Bledsoe Takes Hint
It seems like a lot longer than two years since Drew Bledsoe left Buffalo, so it would have been easy to let his retirement announcement pass without comment, or maybe force it in as a note in the hockey post.
But while Bledsoe didn’t lead to the playoffs during his three seasons here, his arrival on Draft Weekend of 2002 did revive interest in a very dull team that lost in remarkably diverse ways while going 3-13 season in ’01.
And for a month or so at the start of his tenure in Buffalo, Bledsoe was as good a quarterback as the franchise has ever had. Let’s just leave it at that, out of respect for the retired.
Retiring after realizing that no team was going to give him a starting job serves as a quiet ending to what has been a more-than-disappointing century for Bledsoe.
By the end of his third season with New England, after leading the Patriots to the playoffs twice (including a 41-17 win in Orchard Park that officially snuffed the Bills’ streak of AFC titles) and the Super Bowl once, Bledsoe looked headed for a Hall of Fame career and Ted Williams/Larry Bird status in Boston.
Neither inevitability came to pass. An injury provided Tom Brady with the chance to chase him out of New England, despite all that glorious potential. His arm, size and ability to put up gaudy numbers made him the ideal on-paper, action-figure quarterback, as well as the savior-for-now in Buffalo, then Dallas. Both teams wound up releasing him, with his release from Dallas coming last month.
His ability to overpower defenses with that arm faded with the years, though, and the changing nature of the game made immobile gunners obsolete. So Bledsoe he retires with impressive stats (44,611 yards and 251 touchdowns in 14 seasons), but zero chance to make it to Canton.
Still, if only for a relatively brief period, he was an important part of Buffalo’s football life. As Linda Loman said of her husband, Willy, attention must be paid.
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BoogerMcChode
Bledsoe has immense class. In today's Narco Felons League, that's a trait that's harder and harder to find. Even after he was shafted by Tom Donahoe, he contained himself, and exited the bungling Bills franchise with poise. He, was a hand-me-down from the Pats, but of course over-eager Bills fans pinned their Super Bowl ambitions to his falling star. I'd take another washed up Bledsoe over a McGahee or Pacman anyday.
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HelloKitty
Anyone who wastes their time watching and/or paying 1 iota of attention to the schmaltz the NFL sells you should be shot.
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BoogerMcChode
I actually agree with you, especially in light of the crass marketing, commercialism, and me-first showmanship that's ruined the game. 2 hours of game, and 2 hours of commercials.
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Mohawk
Are you really threatening to shoot people that like to watch pro football, or are you just one of those people who thinks it's funny to joke about gun violence?
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