San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Braylon Edwards will be playing an entire full season, and the entire Bay Area can now rest easy.
The NFL has let the 49ers know that Edwards will not be suspended for his driving-while-intoxicated incident last September as a New York Jet, Mindi Bach and Matt Maiocco of CSN Bay Area report. The league considers the manner closed.
Obviously this case has taken a long time and has left the Niners twisting in the wind over whether if the wide receiver would or would not be cleared for the start of the season. The Niners would probably point at the quick resolution of similar incidents from Kenny Britt and Aqib Talib as evidence of a double standard, but Britt and Talib committed acts that occurred when the CBA was not in effect. Edwards's infraction occurred during the season when the personal conduct policy was still in effect.
In terms of football, the 49ers now have two quality receivers to line up for Alex Smith to throw footballs to, as Edwards (currently listed as co-starter with Ted Ginn) and Josh Morgan should team up with Vernon Davis to provide a decent starting lineup. If Michael Crabtree could get healthy, the Niners could finally have an effective and versatile offense that could get their team places in the moribund NFC West.
For more on Edwards, check out Niners Nation.