I loved the big kid when he came and will always remember that game against Minnesota his 2nd year and the opener against Marino the next year. The game in Miami perhaps epitomized his career here from my perspective. He gave us some amazing excitement there and came close but didn't seal the deal.
He and Parcells changed the trajectory of the whole franchise when they came here. Finally we had some hope. For those of us whose best memories with the team had become distant and buried under a crapfest of Sullivan/Michael Jackson nonsense, Victor Kiam/Sam Jankovic idiocy, and **** McPherson/Rod Rust pathos. My Dad and I went to all the games from the start of the season in 1973 and all through my high school and college days, but the last ticket price hike from Kiam was the last straw and we gave up the seats. Parcells and Bledsoe came, then Kraft the next year, and the 50,000 person waiting list for season tickets was soon to follow. Drew played a huge role in that and it made a difference IMHO when the dealing really started to get a legit stadium here and keep them here for sure.
When I think about him, of course it starts with his maddening play on the field, but I also remember how damn impressed I was watching a 20 year old kid handle himself so well in the very intense light of the Boston sports media culture here (stage dive notwithstanding). His flaws and talents were both glaring - yup, he was tall and had a strong arm and he had a strong arm and was tall, a great quote that sums his play up well for what it says and doesn't say.
For me this interview was probably the best one I can remember with him - Minihane notwithstanding. Thanks Ian for doing this.
