Patriots Edelman becomes unlikely Super Bowl MVP

[February 04, 2019]  By Rory Carroll

ATLANTA (Reuters) - Patriots' Julian Edelman, an undersized wide receiver few thought would ever make a name for himself in NFL, won the Super Bowl MVP trophy on Sunday after his key plays helped lift New England to a 13-3 victory over the Los Angeles Rams.

In a game where both offenses struggled to find the end zone, Edelman made the most of his opportunities, catching 10 of the 12 passes thrown his way for 141 yards while rushing once for eight yards.

The speedy 32-year-old, nicknamed 'The Squirrel', was quarterback Tom Brady's most reliable target on Sunday, providing an offensive spark every time it was needed en route to his third championship with the team.

Edelman is one of the most unlikely Super Bowl MVPs in league history.

He was taken 232nd in the 2009 NFL draft after not even being invited to participate in league tryouts, but Patriots coach Bill Belichick managed to shape him into a key component of the team's offensive attack.

Edelman said he was focused on getting the team back to the championship after a torn ACL forced him to miss all of last season and he had to watch the Patriots fall to the Philadelphia Eagles in last year's Super Bowl.

"My head was down, just trying to go out and try to win ball games and help the team," he said.

"Tough times don't last, tough people do," he said.

"I preach that and I guess you have to live to it."

New England Patriots' Julian Edelman celebrates with New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft after winning Super Bowl LIII. REUTERS/Mike Segar

Edelman said the Patriots defense deserved just as much credit as he did for never allowing the Rams' high-powered offense to get within 20 yards of the Patriots end zone on Sunday.

"The defense was unreal holding that offense to three points. It is pretty crazy," he said.

"They should be the MVP -- the whole defense."

Edelman also praised Brady, who won his sixth championship at the team's helm on Sunday.

"He is like a brother to me. He has helped me so much. He has been a huge part of mentally coaching me up just through his actions and how he is as a football player, as a professional, as a father and as a family man," he said.

"It is an honor to get to play with a guy like that."

(Reporting by Rory Carroll; Editing by Frank Pingue/Amlan Chakraborty)

[© 2019 Thomson Reuters. All rights reserved.]

Copyright 2019 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.  Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content.