Edelman was a quarterback when he played American football in college but was converted into a receiver when he joined the NFL and will now face the challenge of confronting New York Giants receivers in the championship game.

  “Julian will be working to give us everything like he always is. He will be ready in all three phases,” Patriots coach Bill Belichick said.

  “We saw Edelman as a good athlete. You could see Julian was tough. He was quick. He made a lot of plays. He was good with the ball in his hands. It was a big transition to receiver and returning punts.

  When the Patriots began having injuries to defensive backs, Edelman’s skill at receiver, and to a degree his expendability as a reserve for team reception leader Wes Welker, allowed him to make the switch as a fill-in defender.

  “We got into some injury stretches and his skill set as a slot receiver allowed him to be put there as a cornerback,” Belichick said. “He developed a little bit as a defensive player this year.

He’s got a lot going for him.”  Edelman has some insight into how to defend rival receivers having been on the offensive side as well, but it’s tricky.

  “It’s ultimately a foreign thing for me,” Edelman said. “You are doing everything backwards, from covering a guy to terminology on the defensive side of the ball. It’s like a different language and seeing things backwards.

  “It’s definitely a learning process and I’m still trying to learn. Any way I can help the team is awesome.”  Giants receiver Victor Cruz hopes he gets the chance to test Edelman.

  “When you see one of their defensive backs is a receiver you just automatically get excited,” Cruz said. “You just understand that’s not his natural position and you want to do your best to exploit that.”  New York receiver Mario Manningham hopes Edelman is on him as well.

  “We’re confident,” he said. “I hope he is out there.”  Edelman knows the task at hand is a true challenge.

  “They have a good wide receiving core,” Edelman said. “This team is playing very well and we definitely have a challenge ahead of us.

  “I don’t think I’ve had that many balls caught on me. Not to say that I’ve been doing such a great job, but the coaches have done a great job of helping me out with the scheme and preparing me each week on what I have to focus on.

  “I am not really worried about what they are saying right now. I am more focused on doing my job and that is preparing right now. We will see if that opportunity comes.”