Patriots' Edelman: 'I'm accountable' for PED suspension

New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman accepts full responsibility for his four-game suspension for violating the NFL's policy on performance-enhancing drugs.

"Obviously you're disappointed with it, but I got to follow the protocols a little better and make sure this never happens again," Edelman said Saturday after practice, according to ESPN's Mike Reiss. "I'm accountable for my actions."

Edelman tested positive for an unrecognizable substance in June, and his suspension was upheld upon appeal earlier this month. The 32-year-old missed the entire 2017 season due to a torn ACL but was expected to make a full recovery for the beginning of the 2018 campaign.

"Ultimately my focus now is getting my knee right, and going out and trying to play football at a high level," Edelman said. "It was a helluva year to just sit and watch your team go to a Super Bowl and play without you and you're on the couch. It was tough. But I'm excited to be out here and I'm excited to work my game."

Earlier Saturday, Patriots quarterback Tom Brady refuted a suspected connection between his controversial trainer, Alex Guerrero, and Edelman's suspension, calling it "ridiculous."