Drew Bledsoe: It took me a while before I could cheer for the pats

[ErniesPinkStripes]

This is completely insane. Parcells and Bledsoe made this team relevant again. Drew was a franchise QB before the game changed around him. The disrespect here is sickening. But, typical hypocritical fans. Root for laundry but expect loyalty from the players when it comes time to negotiate a contract.

Obviously Brady became a better QB. Drew did not have his work ethic. Several stories have come out that illuminate this fact. But as far as pure talent, pure physical ability to throw a football- Drew dominated Tom. We were lucky to get to see him play. That game winner against Miami with a broken finger is one of my favorite Patriots memories of all time.

Not sure why you're so up in arms, I don't see any real disrespect for DB in this thread...

Just sort of matter of fact analysis of his weaknesses etc, and a ton of appreciation posts... I'm sure every pats fan respects him.

 

[condon84]

Drew was a warrior for us. He left it out there. Nothing but respect and I understand why he felt the way he did.

Still glad BB made the right decision.

 

[Off The Grid]

Kraft's fault, ruining our uniforms and insanely proclaiming Bledsoe the G.O.A.T. (prior to '01 season).

No way ever I would consider starting Bledsoe over Parilli, Plunkett, Grogan, Flutie, Brady or even others. If I wanted to win the game.

Kraft didn't change the uniform from Pat Patriot to Flying Elvis. That was Orthwein .

Now you gone and done it.

 

[Actual Pats Fan]

Kraft didn't change the uniform from Pat Patriot to Flying Elvis. That was Orthwein .

Correct. After five minutes here, did it quickly, before Parcells showed up. Invited Kraft to pick out the replacement from amongst the feces hastily conjured up by NFL Properties; and still a year later making offers to buy Kraft out and move the team.

Have speculated that Kraft, in keeping with 100% going along with whatever crap the league comes up with, chose not to make waves, at least until his purchase of the team was official. Truth revealed, Kraft considers himself the center of the universe and 33 years of football, including real heroes who led the team to victories over the best in the NFL, who made real personal sacrifices and sufferred real extensive injuries, an already world-wide fan base and a stadium full of fans who expressed their choice were completely ignored and insulted.

Hey, how'd you like to choose from these replacement options from Uruguay, 'cause the U.S. clearly sucks and needs a makeover? We're trashing the old, obsolete American Flag which symbolizes losing and humiliation.

Well, what I'd want to say is: "On behalf of every veteran who fought and risked and lost his life for this country for 217 years, and all of the American people past, present and future, I say: Over My Dead Body!"

But, if I thought about it, I might just play along until I took control of the team.

Then, at the press conference announcing my purchase of the Patriots, faster than you can say "CMGI Field" or scribble "I resign as HC of the NYJ" on the back of a napkin, I'd reach around the podium and tear that disgusting thing off, turn and rip the media curtain down, pick up and smash that stupid Cowboys silver helmet into the floor, pull out a Pat Patriot flag and say "THIS is the New England Patriots. They're not Billy Sullivan's team. They're not my team. The Patriots are NEW ENGLAND's team. And we're here to stay, and the days of the NFL degrading us and pushing us around are over. They're finished."

Later, "Yeah-the Tuck rule was league's creation. We opposed it."
"ESPN can suck it."
"Coach Belichick violated no rules. The league is pretending he did. And I oppose and appeal this entire decision and penalty."
"I'd just like to publicly say before we play this game, that our season dedicated to Marquise Hill will not be tarnished by a Giants team that chooses to insult us, even after they honored Sean Taylor like a model citizen. And, the John Tomase article in the Boston Herald is total bullsh*t. And no, I'm not sorry for swearing."
"Our organization did nothing to the balls and broke no rules. Once again, I oppose and appeal this entire decision and penalty."

 

[Actual Pats Fan]

This is completely insane. Parcells and Bledsoe made this team relevant again. Drew was a franchise QB before the game changed around him. The disrespect here is sickening. But, typical hypocritical fans. Root for laundry but expect loyalty from the players when it comes time to negotiate a contract.

Obviously Brady became a better QB. Drew did not have his work ethic. Several stories have come out that illuminate this fact. But as far as pure talent, pure physical ability to throw a football- Drew dominated Tom. We were lucky to get to see him play. That game winner against Miami with a broken finger is one of my favorite Patriots memories of all time.

Ryan Leaf, Jeff George, and Drew Henson all dominated Tom too.

 

[Actual Pats Fan]

Try poking around @ Internet Wayback Machine

Here's one page from Sept 2001 right after Bledsoe got injured: PatsFans.com - The Ultimate Pats Fan Playground

And if you click on messageboard you get PatsFans.com - The Most Active New England Patriots Fan Discussion Forum Online

The very second Lewis made the hit, I thought the same thing I'd been thinking for the previous five years: This could finally, mercifully be our chance to put someone in at quarterback who can lead us to serious competitiveness.

Nothing at all against Drew, any more than Andy Dalton.

 

[Whitt25]

Not sure why you're so up in arms, I don't see any real disrespect for DB in this thread...

So posts saying we would've gone 5-11 if he remained our stater, or he only saw football as a job isn't disrespectful. Lol. Ok.

 

[Armchair Quarterback]

So posts saying we would've gone 5-11 if he remained our stater, or he only saw football as a job isn't disrespectful. Lol. Ok.

Umm, he went 5-11 in 2000 and by his own words and actions only saw football as a job.

 

[ErniesPinkStripes]

So posts saying we would've gone 5-11 if he remained our stater, or he only saw football as a job isn't disrespectful. Lol. Ok.

No not at all.

Pats went 5-11 the year before and were 0-2 with him. Not exactly out of the realm of possibility..

Using Drew's own words, it seems the passion for the game was limited to say the least.

But you keep fighting the good fight. Lol.

 

[tasmlab]

Hopefully there were a few seasons where he was cheering for the Bills or Cowboys, like when he was on those teams.

 

[borg]

Gillette is the House that Drew Built.

From the day he was drafted, Drew gave fans a reason to believe, to be excited....and Drew didn't disappoint. At long last, a bonafide QB stud with star power and unworldly stats. Each week, we waited to see what kind of numbers he would put up next.
History will be too harsh on Bledsoe given the success of his replacement, but please don't belittle the impact this guy had on the team. With the arrival of Bledsoe, the Pats became mainstream and must see TV. Patriots games became appointment television for New Englanders who were once indifferent to the goofy franchise playing in the ratty tin stadium. Drew changed all that.

Sure ....fat traitorous Tuna had a big hand in the NE turnaround, and of course Krafty....but DB was box office gold and New Englanders bought in. Because of Bledsoe and the heightened level of support he brought, Kraft was financially secure, enough to commit his own money to build a real football venue ...to realize his vision.

Gillette ...The House that Drew Built

 

[Whitt25]

Umm, he went 5-11 in 2000 and by his own words and actions only saw football as a job.

Umm, yeah, in 2000, not 2001. We went 11-5 in 1996 and went to the Super Bowl. Did we go 11-5 in 1997, too? Past seasons don't predict following seasons.

And I'm sorry, but, at one point, the motto here was "do your job." Playing football in the NFL is a job. Make no mistake. The full post I was talking about was saying Bledsoe only saw football as a job and didn't have passion.

I mean, it's easy to overlook Bledsoe because we have TB, but there really is a lot of disrespect going on in here, like Bledsoe wasn't winning us the AFC East after a long drought, like Bledsoe wasn't getting us to the playoffs after a long drought. We didn't even taste the SB again until 1996 (11 years after 85). He wasn't as consistent as TB, but give the man credit.

 

[dafoe2016]

Ryan Leaf, Jeff George, and Drew Henson all dominated Tom too.

Is that supposed to be funny? You are seriously comparing those turds to an All Pro? You sound like Dexter Manley talking about Tom Brady. You have lost your damn mind. He garbage! Tom Brady garbage! I would take Chris Sims over Tom Brady!

************, get a grip. It's embarrassing that you consider yourself a Patriots fan and **** on one of our top 20 players of all time.

 

[Bobsyouruncle]

Is that supposed to be funny? You are seriously comparing those turds to an All Pro? You sound like Dexter Manley talking about Tom Brady. You have lost your damn mind. He garbage! Tom Brady garbage! I would take Chris Sims over Tom Brady!

************, get a grip. It's embarrassing that you consider yourself a Patriots fan and **** on one of our top 20 players of all time.

I think you're missing his point. He was replying to someone that said Bledsoe dominated Tom in physical ability. I assume he's pointing out how meaningless physical ability is.

 

[Pats1989]

The very second Lewis made the hit, I thought the same thing I'd been thinking for the previous five years: This could finally, mercifully be our chance to put someone in at quarterback who can lead us to serious competitiveness.

Nothing at all against Drew, any more than Andy Dalton.

Bledsoe took the Patriots to the playoffs in 3 out of 5 years between 96-00. He took them to a SB. They were "competitive " for the most part.

 

[Whitt25]

No not at all.

Pats went 5-11 the year before and were 0-2 with him. Not exactly out of the realm of possibility..

But it's also not out of the realm of possibility that he would've gone on a 7 game winning streak after that, because he's done that before, too. The point is we don't know what would've happened if he didn't get injured in week 2. That's all I'm saying.

 

[Armchair Quarterback]

Not a shot in hell of getting into the playoffs in 2001 with Bledsoe. You either didn't see how he played or have absolutely no ability to judge performance.

 

[Armchair Quarterback]

Bledsoe took the Patriots to the playoffs in 3 out of 5 years between 96-00. He took them to a SB. They were "competitive " for the most part.

Defense took them to the SB, Bledsoe did his best to prevent them from getting there though.

 

[Armchair Quarterback]

Umm, yeah, in 2000, not 2001. We went 11-5 in 1996 and went to the Super Bowl. Did we go 11-5 in 1997, too? Past seasons don't predict following seasons.

And I'm sorry, but, at one point, the motto here was "do your job." Playing football in the NFL is a job. Make no mistake. The full post I was talking about was saying Bledsoe only saw football as a job and didn't have passion.

I mean, it's easy to overlook Bledsoe because we have TB, but there really is a lot of disrespect going on in here, like Bledsoe wasn't winning us the AFC East after a long drought, like Bledsoe wasn't getting us to the playoffs after a long drought. We didn't even taste the SB again until 1996 (11 years after 85). He wasn't as consistent as TB, but give the man credit.

It's disrespectful to Tom Brady to say that they would have gotten to the playoffs and/or SB with Bledsoe at the helm.

 

[Whitt25]

Not a shot in hell of getting into the playoffs in 2001 with Bledsoe. You either didn't see how he played or have absolutely no ability to judge performance.

Oh, I didn't know I was speaking to a clairvoyant. I'm sorry.

Edit: We're gonna agree to disagree, so I'm bailing out here. But hate on.