ATLANTA _ As Bill Belichick reflected on Julian Edelman's rise from college quarterback to MVP of Super Bowl LIII, the Patriots' coach said he saw a competitive fire and desire that made him take a chance on Edelman.
Belichick, who credited longtime sportswriter Rick Gosselin for suggesting he look at Edelman, said the Patriots worked him out twice. They watched plenty of film of the 5-foot-10 quarterback at Kent State. The Patriots already had Tom Brady, so Edelman wasn't going to play quarterback, but they didn't know which position he would play.
The Patriots drafted Edelman in the seventh round in 2009 and he made the squad as a special teams player, but that wasn't all. Besides returning punts and kickoffs, he played some cornerback and wide receiver _ all things he hadn't done previously.
-copy-29e15046.jpeg?w=600)
