The author and I are in agreement that Drew is not a Pro Football HOF'er. A Patriots HOF'er - probably just because of the value of perception. Is it imperative he make it on the first ballot? No. Antwine has waited a long time, and he'll be waiting a lot longer if he doesn't get in this year. 6 time pro bowler and a member of the all decade and 50th anniversary team. Drew was a 4 time pro bowler, 3 times in 9 seasons as a Patriot although at least one of those times he'd thrown more picks than TD's...something he did multiple times in his career.
I think Bledsoe tends to be overrated. The 'he started the dynasty' stuff is way off the mark IMO, because the dynasty simply never would have happened if he werent replaced.
That said he is absolutely Patriots HOF worthy. I'm not real big on stat compilers, and Bledsoe was one of the ultimate compilers, but he was very good at elevating his team to a level, even if that level didn't approach Champion.
I used to know the stats, but at the time he left the Pats, it went something like this.
Only 8 bottom 5 rushing teams had ever made the playoffs, and Bledsoe was the QB of 4 of them.
Only 1 won their division, Bledsoe.
Only 2 or 3 had won a playoff game, and Bledsoe did twice, and the only bottom 5 rushing team to have made a SB (up to that point) was the 1996 Pats.
In other words, his stats are overblown because of the system, but he took flawed teams farther than many would.
He was the face of the franchise for years, and somewhere among the top 10 or so QBs in the league for a good chunk of that time.
He belongs.
