Semi OT: Bledsoe/Parcells SI article from 1995

[blackglass3]

Just saw this on SI and thought I would share. Like them or not, they helped get this franchise away from the laughingstock it was.

From the opposite personalities of Patriot quarterback - 09.04.95 - SI Vault

 

[Armchair Quarterback]

Just saw this on SI and thought I would share. Like them or not, they helped get this franchise away from the laughingstock it was.

From the opposite personalities of Patriot quarterback - 09.04.95 - SI Vault

Here we go again. Another Bledsoe= Savior thread. Long overdue, it must have been a week since the last one.

 

[JonVaughnTD]

Here we go again. Another Bledsoe= Savior thread. Long overdue, it must have been a week since the last one.

He was the Savior. Am I the only one that remembers the pre-Bledsoe Patriots and how much the franchise turned around after he arrived? I'm only 31, not that old, I shouldn't be the only one.

 

[BennyBledsoe]

You're not the only one, Vaughn.

Some people around here like to look through Brady-tinted glasses at the past.

Without Bledsoe and Parcells making the Patriots relevant again, this team would have faded into oblivion.

Let's also not forget how Bledsoe set records with a largely forgettable cast of receivers aside from Coates. How many people here realize he set an NFL record in 94 by completing more than 50 passes to 5 different receivers?

How many people forget that against one of the best defenses in the league in Super Bowl XXXI he managed to keep the team in it until Max Lane let Bledsoe get sacked into oblivion, forcing him to hurry his throws?

He wasn't Brady but he wasn't ****, either, like some of the so-called fans on this board seem to believe.

 

[nashvillepatsfan]

You're not the only one, Vaughn.

Some people around here like to look through Brady-tinted glasses at the past.

Without Bledsoe and Parcells making the Patriots relevant again, this team would have faded into oblivion.

Let's also not forget how Bledsoe set records with a largely forgettable cast of receivers aside from Coates. How many people here realize he set an NFL record in 94 by completing more than 50 passes to 5 different receivers?

How many people forget that against one of the best defenses in the league in Super Bowl XXXI he managed to keep the team in it until Max Lane let Bledsoe get sacked into oblivion, forcing him to hurry his throws?

He wasn't Brady but he wasn't ****, either, like some of the so-called fans on this board seem to believe.

Careful Benny. Saying nice things about Bledsoe isnt allowed here....Certain posters will turn this thread into a "Drew sucks" thread. :bricks:

Oh btw,,,,i still havent forgiven Max Lane

 

[BennyBledsoe]

Yeah, I know. It's very taboo here People love to look at statistics in raw isolation instead of in context.

 

[Armchair Quarterback]

You're not the only one, Vaughn.

Some people around here like to look through Brady-tinted glasses at the past.

Without Bledsoe and Parcells making the Patriots relevant again, this team would have faded into oblivion.

Let's also not forget how Bledsoe set records with a largely forgettable cast of receivers aside from Coates. How many people here realize he set an NFL record in 94 by completing more than 50 passes to 5 different receivers?

How many people forget that against one of the best defenses in the league in Super Bowl XXXI he managed to keep the team in it until Max Lane let Bledsoe get sacked into oblivion, forcing him to hurry his throws?

He wasn't Brady but he wasn't ****, either, like some of the so-called fans on this board seem to believe.

Wow, talk about looking through tinted glasses.

Relevant again after what, a four year layoff. So the Pats sucked for four years 1989-92 (really sucked a 14-50 record). Before that how about 1 losing season in 13 (1976-88) for a 113-83 record (take out the 81 season and you're looking at a 111-69 record). What is Bledsoe's record again with the Pats? That's right a 63-60 record. Thank God for the savior.

Maybe you can enlighten us as to what some of these records he set with that "largely forgettable cast" are. And I mean other than pass attempts.

What I remember about SB 36 was Bledsoe throwing 4 interceptions. (edit SB 31)

Here are some more of his post season highlights taken from his Wikipedia page.

Post-season records and statistics

3-3 in the post-season as a starter (3-0 at home)
252 passes attempted
129 passes completed
51.1 Completion Percentage
54.9 QB Rating
1335 passing yards
6 passing touchdowns
12 passes intercepted
21 passing attempts per interception in the post-season
42 passing attempts per TD in the post-season
2-0 in AFC Championship games (in last Patriots appearance came off bench for injured Brady to win at Pittsburgh January 2002)
1 Super Bowl Championship (2001, New England Patriots)

Inspiring stuff huh, I don't have to list Brady's postseason record for you, do I? Or would I be looking through Brady tinted glasses.

I get many of you liked Bledsoe, owned his jersey and thought he was a great QB even when he was playing awful. The thing is I didn't become a fan of the team because of Bledsoe like many of you did, I was already a fan of the team and Parcells coming to the team was a much, much bigger deal to myself and everyone else I knew. If you want to appoint a savior for keeping the team in NE, there is only one person responsible for that and his name is Bob Kraft.

And thanks for once again for dragging down the level of discussion on this board to a by annointing anyone who doesn't agree with you as a so-called fan.

 

[Armchair Quarterback]

He was the Savior. Am I the only one that remembers the pre-Bledsoe Patriots and how much the franchise turned around after he arrived? I'm only 31, not that old, I shouldn't be the only one.

By aging yourself, you probably are too young to remember any Patriot history before Bledsoe. 31 now what 13,14 when they got Bledsoe. I'll go out on a limb and say you weren't a big fan during the 89-92 seasons and too young to remember the good teams before that. So if your history with the team starts in 93 than I could see how you would see Bledsoe as a savior but just don't try to educate me on Patriot history.

 

[Kontradiction]

I'm only 24, so Bledsoe and Brady are pretty much the only two quarterbacks I remember this franchise having.

 

[Patsrock]

Wow, talk about looking through tinted glasses.

Relevant again after what, a four year layoff. So the Pats sucked for four years 1989-92 (really sucked a 14-50 record). Before that how about 1 losing season in 13 (1976-88) for a 113-83 record (take out the 81 season and you're looking at a 111-69 record). What is Bledsoe's record again with the Pats? That's right a 63-60 record. Thank God for the savior.

Maybe you can enlighten us as to what some of these records he set with that "largely forgettable cast" are. And I mean other than pass attempts.

What I remember about SB 36 was Bledsoe throwing 4 interceptions.

Here are some more of his post season highlights taken from his Wikipedia page.

Post-season records and statistics

3-3 in the post-season as a starter (3-0 at home)
252 passes attempted
129 passes completed
51.1 Completion Percentage
54.9 QB Rating
1335 passing yards
6 passing touchdowns
12 passes intercepted
21 passing attempts per interception in the post-season
42 passing attempts per TD in the post-season
2-0 in AFC Championship games (in last Patriots appearance came off bench for injured Brady to win at Pittsburgh January 2002)
1 Super Bowl Championship (2001, New England Patriots)

Inspiring stuff huh, I don't have to list Brady's postseason record for you, do I? Or would I be looking through Brady tinted glasses.

I get many of you liked Bledsoe, owned his jersey and thought he was a great QB even when he was playing awful. The thing is I didn't become a fan of the team because of Bledsoe like many of you did, I was already a fan of the team and Parcells coming to the team was a much, much bigger deal to myself and everyone else I knew. If you want to appoint a savior for keeping the team in NE, there is only one person responsible for that and his name is Bob Kraft.

And thanks for once again for dragging down the level of discussion on this board to a by annointing anyone who doesn't agree with you as a so-called fan.

1. It was not just a 4 year lay off. The Pats were not a relevant team in this area(exceptions 76,78.85). Parcells/Bledsoe helped starting getting this team into the Boston sports scene.

2. It was Super Bowl 31 not 36. What I remember about that Super Bowl was bad tackling on special teams, The secondary getting burnt TWICE on TD's. Parcells all about me act that week. Max Lane getting tossed a like rag by Reggie White.

3. I never thought he was a great QB, but I also know he was a major reason this team became a team talked about in Boston.

 

[Halifax_Pats_Fan]

I always liked Bledsoe...I wish him all the best.

As a fan he gave me lots of great memories.

No flaming here. I acknowledge and am grateful for having him on our team. He was pissed at Brady getting that job, and who wouldn't be? He is a competitor.

Thanks to Drew and coach Parcells...was a great time in Patriots history...

 

[Patsrock]

By aging yourself, you probably are too young to remember any Patriot history before Bledsoe. 31 now what 13,14 when they got Bledsoe. I'll go out on a limb and say you weren't a big fan during the 89-92 seasons and too young to remember the good teams before that. So if your history with the team starts in 93 than I could see how you would see Bledsoe as a savior but just don't try to educate me on Patriot history.

That is crap. I am 33 and I could go head to head with anyone on Patriots history. I have been a huge Pats fans since 1981 when I went to my first game vs the Chiefs(one of 2 wins that year). I remember Andy Johnson's 66 yd TD pass Morgan like it was yesterday. Andy Johnson had 4 TD's that year on 9 passes.

 

[Jambalaya]

While I don't think Bledsoe was a savior, he was much better than the starting QB's we fielded in the years prior to his arrival:

Tommy Hodson
Marc Wilson
Jeff Carlson
Hugh Millen
Scott Zolak

 

[borg]

Parcells brought legitimacy to the franchise, Bledsoe brought excitement. Like him or not, Bledsoe came in as the gunslinging #1 draft pick who exponentially expanded the teams fanbase. That is a fact. Fans and nonfans began tuning in Sundays to watch a style of football that was not all that familiar to New England...and they liked what they saw. Regardless of how Bledsoe's career turned out, his impact on the franchise cannot be disregarded.

 

[HEY BRO! WHAT UP?]

There is seriously something wrong with you if you don't appreciate what Bledsoe did for this franchise.

Remember in '98 when he broke his finger against the Dolphins yet threw the game winning TD to Shawn Jefferson?

How about that last second TD to Ben Coates against the Bills in '98?

 

[Armchair Quarterback]

That is crap. I am 33 and I could go head to head with anyone on Patriots history. I have been a huge Pats fans since 1981 when I went to my first game vs the Chiefs(one of 2 wins that year). I remember Andy Johnson's 66 yd TD pass Morgan like it was yesterday. Andy Johnson had 4 TD's that year on 9 passes.

When you were what 4 or 5 years old? OK. Bledsoe has a place in Patriots history I just don't get the need to elevate him to savior. He was one part of the equation. Calling him a savior is a slap in the face to Hannah, Tippett, Haynes, Morgan and the other teams that came before him.

 

[Armchair Quarterback]

There is seriously something wrong with you if you don't appreciate what Bledsoe did for this franchise.

Remember in '98 when he broke his finger against the Dolphins yet threw the game winning TD to Shawn Jefferson?

How about that last second TD to Ben Coates against the Bills in '98?

Those were both good regular season plays. I acknowledge Bledsoe's place in Patriot history but don't understand the need to start a thread about it again and again and again and again and again and again. The horse is dead, no need to keep beating it.

 

[Patsrock]

When you were what 4 or 5 years old? OK. Bledsoe has a place in Patriots history I just don't get the need to elevate him to savior. He was one part of the equation. Calling him a savior is a slap in the face to Hannah, Tippett, Haynes, Morgan and the other teams that came before him.

Actually, yeah. Why, do you find it hard to believe a 5 yr old can not be a huge fan? No it is not a slap in the face to those guys. The Pats were a dying team here in 1992. From 1981 to 1996 I missed 6 home games. Yes I still have all my stubs from those games. My father went to Super Bowl XX with my older brother. I was so ticked that my took my brother, but he made up for that in 2001. So please do not say that 5 years can not be big fans.

Those guys you mentioned never had the marketing impact in their entire careers that Bledsoe had in his rookie year. That made the Pats a legit team in the Boston market.

1.Parcells being hired was the #1 thing gave a legitamacy this franchise had not had since 1978.

2.Drafting Bledsoe gave the team a young QB that the team could market and get fans a reason to show up.

3. Kraft buying the team in 1994 wrapped it all up.

 

[Armchair Quarterback]

Actually, yeah. Why, do you find it hard to believe a 5 yr old can not be a huge fan? No it is not a slap in the face to those guys. The Pats were a dying team here in 1992. From 1981 to 1996 I missed 6 home games. Yes I still have all my stubs from those games. My father went to Super Bowl XX with my older brother. I was so ticked that my took my brother, but he made up for that in 2001. So please do not say that 5 years can not be big fans.

Those guys you mentioned never had the marketing impact in their entire careers that Bledsoe had in his rookie year. That made the Pats a legit team in the Boston market.

1.Parcells being hired was the #1 thing gave a legitamacy this franchise had not had since 1978.

2.Drafting Bledsoe gave the team a young QB that the team could market and get fans a reason to show up.

3. Kraft buying the team in 1994 wrapped it all up.

I agree with all of this (except for 1978 maybe) including the order you put it in and if people could talk about Bledsoe in these terms and not use words like savior than I would have a lot less problems with what they say.

 

[Snapper]

The Krishnas live!!!