Can playoff stats get a player into the hall of fame?

What if I told you his name is Julian Edelman, New England Patriots wide receiver? While 1995 Serra graduate and five-time Super Bowl winner Tom Brady gets most of the accolades, as well he should, Serra was already a household name to diehard sports fans, with the likes of Lynn Swann and Barry Bonds having prepped there before “Tom Terrific” stepped on campus. But one could argue Edelman, a 2005 graduate, has put Woodside High School on the NFL map.

Edelman’s regular-season numbers are solid, but not necessarily spectacular: in 115 games, he has 499 catches for 5,390 yards, he’s averaged 10.8 yard per catch for his career and has 30 receiving touchdowns.

But once he gets to the postseason, his play demands the spotlight. In looking at his numbers in the playoffs, you would be hard-pressed to find many players who are better. In 17 playoff games over his nine-year career, he has already set the record for most punt returns and most punt-return yardage — having surpassed Dave Meggett and Brian Mitchell, respectively.

If you don’t remember those names, how about this one: Michael Irvin? Dallas Cowboys hall of fame receiver? Edelman has the opportunity to move from fourth on the all-time receiving yards list and past Irvin for second place with an average game Sunday. Irvin, in 16 playoff games, amassed 1,315 yards receiving. Third-place and Oakland Raiders great Cliff Branch has 1,289 yards in 22 games. Edelman goes into his fifth Super Bowl with 1,271 yards.

Edelman is already in second place in total playoff receptions with 105, becoming just the second receiver in NFL history to have more than 100 catches in the playoffs. Depending on how much longer he plays, Rice’s total of 151 in 29 games is definitely in play

If a player’s ability to come through in the clutch is a factor, Edelman has that covered as well. Of his 105 catches, 71 have gone for first downs.

In addition, he’s scored five touchdowns, won a pair of Super Bowls and had one of the most iconic catches in Super Bowl history with his catch of a tipped ball in Super Bowl LI in 2017 which helped the Patriots to a 34-28 overtime win over Atlanta.

So, I’ll ask again: what is your definition of a hall of famer? Could anyone have imagined having this conversation about a 5-10, converted high school and college quarterback? Yet here we are. Edelman is one of the top NFL playoff performers of all time and he still may not be done. He has to be put in the discussion.

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Burlingame’s Ryan Tam had a strong showing for the Squaw Valley Olympic Valley Freestyle and Freeride Team in the Freestyle Spectacular national freestyle competition in Sun Valley, Idaho, winning his age group in singles moguls competition last weekend.

Moguls skiing is judged by speed and jumping tricks down a snow-covered, mound-filled course. Tam, competing in U15, won his age bracket during a pair of runs over the weekend, with his performance Sunday earning him fourth place overall.

The SquawFree Team, as the team is known, had quite the Peninsula flavor with a total of four skiers from San Mateo County making the trip to Sun Valley: In addition to Tam, Alisha Gupta (San Carlos), Nick Mulligan (Woodside) and Ryan Wong (Hillsborough) all participated in the event.

Tam was one of five club skiers to win their age bracket, three more were runner-up and there was one third-place finish as the SquawFree Team ended up winning the team competition.

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Daly City announced its 2019 Daly City Sports Hall of Fame class this week with eight new names and the 1983 Jefferson football team that won the North Peninsula League and Central Coast Section championships.

Corey Cafferata — the former record-setting Westmoor girls’ basketball coach who is currently running the women’s program at Mission College in Santa Clara and who was inducted into the Pacifica Sports Hall of Fame previously — is representing Oceana basketball. Joining him are: Ralph Gage (Jefferson, baseball), Donna Imsand (Westmoor, basketball), Terry Lewis (El Camino, basketball), Jim Mason (Westmoor, basketball), Dan Montelongo (Westmoor, football), Ted Scott (Westmoor, basketball), Linda Spaargaren (Westmoor, track and field).

The induction ceremony is scheduled for 6 p.m. May 11 at the South San Francisco Elks Lodge. For more information, visit the Daly City Sports Hall of Fame Facebook page.

Nathan Mollat can be reached by email: nathan@smdailyjournal.com or by phone: 344-5200 ext. 117.