Julian Edelman still loves Tom Brady, even if free agency has broken up one of the NFL’s most famous bromances.

But Edelman said Monday he has no choice but to keep going even if Brady is no longer his New England Patriots teammate — and it’s not as if there aren’t intriguing options for a new football beau.

“Obviously, we played a lot of football together, and I love him to death,” Edelman said, via ESPN.com, “but the train keeps moving, as it will when I’m not playing here.”

It’s the first time Edelman has spoken to the media since Brady left New England and signed a two-year deal with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Edelman added: “Obviously, it was a little different scenario, but you [have] got to move on and understand it’s the business. You have to worry about the people we have here, and try to prepare ourselves the best we can.”

Brady’s possible replacement is part of that business. Cam Newton signed a one-year deal with the Patriots, and he and Edelman have been seen chatting on social media with one another. They even got together in Los Angeles in July to get some throwing in.

Edelman’s first impressions of Newton

“When you first meet him, just his stature. He’s large — put together well,” Edelman said. “He has a great energy about himself. I was really impressed with his work ethic and mindset.”

While still the odds-on favorite to win the starting QB job, Newton will have to fend off Jarrett Stidham and Brian Hoyer, both of whom have worked in the Patriots’ offensive structure before.

So how does Edelman handicap the race?

“You have Hoyer, who has played here. He’s been in the system,” Edelman said. “You have Stidham, who has a year under his belt.

“And you have Cam; this guy is a heck of a football player. This isn’t his first year playing football. This guy is a former MVP who has played in a lot of big games.”

Still, it’s a tricky year to be breaking in Brady’s replacement, what with every challenge the COVID-19 pandemic presents in this unique offseason.

Perhaps if there’s a team equipped to handle such an unsettling time, it’s the meticulous Patriots and their typically well-prepared staff.

“I have a lot of faith in our coaching staff, along with some of the veteran players, to go out and do our best to try to prepare everyone the best we can,” Edelman said. “That’s what this season is going to be about — about addressing and overcoming certain situations everyone is having to deal with.

“We have a long road ahead of us, but if we just keep on bringing our hard hat and lunch pail to work, and coming in with a purpose, that’s usually when good things happen.”

And who knows? In time, maybe Edelman and Newton will create their own football love affair.

34 PHOTOSJulian Edelman and Tom Brady's relationshipSee GalleryJulian Edelman and Tom Brady's relationshipFOXBORO, MA – JANUARY 22: Quarterback Tom Brady #12 looks on with teammate wide receiver Julian Edelman #11 of the New England Patriots during the AFC Championship Game against the Baltimore Ravens at Gillette Stadium on January 22, 2012 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Rob Tringali/SportsChrome/Getty Images)BALTIMORE – SEPTEMBER 23: Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (#12), left, celebrates after he hit wide receiver Julian Edelman (#11), spiking ball at right, with a touchdown pass at the end of the second quarterthat gave New England the lead at halftime as the New England Patriots visitedthe Baltimore Ravens in a regular season NFL game at M&B Stadium. (Photo by Jim Davis/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)FOXBOROUGH, MA – NOVEMBER 18: Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (#12) howls in delight, and wide receiver Julian Edelman (#11), left, signals ‘touchdown’ after running back Shane Vereen, not pictured, scored on a run to put New England ahead 52-24. The New England Patriots hosted the Indianapolis Colts in a regular season NFL game at Gillette Stadium. (Photo by Jim Davis/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)ORCHARD PARK, NY – SEPTEMBER 8: New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman (#11) celebrates his first quarter touchdown reception with New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (#12). The New England Patriots take on the Buffalo Bills at Ralph Wilson Stadium, Sunday, Sept. 8, 2013. (Photo by Barry Chin/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)FOXBOROUGH, MA – OCTOBER 23: New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (#12), left, and Julian Edelman (#11), right, at practice. (Photo by Jonathan Wiggs/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)FOXBORO, MA – NOVEMBER 24: Quarterback Tom Brady #12 celebrates with wide receiver Julian Edelman #11 of the New England Patriots after scoring against the Denver Broncos during a game at Gillette Stadium on November 24, 2013 in Foxboro, Massachusetts.(Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)FOXBORO, MA – DECEMBER 8:Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots celebrates the game-winning touchdown with Julian Edelman #11 in the 4th quarter at Gillette Stadium on December 8, 2013 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)BOSTON, MA – DECEMBER 23:Tom Brady (L) and Julian Edelman (C) attend the 15th Annual Best Buddies Challenge: Hyannis Port Kickoff Event at Fenway Park on December 23, 2013 in Boston, Massachusetts.(Photo by Harry Woods/Getty Images)FOXBORO, MA – JANUARY 11:Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots reacts with teammateJulian Edelman #11 after a play against the Indianapolis Colts during the AFC Divisional Playoff game at Gillette Stadium on January 11, 2014 in Foxboro, Massachusetts.(Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)FOXBORO, MA – AUGUST 22: Julian Edelman #11 of the New England Patriots and Tom Brady #12 talk on the sideline in the fourth quarter against Carolina Panthers in a preseason game at Gillette Stadium on August 22, 2014 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)FOXBOROUGH, MA – SEPTEMBER 25: New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (#12) talks with New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman (#11) during Patriots practice at Gillette Stadium. (Photo by Barry Chin/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)KANSAS CITY, MO – SEPTEMBER 29: New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady talks to his favorite target Julian Edelman during pre-game warm ups before they play the Kansas City Chiefs on September 29, 2014. (Photo by Matthew J. Lee/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)FOXBOROUGH, MA – NOVEMBER 1: New England Patriots Julian Edelman celebrates his punt return touchdown with teammate Tom Brady against the Denver Broncos during second quarter action at Gillette Stadium on Saturday, November 1, 2014. (Photo by Matthew J. Lee/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)FOXBORO, MA – NOVEMBER 02:Julian Edelman #11 of the New England Patriots reacts alongside Tom Brady #12 after returning a kick for a touchdown during the second quarter against the Denver Broncos at Gillette Stadium on November 2, 2014 in Foxboro, Massachusetts.(Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)INDIANAPOLIS, IN – NOVEMBER 16: Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, right, and wide receiver Julian Edelman, left, both signal ‘touchdown’ after Jonas Gray, not pictured, rushed for a second quarter touchdown. The New England Patriots took on the Indianapolis Colts in a regular season NFL game at Lucas Oil Stadium. (Photo by Jim Davis/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)FOXBORO, MA – NOVEMBER 23:Tom Brady #12 and Julian Edelman #11 of the New England Patriots react during the second quarter against the Detroit Lions at Gillette Stadium on November 23, 2014 in Foxboro, Massachusetts.(Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)SAN DIEGO, CA-DECEMBER 7:Quarterback Tom Brady #12 and Julian Edelman #11 of the New England Patriots warm up against the San Diego Chargers during their NFL Game at Qualcomm Stadium on December 7, 2014 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Donald Miralle/Getty Images)SAN DIEGO, CA-DECEMBER 7:Julian Edelman #11 of the New England Patriots celebrates his fourth-quarter touchdown with quarterback Tom Brady #12 during an NFL game at Qualcomm Stadium on December 7, 2014 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Donald Miralle/Getty Images)FOXBORO, MA – JANUARY 10: Tom Brady #12 and Julian Edelman #11 of the New England Patriots high five following the 2015 AFC Divisional Playoffs game against the Baltimore Ravens at Gillette Stadium on January 10, 2015 in Foxboro, Massachusetts.(Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)GLENDALE, AZ – FEBRUARY 01:Tom Brady #12 andJulian Edelman #11 of the New England Patriots celebrate after a three yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter against the Seattle Seahawks during Super Bowl XLIX at University of Phoenix Stadium on February 1, 2015 in Glendale, Arizona.(Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)GLENDALE, AZ – FEBRUARY 01:Tom Brady #12 and Julian Edelman #11 of the New England Patriots celebrate after defeating the Seattle Seahawks 28-24 to win Super Bowl XLIX at University of Phoenix Stadium on February 1, 2015 in Glendale, Arizona.(Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)HYANNIS, MA – MAY 30:Teammates Julian Edelman (L) and Tom Brady speak on stage at the Finish Line and Victory Celebration Party during the Best Buddies Challenge: Hyannis Port 2015 on May 30, 2015 in Hyannis, Massachusetts.(Photo by Paul Marotta/Getty Images)ORCHARD PARK, NY – SEPTEMBER 20: New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (#12) and New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman (#11) celebrate after their hookup for a touchdown in the third quarter for a 34-13 lead. The New England Patriots take on the Buffalo Bills at Ralph Wilson Stadium in Orchard Park, New York, Sept. 20, 2015. (Photo by Barry Chin/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)FOXBORO, MA – OCTOBER 29:Julian Edelman #11 and Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots react after Edelman scored a touchdown during the fourth quarter against the Miami Dolphins at Gillette Stadium on October 29, 2015 in Foxboro, Massachusetts.(Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)SANTA CLARA, CA – NOVEMBER 20: New England Patriots Tom Brady talks to Julian Edelman in the tunnel before the play the San Francisco 49ers. The San Francisco 49ers host the New England Patriots at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Nov. 20, 2016. (Photo by Matthew J. Lee/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)HOUSTON, TX – FEBRUARY 05:Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots reacts after defeating the Atlanta Falcons 34-28 in overtime during Super Bowl 51 at NRG Stadium on February 5, 2017 in Houston, Texas.(Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)HOUSTON, TX – FEBRUARY 05: Tom Brady #12 and Julian Edelman #11 of the New England Patriots celebrate after defeating the Atlanta Falcons during Super Bowl 51 at NRG Stadium on February 5, 2017 in Houston, Texas. The Patriots defeated the Falcons 34-28. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)FOXBOROUGH, MA – AUGUST 9 : Julian Edelman #11 of the New England Patriots and Tom Brady #12 talk before the preseason game between the New England Patriots and the Washington Redskins at Gillette Stadium on August 9, 2018 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)FOXBOROUGH, MA – AUGUST 16: New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) checks with New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman (11) during a drill before a preseason NFL game between the New England Patriots and the Philadelphia Eagles on August 16, 2018, at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. The Patriots defeated the Eagles 37-20. (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)MIAMI, FL – DECEMBER 09:Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots celebrates after setting the new record for touchdown passes in the regular season and playoffs combined with teammate Julian Edelman #11, who scored the touchdown, in the second quarter at Hard Rock Stadium on December 9, 2018 in Miami, Florida.(Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)FOXBOROUGH, MA – OCTOBER 4: New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, left, and teammate Julian Edelman high-five in the second quarter. The New England Patriots host the Indianapolis Colts in a regular season NFL football game at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, MA on Oct. 4, 2018. (Photo by Jim Davis/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)PITTSBURGH, PA – DECEMBER 16: New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady fires a pass to wide receiver Julian Edelman, foreground right, that landed incomplete. The New England Patriots visit the Pittsburgh Steelers in a regular season NFL football game at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, PA on Dec. 16, 2018. (Photo by Jim Davis/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)KANSAS CITY, MO – JANUARY 20: New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) and wide receiver Julian Edelman (11) look at the big screen and wait for a replay decision on a muffed punt by Edelman with 8:47 left in the fourth quarter of the AFC Championship Game game between the New England Patriots and Kansas City Chiefs on January 20, 2019 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, MO. (Photo by Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)KANSAS CITY, MO – JANUARY 20: New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman (11) points to quarterback Tom Brady (12) on the field after the game, recounting how people were saying Brady was too old and slow to win.The New England Patriots defeated the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game game on January 20, 2019 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, MO. (Photo by Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)Up Next

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