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Our view: WBA dropped the ball on stadium issue

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First real job a lesson in who you are

<p>FOXBOROUGH, Mass. &#8212; New England Patriots star wide receiver Julian Edelman will miss the 2017 season after tearing the ACL in his right knee in a preseason game.</p><p>The Patriots announced Saturday that Edelman, Tom Brady&#8217;s favorite target and one of the NFL&#8217;s most clutch receivers, would be sidelined all season after the non-contact injury in the first quarter of Friday night&#8217;s preseason game at Detroit.</p><p>The 31-year-old Edelman headed downfield after a catch and when he planted his right foot into the turf, he tore the ligament.</p><p>Edelman, whose spectacular fourth-quarter reception helped the Patriots&#8217; record comeback win in the Super Bowl in February, signed a two-year contract extension earlier this year. He has been, by far, Brady&#8217;s top pass catcher with 436 receptions over the past four seasons, including the playoffs.</p><p>A quarterback in college at Kent State, Edelman joined the Patriots in 2009 and became one of Brady&#8217;s most reliable receivers the next year. Last season was one of his best with 98 catches for 1,106 yards. He&#8217;s also a dangerous punt returner.</p><p>Brady used the word &#8220;Gladiator&#8221; on Instagram in reference to Edelman.</p><p>Fortunately for New England, it is deep at receiver after trading for Brandin Cooks. It gets back Rob Gronkowski, the NFL&#8217;s most-feared tight end, from a back injury, and has Chris Hogan, who emerged last year as a quality wideout. Veteran Danny Amendola figures to see time in the slot with Edelman sidelined.</p><p>New England also cut defensive end Kony Ealy, whom it acquired in a trade with Carolina in March. It was a surprising move &#8212; if anything Bill Belichick does with his roster can be considered surprising.</p><p>Ealy, 25, spent three seasons with the Panthers and was best known for having three sacks in Super Bowl 50 against Denver.</p><p><strong>Chiefs&#8217; Ware out indefinitely</strong></p><p>KANSAS CITY, Mo. &#8212; Chiefs coach Andy Reid floated the idea not long ago that he might keep his top four running backs when trimming the roster to 53 players next weekend.</p><p>That may not be such a difficult decision now.</p><p>The Chiefs could be without top running back Spencer Ware for the first portion of the season after he hurt his right knee in Friday night&#8217;s preseason game in Seattle. The initial diagnosis was a sprain but Ware was due for an MRI exam Saturday amid reports he injured one of his ligaments.</p><p>If that&#8217;s the case, he could miss anywhere from several weeks to the entire season.</p><p>&#8220;He gets his MRI today so I think we just have to see on it,&#8221; Reid said Saturday. &#8220;It&#8217;s not one of those things that&#8217;s clear-cut, end-of-the-season or I&#8217;d tell you. That&#8217;s not what it is.&#8221;</p><p>Ware was hurt early in the Chiefs&#8217; third preseason game, when he tried to fight for a few extra yards on a carry deep in Seattle territory. He immediately grabbed at his right knee while trainers ran onto the field, and he wound up riding a cart to the locker room.</p><p>Reid said that Ware was sore Saturday but &#8220;you have to go through the whole process here.&#8221;</p><p>Regardless, he acknowledged that third-round draft pick Kareem Hunt would be first in line to soak up carries. Hunt was poised to begin the season alongside Ware in a one-two punch while Charcandrick West and C.J. Spiller fought for playing time &#8212; and perhaps a roster spot &#8212; as the third-string running back.</p><p>Now it appears West and Spiller will both make the team when rosters are reduced Sept. 2.</p><p>&#8220;We&#8217;ve got Kareem, we&#8217;ve got Charcandrick and C.J., so I mean, we&#8217;ve always rotated guys and it will be no different in this case,&#8221; Reid said. &#8220;But (Hunt) would be the next man up, yes.&#8221;</p><p>The former Toledo standout dazzled the Chiefs the moment he set foot in their practice facility. He was known for his versatility, offering both power and elusiveness as a runner, but has showcased excellent hands and a willingness to block that has already made him a favorite of quarterback Alex Smith.</p><p>&#8220;Definitely for a young guy, to see him go in and not really blink with that stuff, I sometimes think that&#8217;s the hardest thing is protection,&#8221; Smith said. &#8220;He got a taste of everything the other night, which was good. It was good experience for him.&#8221;</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman (11) is taken off the field on a cart during the first half of an NFL preseason football game against the Detroit Lions, Friday, Aug. 25, 2017, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)</div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/web1_118202870-d931935fa13541f8b0e32c60d2da79e3.jpg</photo0><caption0>New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman (11) is taken off the field on a cart during the first half of an NFL preseason football game against the Detroit Lions, Friday, Aug. 25, 2017, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)</caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>Associated Press</p></bylineMeta></div>

Patriots receiver Julian Edelman out for season with knee injury