Not many players today can match Julian Edelman’s all-in mentality. Remember when he played cornerback for the Patriots in 2011 to fill in during an injury crisis against the Chiefs? That’s the kind of do-it-all attitude he brought to the field. Now, Edelman’s taking us behind the scenes on his podcast Games With Names, shedding light on the not-so-glamorous side of NFL fines. And, let’s just say, he’s not holding back.

Edelman described the fine process as “friendly fire,” recounting how former players-turned-NFL-officials decide your fate in these so-called “hearings.” He said, “When you get fined… the NFL sets you up with some guy—a former player. So, it’s like a friendly fire type sh-t.” He even joked about trying to butter them up, only to end up with the full fine, anyway. Sounds like a brutal system, doesn’t it? His friend (yeah, SB 49 fierce mouth-off doesn’t say so but it’s true) and legend himself, Michael Bennett, nodding along, added, “Those fine people, they get paid pretty good money, man.”

But they both agreed on one thing: that the system is like a prison. As Bennett explained, “They have got the prisoner judging if you’re going to get in or not.” You know it’s all truth, especially coming from the ones who memorized the rulebook themselves. And yet, cross paths with the league rules. Yikes!

For Edelman, the fines weren’t just slap-on-the-wrist stuff. Take 2018, for instance, when he racked up a $63,504 fine for three unnecessary roughness penalties against the Bills (the biggest fine of his 11-season career). That’s one hefty price tag for some tough play, right? Then there was the big one: a suspension in 2018 for violating the league’s PED policy, costing him around $1 million in salary and bonuses. Technically, not a fine. But, you can guess, it had the same sting.

Over his career, Edelman lost a whopping $1.1 million to fines and suspensions ($1,116,924 to be precise. No, not keeping the records just did the research for you). And while he could laugh about it now, his stories paint a picture of just how relentless—and pricey—the NFL fine system can be. For Edelman, though, it’s all part of the game. After all, where’s the fun in playing safe?

Julian Edelman’s grit and grin mentality

And we are not just talking about not playing safe with the fines. But also never playing it safe on the gridiron. Julian Edelman played football like he had a grudge against self-preservation—and honestly, that grit was his calling card. You know, he didn’t make Pro Bowls or All-Pro teams in 2019? Shocking? Um, Edelman took it on the chin and vented out the frustration by showing who’s tough.

Just think about it: in Week 3, he tore rib cartilage, and while most would’ve sat out, Edelman was back. Playing through an IR-worthy setback, he caught seven passes, putting up 62 yards against the Jets. Injuries, sure, slowed him. But could never STOP him.

He may not have had the towering frame or top-end speed of other wideouts, but he turned those “disadvantages” into his edge, catching passes in traffic and taking hits like a tank. Tom Brady (yes, the GOAT) put it perfectly: “He plays much bigger than his frame, and that provides a huge benefit for our team.” Edelman knew he wasn’t BIG, and yet his game was all about being physical. Don’t believe us?

If there’s one play that defines Edelman’s mentality, it’s his run over the middle in a playoff game against the Chargers. With the Patriots already ahead, he had options—could’ve sidestepped, could’ve hit the turf. But NO! Edelman chose to become a human torpedo, driving himself into an LB twice his size, rolling over, and lunging forward to milk every last yard. That’s Edelman for you—never safe, never backing down.

He was a rare breed, a player who put in the work and left the game on his terms. So, what if he got a few fines here and there? When needed, the Pats couldn’t have asked for any better to be the best weapon for Brady.