FOXBOROUGH- Loyalty is a lost art in today’s sports world but do not tell that to former Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman. Edelman is one of the rare breed in today’s sports world that played his entire 12 year career with one team.

The three-time Super Bowl Champion was inducted into the Patriots Hall Of Fame on Saturday and after giving an emotional 30 minute speech about his career as a Patriot and thanking his teammates, family and friends, Edelman met with the assembled media and described why playing with the Patriots was special to him and why he played his entire career here.

“I was a fan when I was a kid and I used to get my feelings hurt when my guy left. When Jerry Rice went to the Raiders, I was like what the heck are we doing?”

Edelman always appreciated the opportunity he got with the Patriots as a seventh round pick in 2009. He never took the opportunity the organization gave him for granted. In fact, he motivated himself by telling himself that his job was on the line and he may get cut.

“For years I would drive up to this building, this stadium, and prayed it wouldn’t be my last,” Edelman said. “There was so much uncertainty that comes into a late round pick chasing his dream to be in this league. … I thought I was getting cut until like my fifth year.”

It was that drive and determination to make it that turned this little known, late round pick and former quarterback into a Patriots legend and an adopted New Englander.

Edelman embraced the hard working, blue collar mentality of New Englanders and probably embodied it more than any other player of the Patriots dynasty. It is why he ultimately chose to make New England his home.

“I was content with being a Patriot my whole life and that’s what I wanted. It was the best thing for me and my family and, and this is home. I didn’t feel like uprooting and going somewhere else.”

Edelman had numerous opportunities to leave for more money and an opportunity to reunite with old friends Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski in Tampa Bay. Ultimately, he chose to finish career here and he said he wouldn’t change a thing about his football journey with the Patriots.

“I loved it here and I wouldn’t change anything.”

Patriots fans showed their appreciation to Edelman on Saturday evening and he acknowledged how much they meant to him.

“And then there’s you guys, the fans, Patriot Nation. From the freezing cold nights to the rainy afternoons. You showed up and you give us some boobirds every once in a while if we deserved it. But you believed in us. And you believed in me. I wasn’t the flashiest player, but you embraced me for who I was. A grinder, a fighter. A guy who tried to leave it out on the field every Sunday. Now, New England was the perfect fit for my mentality. A hard-working region that puts heart and toughness above all. And your support meant more than you’ll ever know.  So thank you.”

New England was the perfect fit for Edelman and it is why it will always be home.