Julian Edelman retired from the NFL this week after he was waived by the Patriots. I think most of us saw this coming. And then Gronk had to be the stupid frat boy he is and gave some dumbass nonsense comment about him joining the Bucaneers, which would not surprise me at all. But, if he stays retired, no I do not think he is a hall of fame player.

This question has been floating around sports media since he announced his retirement. Every time I see it I try and find a way to fit him in the hall of fame, but I just cannot bring myself to do it. And this has nothing to do with my distaste for the Patriots. I just think Edelman was on the right team at the right time and is reaping the benefits of being in the perfect situation. No one would even bring him up for the hall of fame if he were on the Rams or Saints or Broncos or Colts and put up the exact same numbers. But since he was on a dynastic team that won a lot, he has wormed his way into the conversation. And he was really only highly effective in one of the Patriots Super Bowl wins. I believe he won one Super Bowl MVP. Every other big game, he was just kind of there. He'd get five to six catches for 60 or 70 yards and maybe a score. He was a slot receiver. Nothing more, nothing less.

People may say he was Tom Brady's security blanket as a reason he should be in the hall, and that is wrong. Just because Tom Brady liked him that does not make him a hall of fame player. I believe Brady has found a new "security blanket" almost every single season he has played. Since Chris Godwin became his security blanket in Tampa are people going to say he is a hall of fame player now? I don't necessarily think so unless he starts to put up amazing stats. No one ever had any of the other Patriots "security blankets" as hall of fame players. People would laugh in your face if you mentioned Danny Amendola as a hall of fame player, but he was a key cog on some of those Patriots teams. Laurence Maroney had two great seasons, opening up the passing game for the Patriots, but no one is putting him in the hall. The O line was a humongous reason why those teams were so good, but no one is calling out those guys for the hall. All of these players had as many, if not more, important moments for the Patriots during their time there.

Then we have other players that are not in the hall of fame that deserve it far more than Julian Edelman. Sterling Sharpe has a ring and much better stats, and he is not in the hall of fame. Mark Duper was the much superior "security blanket" for Dan Marino, yet he remains out of the hall of fame. Torry Holt was, in my opinion, the best receiver of the Rams "Greatest Show on Turf" era but he has not been inducted. Jimmy Smith helped the Jacksonville Jaguars become relevant for the first time ever in the NFL, but he has not made the hall of fame. Henry Ellard was like a fine wine, getting better every year in the NFL, but he is not in the hall. Those are just some of the receivers that had far, far better careers than Edelman, yet they remain to be inducted. When you look at some of the rest of the talent that hasn't made it yet, it is laughable to suggest Edelman get in before some of these guys. Drew Bledsoe is not in the hall of fame. People seem to forget how awesome he was before he got hurt. Randall Cunningham is not in the hall of fame. That is absolutely criminal. London Fletcher was the key cog on the "Greatest Show on Turf '' Rams defense, putting up ridiculous tackling numbers, but he has not made the hall. Edgerrin James was a top flight running back for a good long time, but he isn't in the hall of fame. Ty Law was a shutdown corner, yet no hall for him. Andre Johnson is a receiver from essentially the same time as Edelman, but he was on a mediocre Texans team, and he isn't in the hall of fame conversation, which is stupid. Julius Peppers may be one of the best defensive lineman to ever play, and he is not a hall of famer. Troy Polamalu is one of the most fun and hardest hitting safeties ever, no hall of fame. Champ Bailey was as lockdown as they come, but he is still waiting to get in.

There are a ton more players that I didn't even mention today that are far more deserving. And I am not taking anything away from Julian Edelman. He had an okay career and he has a ton of rings. But, with all of the people I have listed today, and the many more I forgot, no Julian Edelman does not belong in the hall of fame. Not at all. Solid career, but not worthy of the hall.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

Follow Ty on instagram and twitter.

SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing.