The Facts: The Patriots have gotten aggressive in their ongoing negotiations with Edelman in the final 24 hours before free agency in the attempt to keep him away from the open market.

Diehards Line: Edelman’s 105 receptions, 1,056 yards and six touchdowns in 2013 exceeded his total production from his first four seasons, and he played 16 games for the first time in his career. The 2009 seventh-round pick has only earned about $3 million in his five-year career, and he is expected to garner more than that with his signing bonus on the upcoming deal, whether it’s with the Pats or another team. As Boston Herald staffer Jeff Howe notes, after allowing Edelman to dangle in free agency for about a month last year, the Patriots have clearly displayed more angst to strike a quicker deal this time around. The two sides have shared mutual interest throughout the offseason. It's time to see if they can reach a resolution before the league's other 31 teams have the opportunity to offer Edelman an official contract.