Congratulations to Drew Bledsoe! Bledsoe turned this franchise around from being 'lovable losers' to 'actual contenders' every year. Who remembers a perennial losing team led by forgettable QBs such as Secules, Hodson or Millen? Who remembers seeing televised games where fans wore paper bags on their heads because they would be ashamed to be recognized in public? Who remembers dark seasons of 1-15, 2-14, and being the cellar dweller doormats of the AFC East?
The arrival of Drew Bledsoe in 1993 heralded a new era that would banish such memories from existence. Under Drew Bledsoe and donning new laundry, the Pats finally became a respectable team, a team that played in the postseason on a regular basis. Bledsoe led the Pats to the Superbowl in 96, losing to the Favre led Packers. And arguably Desmond Howard had as much to do with the Packers win as Favre did.
Let's also not forget Bledsoe's contributions in the AFC championship game against Pitt in 2001 when Brady was hurt. Bledsoe has been a class act, a consummate professional, and most importantly he brought a new tradition of WINNING to New England. In short, Drew really deserves this award. Well done sir, you will live on in the fans memories as well as in the Patriots Hall of Fame.
Some of you need to come back down to Earth in your over the top praises and fabrications of Drew Bledsoe, who I hear is a classy guy. He was not a consummate professional after he lost his job, and a consummate professional would probably work a little harder at his craft than Bledsoe did. You talk about the dark seasons preceding Bledsoe but his record from the midpoint of 1999 to when he was replaced by Brady was 7-19.
Under Bledsoe, the Patriots were a .500 team, the 1976-1988 teams were much better than that, and the post Bledsoe teams are off the charts better.
1976 11-3
1977 9-5
1978 11-5
1979 9-7
1980 10-6
1981 2-14
1982 5-4
1983 8-8
1984 9-7
1985 11-5
1986 11-5
1987 8-7
1988 9-7 1976-1988 1 losing season 113-83 .576 win pct.
1989 5-11
1990 1-15
1991 6-10 1989-1992 4 losing seasons 14-50 .218 win pct
1992 2-14 1976-1992 127-123 .508 win pct.
1993 5-11 Bledsoe (5-7)
1994 10-6
1995 6-10
1996 11-5
1997 10-6
1998 9-7 1993-2000 The Bledsoe years 64-64 .500 win pct.
1999 8-8 Bledsoe's record as Pat's starting QB 63-60 .512 win pct.
2000 5-11
2001 11-5 (Bledsoe 0-2)
2002 9-7
2003 14-2
2004 14-2
2005 10-6
2006 12-4
2007 16-0
2008 11-5
2009 10-6
2010 14-2 Patriots record since Bledsoe was replaced 121-37 .766 win pct
As for leading them to the playoffs, its more like the defense led them to the playoffs, dominated in the playoffs and got to the SB in spite of the QB play. Here are his playoff stats. 6 touchdowns 12 interceptions and a dreadful completion percentage
1994 vs Cle 21-50 235 yds 1 td 3 int Pats lose 20-13
1996 vs Pit 14-24 164 yds 1 td 2 int Pats win 28-3
1996 vs Jax 20-33 178 yds 0 td 1 int Pats win 20-6
1996 vs GB 24-48 253 yds 2 td 4 int Pats lose 35-21
1997 vs Mia 16-32 139 yds 1 td 0 int Pats win 17-3
1997 vs Pit 23-44 264 yds 0 td 2 int Pats lose 7-6
In 1996 they got to the Super Bowl because the defense gave up 9 points combined in their two playoff games. Bledsoe threw 4 interceptions in the Super Bowl.
In 1997 they were eliminated despite having the defense give up only 9 points combined in their two playoff games. Bledsoe led offense couldn't muster more than 6 points against Pitt.
In the 2001 AFCCG he was 10-21 for 102 with 1 td when he was spotted the ball on Pitts 40 yard line.
Special Teams accounted for the other 17 Points the Pats scored in that game, you want to give someone credit for leading the Pats to victory try Troy Brown as well as the defense.
