Drew Bledsoe debate topic

[Royale with Cheese]

I think overall, Drew Bledsoe had a pretty decent NFL career.  He had some good years but also a lot of meh years...and bad years.

 

He was the #1 overall pick.  Do you guys think in his overall career, he was a disappointment?  Certainly not a bust but not having the career you want from a #1 overall.

 

I have arguments for both.  

 

On one hand, he did play a big part in the change of the Pats.  They were absolutely terrible before he got there.  A few years later, brought them to a Super Bowl.  

 

On the other hand...he had a lot of bad years.  He started struggling towards the end of his career in NE and Belicheck saw it...which is why he felt good enough to trade him inside his division.

His Bills career was a disappointment as was his career in Dallas....he was still relatively young when he came to Buffalo too.

 

I am going to say yes...he was a disappointment.  At #1 overall as a QB, I think you're supposed to be the guy the holds that position for 10+ years and you make a significant difference and didn't have enough of that.

[Sherlock Holmes]

6 minutes ago, Royale with Cheese said:

I think overall, Drew Bledsoe had a pretty decent NFL career.  He had some good years but also a lot of meh years...and bad years.

 

He was the #1 overall pick.  Do you guys think in his overall career, he was a disappointment?  Certainly not a bust but not having the career you want from a #1 overall.

 

I have arguments for both.  

 

On one hand, he did play a big part in the change of the Pats.  They were absolutely terrible before he got there.  A few years later, brought them to a Super Bowl.  

 

On the other hand...he had a lot of bad years.  He started struggling towards the end of his career in NE and Belicheck saw it...which is why he felt good enough to trade him inside his division.

His Bills career was a disappointment as was his career in Dallas....he was still relatively young when he came to Buffalo too.

 

I am going to say yes...he was a disappointment.  At #1 overall as a QB, I think you're supposed to be the guy the holds that position for 10+ years and you make a significant difference and didn't have enough of that.

When you think of a Statue as QB you think of him. Was a disappointment for sure...

[Nuncha]

29 minutes ago, Sherlock Holmes said:

When you think of a Statue as QB you think of him. Was a disappointment for sure...

He was very good his first year in Buffalo but that didn't last - he became a statue in the pocket and had zero mobility and began holding the ball too long.  Not making the playoffs here with him at QB certainly was a disappointment, (especially when the Steelers beat us with their 3rd team in a must win late season game to make post season)......I blame the curse of number 11 on that.

 

 

Edited October 29, 2019 by Azucho98

[Kirby Jackson]

I’ve been pretty outspoken on my thoughts on Bledsoe when he was with the Bills. If you take out the 1st 8 games that he played here he’s pretty much the same guy as Losman, Edwards, EJ, etc... If you don’t believe me, pull up the numbers. 
 

With that being said he had a few nice years prior to coming to Buffalo. I wouldn’t say that he was a total bust like Jamarcus Russell or David Carr but his career is closer to Alex Smith than Peyton Manning. He was an okay NFL QB for about 5 years and then a bad NFL QB.

[BuffaloRebound]

He took New England to a super bowl and netted them a 1st round pick.  Not close to a bust for New England.  He was a bust for the Bills.  

[hondo in seattle]

Only 15 QBs in the 100 year history of the NFL passed for more yards than Bledsoe.   And he's a 4 time Pro Bowler.   He outperformed most 1st round QBs.  

 

He's not a HOFer but he's far from being a bust.  I guess he's a disappointment if you have really high/unrealistic expectations of QBs drafted early.  

[PatsFanNH]

48 minutes ago, Royale with Cheese said:

I think overall, Drew Bledsoe had a pretty decent NFL career.  He had some good years but also a lot of meh years...and bad years.

 

He was the #1 overall pick.  Do you guys think in his overall career, he was a disappointment?  Certainly not a bust but not having the career you want from a #1 overall.

 

I have arguments for both.  

 

On one hand, he did play a big part in the change of the Pats.  They were absolutely terrible before he got there.  A few years later, brought them to a Super Bowl.  

 

On the other hand...he had a lot of bad years.  He started struggling towards the end of his career in NE and Belicheck saw it...which is why he felt good enough to trade him inside his division.

His Bills career was a disappointment as was his career in Dallas....he was still relatively young when he came to Buffalo too.

 

I am going to say yes...he was a disappointment.  At #1 overall as a QB, I think you're supposed to be the guy the holds that position for 10+ years and you make a significant difference and didn't have enough of that.

He is in the Patriots Hall of Fame, so up here we think he did a good job, but he also was a stand up man when he lost his job to Brady. He still did his job, he helped Brady whenever he could AND he won that game against Pittsburg when Brady went down.

 

that was my second favorite playoff run right after the one in 1986 with Tony Eason, and HOF John Hannah.. that was a magical one that got me into football.. (squish the fish, “Raymond Berry and the Pats” song lol)   Lol makes me wonder what made everyone a fan of their favorite team.. lol

 

bit I regress Bledsoe was a good QB, he was NEVER mobile, had a cannon for an arm which stunk for short passes.  But more importantly he is a good guy and teammate. 

[Gray Beard]

Footage of Drew Bledsoe in the backfield 

[SlimShady'sSpaceForce]

14 minutes ago, BuffaloRebound said:

He took New England to a super bowl and netted them a 1st round pick.  Not close to a bust for New England.  He was a bust for the Bills.  

 

He was always a gun singer 

 

He just didn't have a good team to play on 

[timekills17]

Drew Bledsoe always worried me when he played against the Bills.

Drew Bledsoe always worried me when he played for the Bills.

 

Jokes aside, he made Peerless Price look like a 1st round WR, and EMo like a HOF'er. And that was after he was sent packing by the Pats.

I believe the Pats would have made it to and won the Super Bowl the year Bledsoe got injured if he'd remained the starting QB. I honestly believe he was a better QB than Brady at that point. Brady was...more cerebral? Maybe, although Bledsoe was/is a very smart person and football player. 

 

Regardless, Bledsoe's career was not in any way a disappointment. I guess Marino was a disappointment too, then.

[row_33]

3 minutes ago, Gray Beard said:

Footage of Drew Bledsoe in the backfield 

 

i'd like something between the Bledsoe Statue and the Run For Your Life One Second after the dropback of EJM/TT/JA

 

Edited October 29, 2019 by row_33

[Cripple Creek]

1 hour ago, Royale with Cheese said:

I think overall, Drew Bledsoe had a pretty decent NFL career.  He had some good years but also a lot of meh years...and bad years.

 

He was the #1 overall pick.  Do you guys think in his overall career, he was a disappointment?  Certainly not a bust but not having the career you want from a #1 overall.

 

I have arguments for both.  

 

On one hand, he did play a big part in the change of the Pats.  They were absolutely terrible before he got there.  A few years later, brought them to a Super Bowl.  

 

On the other hand...he had a lot of bad years.  He started struggling towards the end of his career in NE and Belicheck saw it...which is why he felt good enough to trade him inside his division.

His Bills career was a disappointment as was his career in Dallas....he was still relatively young when he came to Buffalo too.

 

I am going to say yes...he was a disappointment.  At #1 overall as a QB, I think you're supposed to be the guy the holds that position for 10+ years and you make a significant difference and didn't have enough of that.

@TwistofFate and @Billsfan1972 say that he filled up the stat sheet.  Nothing more needs to be said.

[BillsShredder83]

1 hour ago, Royale with Cheese said:

I think overall, Drew Bledsoe had a pretty decent NFL career.  He had some good years but also a lot of meh years...and bad years.

 

He was the #1 overall pick.  Do you guys think in his overall career, he was a disappointment?  Certainly not a bust but not having the career you want from a #1 overall.

 

I have arguments for both.  

 

On one hand, he did play a big part in the change of the Pats.  They were absolutely terrible before he got there.  A few years later, brought them to a Super Bowl.  

 

On the other hand...he had a lot of bad years.  He started struggling towards the end of his career in NE and Belicheck saw it...which is why he felt good enough to trade him inside his division.

His Bills career was a disappointment as was his career in Dallas....he was still relatively young when he came to Buffalo too.

 

I am going to say yes...he was a disappointment.  At #1 overall as a QB, I think you're supposed to be the guy the holds that position for 10+ years and you make a significant difference and didn't have enough of that.

Not what you're exactly looking for here... but remember a shootout against the Vikes in his first or 2nd year here. That's one of my fav games ever. I was a kid so I know my vision is distorted of it, but I feel like moulds and price both had 150yds in that game and the whole offense had tds! I dont care what the specifics are cause I was young but I never forgot the feel of that game. Our offense was pretty good that year, with an awful D

[Boatdrinks]

Bledsoe a disappointment? I’d say no. He made the Patriots ( who were a complete  joke of a franchise at the time: a fact many of their current followers don’t know ) relevant and even went to a Super Bowl. The NFL game changed a lot around him, and his lack of mobility ended his effectiveness as a QB. While not a HOF player ( imo) he was more than good enough to turn a team that had become a punchline around into a winner. 

[Rob's House]

The Bills completely mishandled him. Bledsoe was a stationary pocket passer with a great arm and ability to spread the ball around, but he wasn't buying any extra time. He could be effective in the right offense, but the Bills weren't interested in running that offense.

[PatsFanNH]

3 minutes ago, Boatdrinks said:

Bledsoe a disappointment? I’d say no. He made the Patriots ( who were a complete  joke of a franchise at the time: a fact many of their current followers don’t know ) relevant and even went to a Super Bowl. The NFL game changed a lot around him, and his lack of mobility ended his effectiveness as a QB. While not a HOF player ( imo) he was more than good enough to turn a team that had become a punchline around into a winner. 

Very well said!  Between him and Parcells and Kraft they brought a laughing stock franchise.. (one that was always rumored may move to LA) into a contender.  You are also right a lot of the fan base doesn’t remember that.  I remind myself anyone under 35 has no memory of those bad days.  

[buffalobillswin]

15 minutes ago, BillsShredder83 said:

Not what you're exactly looking for here... but remember a shootout against the Vikes in his first or 2nd year here. That's one of my fav games ever. I was a kid so I know my vision is distorted of it, but I feel like moulds and price both had 150yds in that game and the whole offense had tds! I dont care what the specifics are cause I was young but I never forgot the feel of that game. Our offense was pretty good that year, with an awful D

That was a great game. Mike Hollis hitting a 54 yarder off the cross bar to send it to overtime. 
 

in fact that first year it felt like every game in the first half of the season went into overtime haha. 

[row_33]

Drew came back from one of the hardest hits in NFL history, and damage was horrible as well

 

That and the Jim Burt and Leonard Marshall hits on Montana were the worst

 

the concept of body blows ending a fight in boxing seem worse to me than head shot KOs

 

 

 

 

 

Edited October 29, 2019 by row_33

[dave mcbride]

1 hour ago, Royale with Cheese said:

I think overall, Drew Bledsoe had a pretty decent NFL career.  He had some good years but also a lot of meh years...and bad years.

 

He was the #1 overall pick.  Do you guys think in his overall career, he was a disappointment?  Certainly not a bust but not having the career you want from a #1 overall.

 

I have arguments for both.  

 

On one hand, he did play a big part in the change of the Pats.  They were absolutely terrible before he got there.  A few years later, brought them to a Super Bowl.  

 

On the other hand...he had a lot of bad years.  He started struggling towards the end of his career in NE and Belicheck saw it...which is why he felt good enough to trade him inside his division.

His Bills career was a disappointment as was his career in Dallas....he was still relatively young when he came to Buffalo too.

 

I am going to say yes...he was a disappointment.  At #1 overall as a QB, I think you're supposed to be the guy the holds that position for 10+ years and you make a significant difference and didn't have enough of that.

Bledsoe's lifetime record and numbers vs. teams with a winning record was truly abysmal. Unfortunately, I can't find that information on the internet anymore, so I'd have to reconstruct it from PFR. Too much work, but trust me, it's true. 

[thenorthremembers]

He had a good career.   You can probably put him in the same category as Boomer Esiason.  He put up pretty good numbers, made it to the Super Bowl, started a lot of games and won more games than he lost.   Problem is the new way of thinking tends to be if your quarterback isnt elite he sucks, there is no middle ground anymore.

 

Food for thought, if you put Bledsoe on the 90's Bills is there a huge drop off in the eventual outcome of the team?  

[Royale with Cheese]

14 minutes ago, row_33 said:

Drew came back from one of the hardest hits in NFL history, and damage was horrible as well

 

That and the Jim Burt and Leonard Marshall hits on Montana were the worst

 

the concept of body blows ending a fight in boxing seem worse to me than head shot KOs

 

 

 

 

 

 

I've been hit with a liver shot and you just can't recover.  You just crumble and are helpless.  

[Hapless Bills Fan]

1 hour ago, Royale with Cheese said:

I think overall, Drew Bledsoe had a pretty decent NFL career.  He had some good years but also a lot of meh years...and bad years.

 

He was the #1 overall pick.  Do you guys think in his overall career, he was a disappointment?  Certainly not a bust but not having the career you want from a #1 overall.

 

I have arguments for both.  

 

On one hand, he did play a big part in the change of the Pats.  They were absolutely terrible before he got there.  A few years later, brought them to a Super Bowl.  

 

On the other hand...he had a lot of bad years.  He started struggling towards the end of his career in NE and Belicheck saw it...which is why he felt good enough to trade him inside his division.

His Bills career was a disappointment as was his career in Dallas....he was still relatively young when he came to Buffalo too.

 

I am going to say yes...he was a disappointment.  At #1 overall as a QB, I think you're supposed to be the guy the holds that position for 10+ years and you make a significant difference and didn't have enough of that.

 

I think overall, and in Bledsoe's era certainly, it was a rarity to have a QB play more than an 8-10 year career.   The hits were harder and the protections were less. So if a team got 8-10 years of play out of a QB, that was good.  The Pats got 8 before they moved on from Bledsoe. 

Was Jim Kelly a disappointment?  Only an 11 year career and obviously falling off for the last 3-4 of it.

 

The underlying question in your post, is "what is a disappointment" in a QB?  Anyone except Peyton Manning, Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady, or Drew Brees?

[row_33]

Just now, Royale with Cheese said:

 

I've been hit with a liver shot and you just can't recover.  You just crumble and are helpless.  

 

in a boxing/combat sporting event?

 

i've read a few interviews with those put away by them to put it up there with pain, and you have to go through it...

 

 

[PatsFanNH]

16 minutes ago, row_33 said:

Drew came back from one of the hardest hits in NFL history, and damage was horrible as well

 

That and the Jim Burt and Leonard Marshall hits on Montana were the worst

 

the concept of body blows ending a fight in boxing seem worse to me than head shot KOs

 

 

 

 

 

If I remember correctly, they said that shot almost killed him.  Think about that, a perfectly legal hit and it came dangerously close to ending his life.   I’m shocked he wanted to keep playing after that, I know I would have stopped.

[Royale with Cheese]

Just now, row_33 said:

 

in a boxing/combat sporting event?

 

i've read a few interviews with those put away by them to put it up there with pain, and you have to go through it...

 

 

 

In kickboxing.  Both on kicks...I left my midsection open protecting my head and then bam.  The funny part is when it hits, it takes about 2 seconds to feel the pain....it's delayed.  Then you crumble.

3 minutes ago, Hapless Bills Fan said:

 

I think overall, and in Bledsoe's era certainly, it was a rarity to have a QB play more than an 8-10 year career.   The hits were harder and the protections were less. So if a team got 8-10 years of play out of a QB, that was good.  The Pats got 8 before they moved on from Bledsoe. 

Was Jim Kelly a disappointment?  Only an 11 year career and obviously falling off for the last 3-4 of it.

 

The underlying question in your post, is "what is a disappointment" in a QB?  Anyone except Peyton Manning, Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady, or Drew Brees?

 

Doesn't have to be legendary elite but someone who was at least your franchise QB for a good period of time and someone that would win you the big games.

[Stank_Nasty]

4 probowls back when they actually meant something. 3 playoff appearances is a little stale. but you cant discount his role on that superbowl squad.

 

I cant say he was THAT disappointing. sort of a "tweener" career.

[row_33]

1 minute ago, Royale with Cheese said:

 

In kickboxing.  Both on kicks...I left my midsection open protecting my head and then bam.  The funny part is when it hits, it takes about 2 seconds to feel the pain....it's delayed.  Then you crumble.

 

 

 

*****.....

 

 

a few injuries were more gruesome in the NFL but they included the effects of gravity and weight-bearing limitations on leg bones

 

 

[Royale with Cheese]

Just now, row_33 said:

 

*****.....

 

 

 

This is exactly what happened to me.  

 

[Hapless Bills Fan]

8 minutes ago, Royale with Cheese said:

 

In kickboxing.  Both on kicks...I left my midsection open protecting my head and then bam.  The funny part is when it hits, it takes about 2 seconds to feel the pain....it's delayed.  Then you crumble.

 

Doesn't have to be legendary elite but someone who was at least your franchise QB for a good period of time and someone that would win you the big games.

 

Not intending to be cute, but that begs the question what does "good period of time" and "win you the big games" mean?  Win superbowls?  Win championships?  One?  Multiple?  4th Q comebacks?  Whether a QB gets to the big games in the first place depends so much on the team around him.

 

As we've seen from Allen, 4th Q comebacks are a double-edged sword if your guy causes the need for them in the first place.

[corta765]

If you honestly think he’s a disappointment your standards are impossible for QB.

 

If I draft a QB #1 overall and this is his accomplishments I’m pretty happy:

SB appearance 

4x Pro Bowl

Passing yards leader in 1994

2x Division Titles

4x Playoff appearances in 8 years as starter (I don’t count the year Brady took over)

5 of 8 season .500 or better

2x 4000 yd seasons something a Bills QB hasn’t done in forever

 

Virtually no team would pass up that type

of guarantee at QB for a decade compared to the alternative.

 

Drew Bledsoe is IMO the standard for what you can reasonably hope for from a #1 overall pick at QB. Productive, wins, SB, and a decade of stability.

 

With today’s rules and inflated numbers people unfairly look at the past and criticize. Bledsoe was a top 10 guy for his time and when the Bills got him the hype was legitimate given his track record up to that point. As others have pointed out also he was a Pro Bowler when it was a true honor not half the leagues QB get the invite due to everyone declining it.

Edited October 29, 2019 by corta765

[Royale with Cheese]

6 minutes ago, Hapless Bills Fan said:

 

Not intending to be cute, but that begs the question what does "good period of time" and "win you the big games" mean?  Win superbowls?  Win championships?  One?  Multiple?  4th Q comebacks?  Whether a QB gets to the big games in the first place depends so much on the team around him.

 

As we've seen from Allen, 4th Q comebacks are a double-edged sword if your guy causes the need for them in the first place.

 

Can you please stop being my ex-wife?  

[wagon127]

I can remember the 2002 offseason. Ticket sales were abysmal going into that year. I wonder if the team would have survived in Buffalo if they didn't make that move. It could be our team in LA instead of St. Louis. Unfortunately, I believe this is what threw us into the draught. Instead of just tanking, and getting Carson Palmer in the draft the following year, or a top 3 QB in 2004. We spent the next 15 years making moves to just generate buzz and hype, as opposed to building a solid foundation on the team. So many seasons between 6 and 9 wins, instead of doing what was necessary. 

[Pete]

Drew sucked after his first 8 games, cost us a #1, and set this franchise back years.

 

My friend was a waitress in Boston when Drew was on Pats, and Drew would continually stiff her, he tried to get her fired, was rude to her.  If she ever hears the name Bledsoe, she gets so angry.  Zolak was banging my friends roommate, so they all would ride home together.  She said Zolak said Drew pulled that ***** everywhere.  

 

 

[row_33]

42 minutes ago, Hapless Bills Fan said:

 

Not intending to be cute, but that begs the question what does "good period of time" and "win you the big games" mean?  Win superbowls?  Win championships?  One?  Multiple?  4th Q comebacks?  Whether a QB gets to the big games in the first place depends so much on the team around him.

 

As we've seen from Allen, 4th Q comebacks are a double-edged sword if your guy causes the need for them in the first place.

 

Archie Manning was worthy of so much more support around him.

 

 

[Orlando Tim]

Bledsoe to me is a guy who was top half.of league for a decade which makes you definitely a good player. He stuck around too long but overall good.

[Ridgewaycynic2013]

1 hour ago, Royale with Cheese said:

 

I've been hit with a liver shot and you just can't recover.  You just crumble and are helpless.  

Switch to a better quality whiskey.  ‘Old Panther’ just doesn’t cut it.

*
(Remember the label?:  ‘Old Panther - Bottled Yesterday’.)

Edited October 29, 2019 by Ridgewaycynic2013

[Buffalo Boy]

    He reminds me of Matts Stafford or Ryan, currently. Good enough to have to keep.

    I know some on here thought he sucked out loud as a Bill but he is the reason we got to 8-8 his first year. We had NO Defense. Because of the dearth of competent QBs after Kelly , believing we had a chance on third and long was a breath of fresh air.

    After Hoodie got through with him that second year he was atrocious.

    I remember reading on here, from a NE fan, a warning about him being a bonehead .

[row_33]

Jeff George was an incredibly talented head case who kept being assigned to the worst possible coaches of his playing days.

 

 

[Moose]

Ugh - Drew Bledsoe! When it was announced that he was traded to Buffalo I was pretty upset because he never worried me as an opposing quarterback. He was slow of foot and slow of mind. A friend of mine gave me a Drew Bledsoe bobblehead (wearing the stupid "yoke" uniform with dreaded #11) , thinking I would like it. I didn't, but I kept it on my desk until a crucial game when Bledsoe threw the ball out of bounds on a last-ditch fourth quarter forth down to try and win the game! I think he said after the game that he had lost track of the down. Moron! I took that stupid bobblehead outside and ran over it several times in my driveway. 

 

The Bills' Drew Bledsoe Experiment was a waste of time, money and energy. It only benefitted New England and I'm sure Bill Belichick would often chuckle to himself that he pulled one over on us.

[4_kidd_4]

pat pat....patpatpat.....sack fumble.

 

that’s all I remember about the guy.