Report: Doctors cleared Edelman
PHOENIX --New England Patriotswide receiver Julian Edelman was tested for a concussion and cleared to finish Super Bowl XLIX after taking a big hit in the fourth quarter, a person with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press.
The person said Monday that Edelman, who caught the winning 3-yard touchdown pass, was checked on the New England sideline by medical staff and an independent neurologist. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the matter.
On Monday, coach Bill Belichick was asked whether Edelman was checked for a concussion but largely sidestepped the question.
"I'm a coach and I had a deal with our trainers and doctors. They're the medical experts and they don't call plays, and I'm the coach and I don't get involved in the medical part," he said. "When they clear players to play, then if we want to play them, we play them. The plays we call, I don't have to get approval from them. It's a good setup."
Edelman was leveled by Seahawks safety Kam Chancellor after making a reception with about 11 minutes left in New England's 28-24 win on Sunday night.
He stayed in the game for the rest of the series and caught another pass to set up Tom Brady's 5-yard touchdown pass to Danny Amendola that cut Seattle's lead to 24-21.
Edelman was back on the field for the Patriots' next series in which he caught the eventual winning pass from Brady. He caught three passes for 33 yards and the touchdown after the Chancellor hit. Overall, he caught nine passes for 109 yards and a touchdown.
Speaking with reporters Sunday night, Edelman acknowledged he was "exhausted like everyone else" and at one point referred to "Seattle" as "St. Louis" before correcting himself. Asked whether he was woozy or had submitted to a concussion test on the sideline, Edelman twice invoked the Patriots' steely in-house rules.
"We're not allowed to speak about injuries right now," he said.
One reporter asked Edelman whether he remembered the remainder of the possession after the Chancellor hit.
"Yes, I do," he said with a smile. "I remember that we scored."
ESPN.com's Mike Reiss, Kevin Seifert and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
