Joe Judge recalled how Julian Edelman responded to criticism of the Patriots being ‘no fun’ in 2018

“Hey guys, you want to have fun? Winning’s fun. We do everything that we can to win here.”

Julian Edelman warming up before a Patriots-49ers game in 2020. AP Photo/Charles Krupa

Tonight, the Red Sox face the Yankees in the start of the second half of the season following the All-Star break. Boston opens the four-game series in New York, with first pitch set for 7:08 p.m.

One notable addition to the roster will be outfield prospect Jarren Duran, who was called up on Wednesday.

Julian Edelman’s response to “having fun” with the Patriots: Following the recent comments made by former Patriots linebacker Cassius Marsh — that the team treats players “like crap,” and that playing in New England is “no fun” — several responses have emerged.

One came from former Patriots receiver Deion Branch, while another emerged from an anecdote shared by Giants head coach (and former Patriots assistant) Joe Judge.

Speaking on a recent episode of the “Flying Coach” podcast, Judge told co-hosts Sean McVay and Peter Schrager about Julian Edelman’s response to an earlier round of claims from Marsh that the Patriots were “no fun.”

“When we came out of that whole deal in 2017 where it was kinda of like on the outside [saying] ‘It’s not fun, it’s this, it’s that,’” Judge explained. “I remember Julian, he had a four-game suspension if you remember in [2018]. I remember he walked in from his suspension, we had this white grease board, and there are monitors all over the building, so you don’t really have to write anything.”

As Judge explained, Edelman wrote a simple message on the board that remained long afterward.

“Everyone knew who wrote it,” Judge continued. “[Edelman] walked in and he wrote — in the middle of the board — ‘Winning is fun.’”

“It was something I think everyone read as they walked in every day, knowing who it came from, the guy who outworks everybody,” said Judge. “The guy who does everything he can to compete and win, and how much this guy loved the game. He just kind of spread the message to the entire team of kind of like, ‘Hey guys, you want to have fun? Winning’s fun. We do everything that we can to win here.’”

Judge, who won three Super Bowls in New England from 2012-2019, agreed with the now-retired wide receiver’s assertion.

“I’ll be honest with you,” Judge added. “I had more fun in those eight years than I’ve ever had with the game ever.”

Trivia: Joe Judge is in a rare group of head coaches who were hired directly from previous roles as special teams coordinators. One of the best examples was the winning head coach in Super Bowl XX. Name that coach.

(Answer at the bottom).

Hint: He topped 1,000 yards receiving as a rookie playing tight end in 1961.

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The Worcester Red Sox won 3-2 on a wild pitch: After losing the first game of a Wednesday doubleheader, Worcester’s Franchy Cordero scored the winning run on a wild pitch.

On this day: In 1986, Roger Clemens was named MVP of the All-Star Game after throwing three scoreless innings (retiring all nine batters he faced in order). The American League went on to win the game, 3-2.