While the Patriots may be focusing on the task at hand, which is their matchup with the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, it seems like the entire region and the bulk of the football world already has their eyes set on Week 4. Why? Well, that’s when Tom Brady is set to make his long-awaited return to Gillette Stadium for the first time since he departed the franchise in the spring of 2020.
That matchup is arguably the most highly anticipated regular-season game in NFL history, so it’s understandable for some to be looking ahead. The game was even brought up during Julian Edelman’s video conference with the media as the retired Patriots receiver is set to be honored at halftime during this upcoming Week 3 contest with New Orleans.
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When asked about Brady’s looming return, Edelman — a Patriots legend and close friend/former teammate of Brady’s — seemed to hit the ensuing awkwardness on the head.
“It’s definitely going to be weird,” he said. “It’s like going to a family barbecue or like a basketball event and you’re the step kid, or you’re like the kid who has divorced parents and your mom and dad are there and you don’t know how to react. Are they going to fight? Are they not going to fight? It’s going to be interesting. But, I am excited. Who is not excited for it? It’s going to be an exciting game.”
There have already been some murmurs coming out of Tampa Bay with both Brady’s father, Tom Sr., and his trainer, Alex Guerrero, talking about this upcoming game and the salty ending to the quarterback’s 20-year tenure in Foxborough. Brady Sr. noted that “it was pretty obvious that the Patriot regime felt that it was time for him to move on.” Meanwhile, Guerrero highlighted that Bill Belichick never stopped treating Brady like “that 20-year-old kid that he drafted” even as he evolved into an NFL legend.
Certainly, there will be even more nuggets to digest as this matchup draws closer.
As for where Edelman’s allegiances lie, he added that he will be rooting for the Patriots in the head-to-head, but also hopes that both his former teammates in Brady and Rob Gronkowski play well, too.
