Patriots' Julian Edelman to fight NFL PED suspension on multiple levels, per report

The last time we heard from Julian Edelman, the Patriots slot receiver was expressing how mystified he was — while apologizing to owner Robert Kraft and the franchise on Instagram — after reports surfaced of a four-game suspension he was facing for violating the NFL's policy on performance-enhancing drugs.

However, according to an ESPN report, Edelman "plans to mount a vigorous defense that questions the NFL's handling of his case" when his appeal is heard Monday. The primary arguments are likely to center on the substance itself (and whether it was one the league actually prohibits) and, per ESPN, "mishandling of the documentation and delivery of Edelman's test results. During the course of the investigation, it was learned that the NFL made mistakes in the manner in which the test results were handled." With Edelman hiring outside counsel, this could be a legal scrap that potentially again sends the NFL to federal court.

Edelman missed the entire 2017 season after tearing a knee ligament in the preseason. He has been a full participant in New England's offseason program.

The suspension, if upheld, would force Edelman to miss September games against the Texans, Jaguars, Lions and Dolphins. 

Earlier this month, after reports of the pending four-game ban first surfaced, Edelman wrote: "I am very sorry — I don't know what happened. I've taken many, many tests obviously over the course of my career, and nothing like this has ever happened."

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One of Tom Brady's closer friends and favorite receivers, Edelman posted a career-best 1,106 receiving yards in 2016, which ended with a Super Bowl victory. His absence presents an additional challenge to a passing game that already lost wideouts Danny Amendola and Brandin Cooks this offseason.

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