Bledsoe at the Wednesday presser

[tombonneau]

I'm just stunned at how badly the Cowboys treated Bledsoe the other night. It is quite obvious that their intension going into the game was to find an excuse to yank Bledsoe at halftime and humiliate him on Monday Night Football. The organization had clearly tipped the network ahead of time that Bledsoe would be replaced at halftime. Heck, Jerry Jones even made his way down to the sideline just so he could be interviewed about yanking Bledsoe on national TV.

I'm not a Bledsoe fan, but I thought humilating him like that was really uncalled for. If you don't think he's the right QB for the team, then fine: start the other guy. Don't orchestrate the pagentry of yanking Bledsoe in a nationally televised prime time game. I don't know what Jones and Parcells were trying to accomplish with that little PR stunt, but it was really cruel, IMO.

It's bc JJ & BP are media whores who love the spotlight. Has there ever been more to-do over a 3-3 team who did nothing the previous year?

Cowboys are an average NFL team with an owner and coach who seem to be more concerned with being the lead story on Sportscenter than collecting wins.

And this is from someone who could care less about Bledsoe.

 

[Halifax_Pats_Fan]

I'm just stunned at how badly the Cowboys treated Bledsoe the other night. It is quite obvious that their intension going into the game was to find an excuse to yank Bledsoe at halftime and humiliate him on Monday Night Football. The organization had clearly tipped the network ahead of time that Bledsoe would be replaced at halftime. Heck, Jerry Jones even made his way down to the sideline just so he could be interviewed about yanking Bledsoe on national TV.

I'm not a Bledsoe fan, but I thought humilating him like that was really uncalled for. If you don't think he's the right QB for the team, then fine: start the other guy. Don't orchestrate the pagentry of yanking Bledsoe in a nationally televised prime time game. I don't know what Jones and Parcells were trying to accomplish with that little PR stunt, but it was really cruel, IMO.

------------------

I definately agree. Come on Cowboys, that was the utmost disrespect. And the negative comments of some posters towards Drew I can not understand. I know in the mid 90's when they were playing well, and drew was making plays, that was great to watch. As a fan, Drew, thanks for those memories. You were/are a pretty good qb and I would like to thank you for the moments. The problem with some people is that when you are no longer on their team, they find things, turn it into venom, and spew it out.

Drew, good luck to you, hopefully you can find a team to play on that would respect you a bit more and give you the chance to make some good memories for other fans...

 

[arrellbee]

Drew has some very definite strengths and some very definite weaknesses. They have been discussed over and over, so I won't repeat them here.

What just totally amazed me with Parcells using Bledsoe on the Patriots was that Bledsoe was so very different than the QB type that Parcells seemed to prefer - ie a dependable solid blue-collar workmanlike QB like Phil Simms - little flash but good mechanic.

So I had a new-found extra respect for Parcells for being able to adapt to use Bledsoe in the way he had to be used, including letting Bledsoe air it out at times, especially when they were behind. I am still amazed.

It was pretty visible that Parcells rode Bledsoe unmericfully much of the time during their Patriots era. So it would seem that Parcells was continually beating Bledsoe over the head to keep him in a mode of playing within his capabilities and making effective choices about what he was doing.

This is now speculation. I have to wonder if Parcells thought that he could 'manage' Bledsoe in Dallas like he did in New England and what has happened is that Bledsoe is now set in his ways which includes too much of the poor side of his capabilities and is stubborn or unable to adapt at this point in time to respond to Parcell's requirements on how he should execute. I.E. bad habits developed over time that can't be unlearned. As I say, just speculation.

 

[borg]

If there is one thing we have learned during the BB/Pioli regime, it's that in order to sustain success in Professional Football, cold-hearted calculated decisions have to be made while disregarding loyalty. If you you think about it, the whole system is based on deception and false promises. Management lies to agents in order to keep salaries down. Contracts include bogus years. They lie about injury reports. Game plans are based on deception. And coaches can create false hopes during practices in order for the players to give maximum effort. Maybe BB did tell Bledsoe that he could earn his way back into the lineup if he showed it on the practice field. It is possible that BB felt Bledsoe would be a major distraction if he didn't stroke the guys ego. BB did what was best for the team...He got 2 starting caliber QBs to prepare for games as if they were the MAN. IF Brady had ever come down to earth, Bledsoe would have been ready. On the other hand, If BB told Drew he was to be the back up after game 3, Bledsoe may have tuned out the team and the Pats would have suffered. Its a cold hearted business measured by wins and nothing else. BB has showed us time and again that performance overules loyalty and he has never been afraid to make the tough decisions.
(Checkout out the AntiPatriots...the Green Bay Packers...that warm fuzzy feeling that comes with the loyal devotion of Lord Farve has its price...losses)

 

[3 to be 4]

Bledsoe was given a free ride for his behavior in 2001. He sulked openly despite the fact his team was winning, he cared more about his place than winning, and when they won the Super Bowl, all he cared and talked about was how hard it was for him.

He was also given a free ride for the mosh pit incident. is that girl still paralyzed? Imagine if Manny Ramirez or Paul Pierce did that.

Drew had great potential, but never put together a solid 16 game season after 1996. He was great for half a year at the most.

in fact, i dont think he ever threw the same after his seperated shoulder in 1995. look at films of him in 1994. He never threw like that consistantly again.

 

[belichickaholic]

Let me get this straight.... Drew's upset with BB for replacing him with a HOF QB, But he's not upset with Parcells or Malarkey for replacing him with Jags???

Good Lord!!!

He's the ultimate whiner, from Walla Walla!!

The Walla Walla Whiner

 

[arrellbee]

There may also be a HUGE HUGE HUGE factor of interpersonal communications where the listener hears something that was said or attaches a meaning or intention to something that was said that was not acutally what was spoken. If you haven't had an opportunity to participate in some kind of classroom environment or similar where exercises in this very thing, you might be very astonished as to the radical difference between what listeners 'thought' they heard versus what was actually said. Most folks have had a chance to see the hilarious results from whisper chain party fun where a REALLY simple statement is whispered to the first person in the chain and what comes out the other end many times has no relationship to the orginal "rumor' in any way shape or form.

It is so easy to speculate that what was said was (and is HAS been reported that this is pretty much what was said): Drew - you will have every chance to win back your job in upcoming practices. And what Drew HEARD was - You will get back your starting position after a few practices. Drew may not even have considered that he wouldn't win a competition with such an inexperienced young QB or may have had the headset that the job was his and that he just had to go through some practices before he got the starting job back.

I think I have to disagree extremely with the assumption that the Patriots would lie to the players. Everyone has heard Belichick speak about every issue under the sun without taking a position that could later be construed as misinformation in the slightest. He just doesn't do that. Total lack of information -yes - misinformation, no. We seldom hear Pioli, but what I have heard would put him into that same category.

Not only that, but the CLINCHER is that I have never heard a SINGLE player say anything other than they just had to go out there every practice and every game to qualify for being on the field. There is absolutely nothing that you hear from the players complaining about being 'owed' playing time or starting. The ONLY comments to the contrary are from the players the Patriots have let go - you think maybe they had incorrect expecations or some ego issues that they are working on ??

Saying that the Patriots play games with the injury report is a myth at this point in time. The league complained about 'lack of injury reporting' by the Patriots and since then they have listed everything. I have seen analysis (sorry that I can't provide the link here) that indeed the stats over time work out very appropriately for the players and their categories as the Patriots list players on the injury report. I.E. - over time, about 50% of the players listed as questionable actually play; about 75% of the players listed as probable end up playing in the game.

 

[BradyManny]

Bledsoe was given a free ride for his behavior in 2001. He sulked openly despite the fact his team was winning, he cared more about his place than winning, and when they won the Super Bowl, all he cared and talked about was how hard it was for him.

He was also given a free ride for the mosh pit incident. is that girl still paralyzed? Imagine if Manny Ramirez or Paul Pierce did that.

Drew had great potential, but never put together a solid 16 game season after 1996. He was great for half a year at the most.

in fact, i dont think he ever threw the same after his seperated shoulder in 1995. look at films of him in 1994. He never threw like that consistantly again.

I was always a huge Drew fan and still like the guy - I disagree with everything you say but I do want to acknowledge a great point you make about a different topic - him getting a free ride on the mosh pit thing is actually a solid point. If it were Manny or Pierce (2 of my favorite athletes in this town), it would've been a huge ordeal. I really don't know which of the two has it worse. I guess it's Paul actually since his almost getting stabbed to death is one of the huge factors in the media's bogus portrayal of him. B/c that stabbing involved MadeMen, Paul gets tagged with having something to do with "hip-hop" culture, which in Boston is like a Scarlet letter. Ever since, we hear BS about Paul being a bad team player, selfish, immature, etc., etc. It's garbage.

ANYWAY, sorry for the tangent, back to the topic at hand. While I acknowledge that one point you make is valid - the rest are way off - Drew helped make the Pats a respectable team. He didn't sulk openly as far as I remember, he handled everything fairly well - what people have to understand is that if any of us were in the same situation - getting replaced at our jobs, yeah, we'd be pissed off too no matter what. We can't hold sports players to some higher standard just b/c they are supposed to enjoy their jobs or put the team first - these guys do love the game, but they want to play it, of course they are going to be pissed when they get replaced. It's human nature, anyone who thinks otherwise needs a reality check.

This animosity/obsession some Pats fans (or WEEI at least...) has with Drew Bledsoe is ridiclous. We should just be thankful of the positive things he did for this team while he was here and move the F on. On the way to work today all I heard was Bledsoe, Bledsoe, Bledsoe...and on the way back all I heard was Bledsoe, Bledsoe, Bledsoe. Let it go people!

 

[borg]

"Saying that the Patriots play games with the injury report is a myth at this point in time. The league complained about 'lack of injury reporting' by the Patriots and since then they have listed everything. I have seen analysis (sorry that I can't provide the link here) that indeed the stats over time work out very appropriately for the players and their categories as the Patriots list players on the injury report. I.E. - over time, about 50% of the players listed as questionable actually play; about 75% of the players listed as probable end up playing in the game."

A myth? Please. Players have been listed "day to day" and then end up on the IR. Players have been listed with ankle injuries when it was the knee, all to protect the player from taking shots. Shanahan has admitted listing wrong body parts in order to avoid intentional shots. The Colts just listed 20 players on the injured list last week. The Pats invented the creative injury list and are the ForeFathers of pushing the limits of the rulebook.

 

[borg]

I was always a huge Drew fan and still like the guy - I disagree with everything you say but I do want to acknowledge a great point you make about a different topic - him getting a free ride on the mosh pit thing is actually a solid point. If it were Manny or Pierce (2 of my favorite athletes in this town), it would've been a huge ordeal. I really don't know which of the two has it worse. I guess it's Paul actually since his almost getting stabbed to death is one of the huge factors in the media's bogus portrayal of him. B/c that stabbing involved MadeMen, Paul gets tagged with having something to do with "hip-hop" culture, which in Boston is like a Scarlet letter. Ever since, we hear BS about Paul being a bad team player, selfish, immature, etc., etc. It's garbage.

ANYWAY, sorry for the tangent, back to the topic at hand. While I acknowledge that one point you make is valid - the rest are way off - Drew helped make the Pats a respectable team. He didn't sulk openly as far as I remember, he handled everything fairly well - what people have to understand is that if any of us were in the same situation - getting replaced at our jobs, yeah, we'd be pissed off too no matter what. We can't hold sports players to some higher standard just b/c they are supposed to enjoy their jobs or put the team first - these guys do love the game, but they want to play it, of course they are going to be pissed when they get replaced. It's human nature, anyone who thinks otherwise needs a reality check.

This animosity/obsession some Pats fans (or WEEI at least...) has with Drew Bledsoe is ridiclous. We should just be thankful of the positive things he did for this team while he was here and move the F on. On the way to work today all I heard was Bledsoe, Bledsoe, Bledsoe...and on the way back all I heard was Bledsoe, Bledsoe, Bledsoe. Let it go people!

Your point about human nature is valid...and I believe BB understood how superstars react to benchings. So he may have strung Drew along for a few weeks hoping the dust would settle and provide a clearer picture of the correct course. And his instincts proved correct.

 

[arrellbee]

"Saying that the Patriots play games with the injury report is a myth at this point in time. The league complained about 'lack of injury reporting' by the Patriots and since then they have listed everything. I have seen analysis (sorry that I can't provide the link here) that indeed the stats over time work out very appropriately for the players and their categories as the Patriots list players on the injury report. I.E. - over time, about 50% of the players listed as questionable actually play; about 75% of the players listed as probable end up playing in the game."

A myth? Please. Players have been listed "day to day" and then end up on the IR. Players have been listed with ankle injuries when it was the knee, all to protect the player from taking shots. Shanahan has admitted listing wrong body parts in order to avoid intentional shots. The Colts just listed 20 players on the injured list last week. The Pats invented the creative injury list and are the ForeFathers of pushing the limits of the rulebook.

Oops. There is no such thing as a "day to day" category in the injury report. "Day to day" is the designation that Belichick uses as his designation of "no comment".

Do you have a real example of a mis-designated injury ? Keep in mind that on many of these injuries that we saw it happen on the field. Also there have been a lot of the injuries where it was later reported that the player had surgery on the listed body area. If you had a case where the player had surgery on a different body area, that would back up your assertion .....

 

[Kdo5]

Bledsoe wasnt ever that good. Screw him. I'll take the best QB in the NFL and 3 SB Titles with Bledsoe being bitter.

 

[zippo59]

I am so glad he is not our QB anymore.

 

[captain stone]

Drew has some very definite strengths and some very definite weaknesses. They have been discussed over and over, so I won't repeat them here.

What just totally amazed me with Parcells using Bledsoe on the Patriots was that Bledsoe was so very different than the QB type that Parcells seemed to prefer - ie a dependable solid blue-collar workmanlike QB like Phil Simms - little flash but good mechanic.

So I had a new-found extra respect for Parcells for being able to adapt to use Bledsoe in the way he had to be used, including letting Bledsoe air it out at times, especially when they were behind. I am still amazed.

It was pretty visible that Parcells rode Bledsoe unmericfully much of the time during their Patriots era. So it would seem that Parcells was continually beating Bledsoe over the head to keep him in a mode of playing within his capabilities and making effective choices about what he was doing.

This is now speculation. I have to wonder if Parcells thought that he could 'manage' Bledsoe in Dallas like he did in New England and what has happened is that Bledsoe is now set in his ways which includes too much of the poor side of his capabilities and is stubborn or unable to adapt at this point in time to respond to Parcell's requirements on how he should execute. I.E. bad habits developed over time that can't be unlearned. As I say, just speculation.

Very good thoughts re: Bledsoe vs. Parcells. As for Bledsoe vs. Belichick: more speculation there as well, unless someone here was a fly in a previous life and hung around the FO in Oct./Nov. 2001. DB probably thought he heard what he wanted to hear, whereas BB probably gave him some assurance, but not a promise.

Was yanking DB at halftime somewhat premature? Perhaps. However, the 2 plays heretofore mentioned - taking the sack by Strahan amd throwing the INT to Madison - were absolutely hair-pullingly ******ed. No NFL-calibre QB should have committed those boo-boos. Ever. On the other hand, whereas BB had TB at the ready, BP has only Tony Romo. And based on Romo's 2nd-half performance, maybe allowing Bledsoe to finish the game would have been the better option. Sunday in Charlotte will be very interesting.

 

[wrangler]

I live up here in his neck of the woods. Watched his college career and his pro career.

Drew started believing his own press and then being selected #1 in the draft
was more than he could realistically handle.

Being the first good QB that NE had in a long time, add BP and you have a
good old boy from "west" overshoe who makes it in the big leagues and has
an ego to match his press, while keeping the personna of a country boy.

Ah shucks, but what do I know, just a Boston transplant up here with the
rest of the "good old boys". Any of the kids up here could sell the "Bridge".

Football smarts? Not really. Street smarts? I wouldn't buy a watch from him.

Bottom line, his arm and "press" are all he ever had,..........whatever.

 

[texpat]

I'm just stunned at how badly the Cowboys treated Bledsoe the other night. It is quite obvious that their intension going into the game was to find an excuse to yank Bledsoe at halftime and humiliate him on Monday Night Football. The organization had clearly tipped the network ahead of time that Bledsoe would be replaced at halftime. Heck, Jerry Jones even made his way down to the sideline just so he could be interviewed about yanking Bledsoe on national TV.

I'm not a Bledsoe fan, but I thought humilating him like that was really uncalled for. If you don't think he's the right QB for the team, then fine: start the other guy. Don't orchestrate the pagentry of yanking Bledsoe in a nationally televised prime time game. I don't know what Jones and Parcells were trying to accomplish with that little PR stunt, but it was really cruel, IMO.

Your opinion is based on your hatred for the Cowboys. I doubt the Boys had decided to make this switch based on it being Monday night. There has been talk in Dallas since the beginning of the year about when/if Romo would take over. Peter King wrote that Romo would take over in training camp.

Jones being on the sidelines was because there was a halftime presentation for Aikman and Rayfield Wright to receive there HOF rings.

Bledsoe is not the answer for the Boys and his incompetence thru 5 1/2 games is the reason he was benched. The INT before half was a pass play to the right side. Bledsoe didn't even look that way. He was locked in on the left side the whole time and made an awful throw. The team had lost faith in him after all the INT's in the red zone.