New England Patriots’ Julian Edelman doesn’t plan on accepting his four-game suspension at the start the 2018 NFL season gracefully; he’s going to fight it every step of the way.

Edelman was suspended for violating the NFL’s policy on performance-enhancing substances. The wide receiver and punt returner, who is recovering from an anterior cruciate ligament tear, missed all of 2017 due to his injury, which makes him question his suspension. In The MMQB, writer Albert Beer, shed some doubt on the testing process, “Edelman’s result was triggered by a substance that wasn’t immediately recognizable, and there are scientists analyzing it.”

"I don't know what happened," Edelman wrote on Instagram after the suspension was announced. "I've taken many, many tests obviously over the course of my career, and nothing like this has ever happened."

Via Sporting News

RELATED: REDRAFTING THE LAST 15 FIRST ROUND PICKS BY THE NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS

Edelman could stand to lose almost $1 million in salary, per-game bonuses, and signing bonus. He would also be barred from using the Patriots’ facilities and contacting Patriots coaches. He would also miss games against the Houston Texans, Jacksonville Jaguars, Detroit Lions, and Miami Dolphins.

He will, however, be able to attend practice during training camp and will be permitted to play in the Patriots' four preseason games. If suspended, Edelman’s ban wouldn’t begin until Aug. 30, 2018, after the Patriots’ final preseason game.

In a show of support, Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, who had his own legal entanglements after Deflategate, posted a video on Instagram of the two players practicing.

According to an ESPN report, Edelman may attempt to invalidate the suspension by challenging the findings since NFL scientists have admitted that they couldn’t recognize the substance that tested positive. Also, the player will try to prove that the NFL mishandled his sample and improperly delivered the evidence. If successful, the ruling could be overturned entirely.

Though it is not an open and shut case, Edelman may have a chance to cast doubt on the findings and the handling of the case. The player has retained an outside attorney, Alex Spiro, who has experience working with NBA players in legal trouble. ESPN has suggested that Spiro could take the case to federal court if the NFL verdict is unfavorable.

A 2012 Richard Sherman suspension that was overturned could set a precedent in Edelman's case. Sherman, who was playing with the Seattle Seahawks at the time, had his four-game PED suspension reversed after his appeal challenged "errors in the chain of custody of his urine sample" and "mistakes made by the tester."

RELATED: TOM BRADY HINTS AT RETIRING IN THE NEAR FUTURE