No sour grapes from retired Bledsoe

[MrTibbs]

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http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcon...boys/stories/101407dnspocowsider.31a51f3.html


"Bledsoe is closer to Brady than he is to Romo. Most of that has to do with when their careers intersected. He said Brady is "playing as well as anyone I've seen in a long, long time."

But Bledsoe said he feels a sense of pride with both.

"I'll follow both of them in their careers," Bledsoe said. "I feel like a bit of a mentor."

Like any good mentor, Bledsoe won't come out and declare who he thinks will win today's game. But you get a hint of where his loyalties lie when you ask the name of his flag football team.

They are the Patriots."

 

[italian pat patriot]

i always liked Drew (for sure one of the best 2-3 qb we ever had) and i am not surprised to read it

 

[Sean Pa Patriot]

Its just a shame he didnt devote to developing his game, and love football just a little more... He could have been something special, but he was class here and always will be..

 

[BradyManny]

Like any good mentor, Bledsoe won't come out and declare who he thinks will win today's game. But you get a hint of where his loyalties lie when you ask the name of his flag football team.

They are the Patriots."

Nice piece. Drew's the man.

 

[FrontSeven]

Its just a shame he didnt devote to developing his game, and love football just a little more... He could have been something special, but he was class here and always will be..

Yep, if he had really had the fire in the belly that Brady and others like him had, well, who knows? Even without the fire the guy did some special things.

He really didn't love coming to camp though. He dreaded leaving home to come here. He's one of those outdoors types that feels best doing the outdoors thing.

 

[Gwedd]

Fellers,

My biggest complaint about the Bledsoe years was not so much him. It was that the team rarely had a line good enough to keep him upright. there were some excellent O linesmen, but not enough at any one time to make a great O line like we have today. Whenever Drew had time, like Brady has these days, he could beat any team out there.

And yeah, I had some complaints about him, but he very much is a class guy, and I still respect him a great deal for the way he handled things his last year here.

Respects,

 

[NovaScotiaPatsFan]

Drew was a great QB and I was always very impressed how he handled both the Brady and the Romo situations. The only complaint I ever had about his gameplay was his statuesque nature, with Brady if someone gets close he at least has a chance to avoid it, but with Drew it was a sack 99 times out of 100.

I'll never forget him comin back in and leading us to the Superbowl against the Stealers.

 

[shmessy]

Fellers,

My biggest complaint about the Bledsoe years was not so much him. It was that the team rarely had a line good enough to keep him upright. there were some excellent O linesmen, but not enough at any one time to make a great O line like we have today. Whenever Drew had time, like Brady has these days, he could beat any team out there.

And yeah, I had some complaints about him, but he very much is a class guy, and I still respect him a great deal for the way he handled things his last year here.

Respects,

I admire Drew and what he did for this franchise.

That being said, I cannot agree with your characterization re: his OL protection.

Brady had the very same OL in 2001. The greatest difference that EVERYONE noticed when Brady took over during the season was how QUICKLY Brady made his decisions and got rid of the ball compared to Bledsoe. It was as stark a difference as night and day. Brady made (and still makes) his OL look better because he's a quicker reader/thrower.

 

[spacecrime]

NIce to hear Drew is doing well. A class guy.

 

[Flying Fungi]

when was Drew a 'good' mentor exactly? in between jabs at management and pouting?

 

[Patriots Nation NY]

What ever happend to Eugene Chung? Anyone?:singing:

 

[italian pat patriot]

there was 1 moment (when we were up against GB in the Super Bowl) that i thought he would have given us the first ring; but, infortunately, 'that' moment disappeared

still, again, i always been a # 11 fan and i would hv loved he could hv retired as a New England Patriot

still today: grazie Drew

 

[MoLewisrocks]

Fellers,

My biggest complaint about the Bledsoe years was not so much him. It was that the team rarely had a line good enough to keep him upright. there were some excellent O linesmen, but not enough at any one time to make a great O line like we have today. Whenever Drew had time, like Brady has these days, he could beat any team out there.

And yeah, I had some complaints about him, but he very much is a class guy, and I still respect him a great deal for the way he handled things his last year here.

Respects,

No offense, but it would be a rare Oline who could have ever protected him sufficiently, something neither Brady or Romo have or will have consistently in their careers. Each stepped in and took over behind the same supporting cast Drew couldn't do much of anything with, and made it to the playoffs or beyond. It's kinda like the old saying with the Lord...he helps those who help themselves. Given all day most any NFL QB will succeed, and the guys who command highest paid at their position status can't really expect a team to have truckloads of cap or cash to devote to proping them up.

Maintaining a viable relationship after they replaced him had at least as much to do with the personality and temperment of the guys replacing him, and the HC's managing them, as it did with Drew. He didnt make a huge public scene, but behind the scenes he was a little less standup than he will likely always get credit for being at least around here. Like he said, he was a bit of a mentor to each, but not much more.

That said I'm glad he is happy in retirement from the NFL, and finally had the sense to pass on any more phone calls. He never had any interest in being anything but a #1 starter, and he hasn't really been a viable enough one to hold that position to anyone's benefit for several years.

 

[Pats726]

I agree...he really helped to make the Patriot team what they are today...with Parcells and Kraft, they saved the organization from collapse and a move. You have to give him that...

 

[5 Rings for Brady!!]

I admire Drew and what he did for this franchise.

That being said, I cannot agree with your characterization re: his OL protection.

Brady had the very same OL in 2001. The greatest difference that EVERYONE noticed when Brady took over during the season was how QUICKLY Brady made his decisions and got rid of the ball compared to Bledsoe. It was as stark a difference as night and day. Brady made (and still makes) his OL look better because he's a quicker reader/thrower.

You and Mo have thankfully covered the OLine rumour, so I will just add that we have never had consistent OL play for Brady except in 2001 and this year, so far.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

Please, no more excuses for Bledsoe's archtypical pocket cluelessness. That aside, I'm glad to see him enjoying retirement with his family. He's a family guy and he certainly has the financial resources to do whatever he wishes with his life.
Live long and Prosper, Drew.

 

[LuthierJr]

I've always liked Bledsoe. Aside from the non-existent scrambling skills the dude has a cannon for an arm and can read the field well.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

I've always liked Bledsoe. Aside from the non-existent scrambling skills the dude has a cannon for an arm and can read the field well.

You had me right up until the last clause.

 

[PATSNUTme]

there was 1 moment (when we were up against GB in the Super Bowl) that i thought he would have given us the first ring; but, infortunately, 'that' moment disappeared

still, again, i always been a # 11 fan and i would hv loved he could hv retired as a New England Patriot

still today: grazie Drew

Had Max Lane and Todd Rucci not been knocked on their asses on several key occasions, who know what Drew would have done in that game. It was embarrassing to watch two OL's get knocked back on their butts in the most important game of all.

 

[italian pat patriot]

Had Max Lane and Todd Rucci not been knocked on their asses on several key occasions, who know what Drew would have done in that game. It was embarrassing to watch two OL's get knocked back on their butts in the most important game of all.

true.
on that game i have never forgotten a beautiful Drew pass to Terry Glenn. wow...i was excited...