Bledsoe's post-football life

RayClay said:

Drew always played hard and played hurt which is all you can ask. Sure, he wasn't as driven as a John Hanna, but few are. He had other interests and enjoyed his private life in the area he grew up in, can't really crucify someone for that.

His obvious weakness with foot work and agility might have been ameliorated with some dance lessons, or something, and I will fault him for that.

Glad to hear him say you don't have to worry about Brady, because Tom makes me wonder if he is totally focused lately. Hopefully a strong varied game plan will take care of that this year, though i don't know where we expect that to come from.

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Unfortunately, his apparently less obvious (to some) weakness was planted stubbornly between his ears. Beyond playing hard and hurt, a QB needs to play smart. Drew didn't, and Belichick can attest to that. And in the end even Parcell's could attest to that.

PatsFanSince74 said:

As Pats fans we're all hoping that Tommy is in the Elway/Favre category!

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Then you better start hoping that the Pats cheat the salary cap within the next ten years or so.

Pewsterbaby said:

I swear, there's always been this freaking backlash against Drew Bledsoe by almost every Pats fan who's under the age of 40. Most of y'all didn't even come on board 'till they had the blue jerseys. Well, you're all spoiled. 5 Super Bowl trips in 12 years.
I'm 43 and I, ME, I remember Pats joke quarterbacks I, ME, I had to suffer watching through the 70's & 80's, like...

Hugh Millen
Bob Bleir
Tom Ramsey
Doug Flutie (who blew 1st time around, and wasn't a factor on later jaunts)
Tom freaking Owen
Hugh Millen
Marc Wilson
Matt Cavanaugh
and Tony Eason (who's the only Super Bowl qb not to complete a pass)

Allow ME to tell you that when Bledsoe came, The Pats finally had a real quarterback who's ability (emphasis on the word "ability") other teams feared. Yeah, a REAL marquee name around the league. Before that, most people couldn't even NAME whoever was the Pats quarterback was at any point and time.

There's 5 Pats qb's who are above juvenile jibes like yours. They're named Parilli, Plunkett, Grogan, Bledsoe, and Brady. What? Where the heck were YOU while those other cans of corn up there were slinging for The Pats in the old stadium? Yer spoiled.
Oh, and as far as Brady playing at 38, we'll believe it when we see it. What, You got a freakng crystal ball 'er sumpthin'?

Bledsoe put The Pats back on the map. The relevancy map. I remember DECADES when they weren't even on the radar, lost in the sea of nfl oblivion. You want me to give you a ride to school this morning? Learn your history prior to the year 2000, junior. The Dalai Lama you're not.

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Two words for you: Dee Caf.

It's funny - people can't like Brady and appreciate Bledsoe - it's never worked. When that whole incident occurred in 2001 this board was here (in another format) and I can tell you first hand I've read hundreds of threads on that subject and people always insist on bashing the guy.

The guy helped bring the franchise back to respectibility and got the team to several postseason appearances and a Super Bowl, and at the time it was more than anyone had really done consistantly to that point. Obviously the hit he sustained (which did nearly kill him) changed the course of history, and obviously that's where Brady got his shot.

The difference between Brady & Bledsoe can be summed up like a quote I heard yesterday. Bledsoe wanted to win, while Brady needs to win. Bledsoe's best years were always in a year he had something to prove. Look back historically and he always had a great year followed by a not so great year. Back-to-Back solid seasons were always something he struggled with.

Say what you want about the guy, but he's never cheated on his wife, been arrested, or assaulted anyone (unless you count the stupid stage diving incident) and he started a foundation focused on being a great parent. Each year when the season was over he headed back west and from everything I read over the years spending time with his family in the offseason was always more important. Granted that didn't make him a better football player, and while he may not have achieved 'complete success' on the field, at least it appears he's certainly achieving plenty of it now that he's retired. So good for him.

MoLewisrocks said:

The hit didn't kill him, it was a clean hit, it certainly "rocked" the foundation of this franchise (and took BB off the hook on that score), and the screen name wasn't adopted until well after all of that was known. ...
And it is unfortunate we can't ever have this discussion without someone like yourself also resorting to personal comments...:ugh:

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It was a clean hit, but the sheared blood vessel was definitely a life threatening injury that put him in the hospital; I never said it wasn't clean and I stand by my statement.

My comment was not insulting or gratuitous. It called you out, despite my stated respect for your posts in general, on your nick. Your nick makes a statement with which I disagree.

Pewsterbaby said:

I swear, there's always been this freaking backlash against Drew Bledsoe by almost every Pats fan who's under the age of 40.

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I am 26 now and I was like 10 or so when we drafted Drew. I grew up and he was my favorite player I had jerseys and over a 100 of his football cards and I loved watching him play and to this day there is only one player I have liked more in my life than Drew and that is Brady (some come close and some tie but only Brady has surpassed).

Some of the moments Drew gave me will stick with me for a lifetime, the bomb to Glenn in the Fog, his TD to Patten vs the Steelers, the back to back games he won on 2 inute drives with a broken finger, the countless Bledsoe to Coates moments, telling Drew to F that and go out and sling it, and many many more.

I am a weird case though as my first memories of football were the 2-14 teams and Scott Secules and Hugh Millen and somehow I still fell in love with it and when we got Drew it went to a whole other level.

Glad to see a prominent New England sports figure happy, successfull and solidly decent post sports career. A nice contrast to some of the leading limelight sports figures these days.

PatsWickedPissah said:

Glad to see a prominent New England sports figure happy, successfull and solidly decent post sports career. A nice contrast to some of the leading limelight sports figures these days.

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Well said.

PatsFanSince74 said:

It was a clean hit, but the sheared blood vessel was definitely a life threatening injury that put him in the hospital; I never said it wasn't clean and I stand by my statement.

My comment was not insulting or gratuitous. It called you out, despite my stated respect for your posts in general, on your nick. Your nick makes a statement with which I disagree.

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And that's what in fact made it personal. The thread wasn't about me or Mo or nick's. It was about Drew's passion. Although as is always the case it eventually evolved into Drew's legacy. I didn't even weigh in until the revisionist worship service started. I seldom do. I don't hate Drew. I don't even think he was remotely the worst QB in the history of the game. He simply was who he was, a gunslinger with an entrenched sense of entitlement who didn't get it - and IT is the foundation of this system. Unlike some I don't have any more remorse in acknowledging that now than I did at the time. You admittedly do. Sorry you're so conflicted in hindsight...

If Bill had benched him (which was obviously going to have happened eventually as it ultimately did in Buffalo and Dallas - because Drew persisted in making the same mental mistakes over and over which is the one thing Belichick can't tolerate) I might have chosen the nick BBRocks or perhaps the name of whichever DB he threw his last pick to precipitate his benching and Brady's fortuitous elevation. Although it likely would have been a little too late to salvage a ring out of that 2001 season and who knows if BB or Brady would have gotten to hang around until 2003 since Brady's deal was up after 2002 and it's not likely they extend him at starting rates coming off a 9-7 season - which might have even been wishful thinking in the wake of the even greater PR ****storm Belichick would have certainly faced from his legion of critics regarding moving away from a face of the franchise $100M QB absent a ring. It would have been nearly impossible to convince Kraft of the wisdom in elevating a 6th rounder like Brady over the guy he loved like a son under those circumstances, let alone the media horde that was convinced before his 5-13 start as the HC of the NEP that Belichick was the anti-Christ and Kraft was a shmuck for hiring him.

So sorry the nick offends you. You're gonna have to live with that, and I'd suggest you do so privately like your own remorseful cross to bear. Feel free to PM me your dismay to your hearts content. Because that beats the heck out of thread hijacks which are increasingly becoming the accepted norm here lately.

MoLewisrocks said:

Unfortunately, his apparently less obvious (to some) weakness was planted stubbornly between his ears. Beyond playing hard and hurt, a QB needs to play smart. Drew didn't, and Belichick can attest to that. And in the end even Parcell's could attest to that.

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He was a lot smarter when he had Coates, and wasn't throwing off one foot with three guys hanging off him. Brady's no gazelle either, but he learned some footwork.

He was a good NFL QB when he had time to throw and get rid of the ball.

Brady's holding on to it too much the last couple years too, so I hope we and he have a different philosophy.

I'm very glad to see he's living happily and successfully doing what he enjoys. Drew has always been and always will be one of my favorite players ever. Good luck to him the rest of the way.

Celebrating a player for nearly killing someone (even with the resultant good fortunate for the Patriots afterwards) is pretty tasteless.

Check that: incredibly tasteless.

As for Bledsoe himself? I'm glad he's enjoying his time away from the game. Who knows...maybe if Tom had started doing the whole daddy go round thing earlier, perhaps we'd be saying the same things we are now regarding his perceived lack of commitment (whether for or against) much earlier.

The fact is Bledsoe got married and had kids at a much earlier point in his career than Tom did.

Drew was entering his 4th season here when he married, and midway through his 5th season when his first son was born. He was never under any obligation to spend his off seasons in Montana, that was his personal preference all along. And the only real problem that arose as a result of that decision was that while he maintained his shape he neglected to work on his craft. Having a family or not having one doesn't impact your ability to chose to work on your craft.

MoLewisrocks said:

And the only real problem that arose as a result of that decision was that while he maintained his shape he neglected to work on his craft. Having a family or not having one doesn't impact your ability to chose to work on your craft.

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It doesn't impact your ability, but I definitely think unless a player has a true desire to be a champion it certainly may take away some of that desire from a guy who didn't truly have it to start with. So I somewhat agree with what you're saying about his lack of desire to improve.

As I mentioned - I think Drew wanted to win, but I don't think that he had the same fire and desire that causes Brady to really need to win to be satisfied. That hurt him as a player - but my point was that at least he's a decent guy without all the baggage (ie: Roethlisberger) that many guys in his position sometimes come with. I respect what he did in helping get the franchise back to being competitive again, and appreciate a lot of the great moments that came before Brady took over.

Brady's a champion because he's a bigger competitor, while Drew wasn't and went through the motions without ever really getting to where he needed to be. It's good to see him doing well in retirement - and as I said I wish him the best.

MoLewisrocks said:

Drew was entering his 4th season here when he married, and midway through his 5th season when his first son was born. He was never under any obligation to spend his off seasons in Montana, that was his personal preference all along. And the only real problem that arose as a result of that decision was that while he maintained his shape he neglected to work on his craft. Having a family or not having one doesn't impact your ability to chose to work on your craft.

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Yeah, because I definitely mentioned how it affected his commitment to the team. Solid argument there.

Bledsoe had been with his eventual wife since college so the years don't exactly matter.

The only conjecture I made was what if Brady had started with the whole having a family kick earlier in his career... how would that have affected him? We see how it's affecting him now.

*shrugs

If you want to make a strawman argument, go for it.

One thing people forget is Drew coming in for Tom during the AFCCG and throwing a TD pass. Without that, there would have been no SB. And yes, he did almost throw a pick later in that game.

But Drew was a very good NFL player and a great role model. He will always be one of my favorite Patriots.

I loved it when he threw that pick to his favorite receiver, Troy Brown when Drew was playing for Buffalo. He always said that Troy was go to guy.

:agree:

You tell 'em, Homer!

BennyBledsoe said:

Celebrating a player for nearly killing someone (even with the resultant good fortunate for the Patriots afterwards) is pretty tasteless.

Check that: incredibly tasteless.

As for Bledsoe himself? I'm glad he's enjoying his time away from the game. Who knows...maybe if Tom had started doing the whole daddy go round thing earlier, perhaps we'd be saying the same things we are now regarding his perceived lack of commitment (whether for or against) much earlier.

The fact is Bledsoe got married and had kids at a much earlier point in his career than Tom did.

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What is tasteless about it?

As stated above Drew is still my second favorite player of all time and I am not ashamed to admit that I own a Mo Lewis Jersey......and I would like to add Drew being one tough SOB and trying to play after that hit to my list of great Drew memories and I would like to add Drew being one tough SOB and turning into almost the exact same hit on his first or second play from scrimmage after the injury.

That's great that he's using those lead feet to stomp grapes!!!

Sorry Drew - couldn't resist.

I have been and will always be one of Drew's biggest supporters around here for all that he did to serve as one of the major foundations of turning this franchise around.

Dont forget Scott Secules! I remember a game he started against San Diego the patriots fumbled the opening snap, and San Diego scored. Ah the "good"(bad) old days!



I swear, there's always been this freaking backlash against Drew Bledsoe by almost every Pats fan who's under the age of 40. Most of y'all didn't even come on board 'till they had the blue jerseys. Well, you're all spoiled. 5 Super Bowl trips in 12 years.
I'm 43 and I, ME, I remember Pats joke quarterbacks I, ME, I had to suffer watching through the 70's & 80's, like...

Hugh Millen
Bob Bleir
Tom Ramsey
Doug Flutie (who blew 1st time around, and wasn't a factor on later jaunts)
Tom freaking Owen
Hugh Millen
Marc Wilson
Matt Cavanaugh
and Tony Eason (who's the only Super Bowl qb not to complete a pass)

Allow ME to tell you that when Bledsoe came, The Pats finally had a real quarterback who's ability (emphasis on the word "ability") other teams feared. Yeah, a REAL marquee name around the league. Before that, most people couldn't even NAME whoever was the Pats quarterback was at any point and time.

There's 5 Pats qb's who are above juvenile jibes like yours. They're named Parilli, Plunkett, Grogan, Bledsoe, and Brady. What? Where the heck were YOU while those other cans of corn up there were slinging for The Pats in the old stadium? Yer spoiled.
Oh, and as far as Brady playing at 38, we'll believe it when we see it. What, You got a freakng crystal ball 'er sumpthin'?

Bledsoe put The Pats back on the map. The relevancy map. I remember DECADES when they weren't even on the radar, lost in the sea of nfl oblivion. You want me to give you a ride to school this morning? Learn your history prior to the year 2000, junior. The Dalai Lama you're not.[/QUOTE]