"Belichick got game" - Ex-Patriots WR Julian Edelman reveals Bill Belichick's outrageous negotiation tactics

Julian Edelman has hailed Bill Belichick for having 'game'. Belichick is easily one of the greatest coaches in NFL history. With six wins, he is the winningest head coach in Super Bowl history. Besides his coaching prowess, he has also been the most powerful people in New England Patriots history, constructing the roster the way he liked.

Edelman, one of the vital pieces in the later part of the Patriots' dynasty, has a first-hand account of how his old mentor did all those moves, and it was pretty harsh. Speaking on Games with Names with comedian Sam Morril, Edelman described how Belichick's negotiating tactics would feel like:

"Everything he said made you want to go.

When asked to elaborate, he minced no words:

"'Look,' like, 'You're not the best f***in' receiver in the league!' I went into this thing like, 'Man, f*** dude, I'm terrible. What does this achieve?'"

Nevertheless, he still made sure to give Belichick credit:

"He got me for a good price. I mean, you gotta tip your hat to the guy. ... Belichick's clearly got game."

Friction between coach and player is as old a tale as time in sports, especially if the player is a superstar. Most notably, Jimmy Johnson and Dan Marino never got along well together when they were at the Dolphins. However, for Edelman, despite all the browbeating, he and Belichick had a fruitful partnership.

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How vital was Julian Edelman to Patriots' dynasty?

Julian Edelman can be considered one of the biggest draft steals not just in the NFL but in all of pro sports.

Chosen 232rd overall in 2009, the Kent State product played as a quarterback, where he led the school in passing and rushing. However at New England, Tom Brady was firmly entrenched as the No. 1 quarterback, so Edelman trained at other positions before being named a wide receiver. He impressed in his rookie season, tallying 37 receptions for 359 yards, as well as six punt returns for 63 yards.

Over the years, Edelman has established himself as one of the best utility players in the league, especially in the playoffs. He's most renowned for his unlikely catch in Super Bowl LI, where he staved off multiple defenders to retrieve the ball inches from the ground. He was also adjudged the MVP of Super Bowl LIII after leading in receiving (ten catches for 141 yards).

However, offense is not the only place where he shone. During the 2011 season, Edelman briefly played defensive back, recording a pair of tackles and a forced fumble. While he would never play defense again, he certainly proved his versatility on the field.