Edelman mounts vigorous appeal, sources say

Julian Edelman's appeal of his four-game drug suspension was heard Monday, and sources said he planned to mount a vigorous defense that questioned the NFL's handling of his case.

ESPN reported earlier this month that the New England Patriots receiver is facing a four-game suspension for violating the league's performance-enhancing drug policy.

As the MMQB reported a few days later, the substance for which Edelman tested positive wasn't one the league's drug testers recognized. That remains one of two key issues at the heart of his appeal.

The other, according to a source, involves a mishandling of the documentation and delivery of Edelman's test results. During the course of the investigation,…