Bills ready to stick with Bledsoe as starter
By JOHN WAWROW, AP Sports Writer
January 4, 2005
AP - Jan 3, 1:18 pm EST
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ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) -- Sub-par numbers aside, quarterback Drew Bledsoe is confident he's earned the right to remain the Buffalo Bills' starter heading into next season.
``It's my team,'' Bledsoe said this week after the Bills missed the playoffs for the fifth consecutive year despite a strong finish.
The Bills -- from coach Mike Mularkey to team owner Ralph Wilson -- agree with Bledsoe.
``It wasn't all Drew,'' Wilson said, following Buffalo's season-ending loss Sunday to Pittsburgh, when Bledsoe struggled.
Mularkey shrugged off questions of Bledsoe's so-so passing numbers, saying the only figure that counted was the nine games his quarterback helped win this season.
``It's do you win or lose? That's the stat that comes out most,'' Mularkey said. ``I don't know what the rest has to do with performance to be honest with you.''
The Bills (9-7) enjoyed their first winning season since 1999, and first in three years since acquiring Bledsoe in from New England in 2002.
2005 Version Yes!