver
whose off-the-field issues left
his future in the NFL in ques-
tion just a couple months ago.
The deal includes a $5.8
million signing bonus and
$35.2 million in guarantees, a
person with knowledge of the
details told the Associated
Press.
‘‘I hope he can still run that
fast with all that money in his
pocket,’’ coachAndyReid
quipped after Friday’s walk-
through ahead of the Chiefs’
opener Sunday in Jacksonville.
The length of the deal protects
the Chiefs from investing too
heavily in a dynamic player
with a checkered past while al-
so giving the 25-year-old Hill
the chance for another payday
down the road.

Jags’Robinsonout

The Jaguars likely will be
without starting left tackleCam
Robinsonfor their season
opener — and maybe longer.
Robinson injured his right knee
in practice Thursday — it gave
out during a non-contact, pass-
blocking drill — and was listed
as doubtful to play against Kan-
sas City.. .StefonDiggsis
questionable for the Vikings’
season opener against the Fal-
cons after a hamstring injury
forced the wide receiver to miss
Wednesday’s practice and lim-
ited him in Thursday’s and Fri-
day’s sessions.

NFLNOTEBOOK

Brown set

to play in

opener

ANTONIO BROWN
Apologizes over flap

MADDIE MEYER/GETTY IMAGES

Patriot Josh Gordon asks that he be

judged on his future, not the past.

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