NFL to hear Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman’s PED suspension appeal later today

Earlier this month, ESPN’s Field Yates broke the news that New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman was facing a four-game suspension for the alleged use of performance enhancing drugs. A few days later, a second report came out – this time by the MMQB’s Albert Breer – that the suspension was based on a substance that was unrecognizable during the testing process.

This will now become a key argument in Edelman’s appeals process. The hearing, per ESPN’s Dan Graziano, will take place later today and see the 32-year old and his legal team present two key points which they argue exonerate him: Not only will they claim that an unrecognizable substance does not warrant a suspension, they will also point out that the league mishandled the documentation and delivery of Edelman’s test results.

The Patriots will of course watch the whole process closely: Edelman, who spent all of the 2017 season on injured reserve due to a torn ACL, is the team’s most experienced wide receiver and a member of quarterback Tom Brady’s “circle of trust.” As such, he is once again projected to play an important role on the offense in 2018 – even more so considering the turnover the wide receiver position saw this offseason.