Drew Was A Class Act

Former Patriots Quarterback Drew Bledsoe has officially announced that he will retire from the NFL at the age of 35. The 14 year NFL vet told the associated press, “I feel so fortunate, so honored, to have played this game that I love for so long, with so many great players, and in front of so many wonderful fans.” While Bledsoe retired a Cowboy, he will always be strongly linked to the New England Patriots.

Bledsoe’s NFL career started in 1993, when the Patriots made him the first overall pick out of Washington State. Dubbed the next ‘Elway’ in light of his large stature, and rocket like arm Bledsoe was given the daunting task of rescuing the Patriots from the depths of the NFL.

Drew was handed the reigns of the team right away, and by his second year at the helm Drew was on top of the NFL; leading the league in passing attempts, completions, and touchdowns. Drew was the top Quarterback in the AFC East that year, a division that had Hall of Famers Dan Marino and Jim Kelly playing in it.

Bledsoe spent eight seasons with the Pats, in that time he made 4 Pro-Bowls and helped the Patriots make the post season 5 times. Bledsoe helped the Patriots to two Super Bowls; once as the starter in 1996 when the Patriots lost to Brett Favre and the Green Bay Packers, and once as the back up behind Tom Brady in 2001 when the Pats beat the St. Louis Rams.

Although Bledsoe holds almost every major passing record for the New England Patriots the play he will be remembered for is not a long touchdown pass to Terry Glen or Ben Coats, Bledsoe will be remembered for a 5 yard scamper in 2001 against the New York Jets. It was the play that changed Patriots history forever. The play was vintage Bledsoe. Drew broke free from the pocket and made his way for the first down marker along the sideline. Then, BANG! Jets linebacker Mo Lewis crushed Bledsoe sending the QB to the hospital with a multitude of internal injuries. Then enter Tom Brady, and the rest is history; thats a whole other story.

Although Bledsoe was visibly upset, holding a clip board on the sideline, Drew helped Tom Brady with his acclimation to the NFL. Bledsoe could have very easily divided the locker room when Coach Bill Belichick announced that Brady would remain the starting Quarterback. The Veterans on the team would have taken his side, but Bledsoe did not disrupt the team.

Then like a scene out of a predicable Hollywood movie Bledsoe’s number was called when Tom Brady went down with a leg injury against the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2001 AFC Championship game. Patriot’s fans went through deja vu when on the first play Bledsoe scrambled out of the pocket and received a devastating hit as he was running out of bounds. This time Bledsoe popped right back up clapping his hands. Three plays later Drew hit David Patten in the end zone for a touchdown to seal the deal and send the Pats to the Super Bowl.

Bledsoe’s heroics in the AFC Championship game was not enough to give him the starting job in the Super Bowl. Brady and the Pats beat the Rams, and that off-season Bledsoe was traded to the Buffalo Bills for a first round draft pick.

Drew had the right to be bitter when he left the Pats. It’s almost an unwritten rule in the NFL that a Quarterback can not lose his job do to injury. But when the stoic Drew Bledsoe left town he did it with class. Drew took out a full page ad in the Boston Herald and the Boston Globe thanking the fans for their support.

 

Drew was a great Quarterback in the NFL who lost his job to two rising stars (Tom Brady and Tony Romo) and one bust in Buffalo (J.P. Losman). With 44,611 passing yards, Bledsoe ranks 7th all time in NFL history, his 251 touchdowns are good for 13th all time, while his 3,839 completions rank him 5th all time.

Face it, weather you like him or not, he was a great Quarterback. He was a “Dan Marino” on a bad team with the Pats and Bills. If you were to switch Bledsoe with Favre, by putting Bledsoe on the Packers, we may be talking about one of the best Quarterbacks to ever play the game. In my mind Bledsoe is Hall of Fame worthy, but will probably get the shaft. So long Drew, and thanks for the memories.
Bruschi on Bledsoe’s retirement
Bledsoe tails off …

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