Bluefin
02-18-2005, 01:12 PM
Todd Archer: Bledsoe makes sense for Cowboys
12:52 PM CST on Thursday, February 17, 2005
IRVING - The quarterback carousel is beginning again and the question does not appear to be, "Will the Cowboys get one?" but, "Which one will they get?"
Jeff Gracia, Drew Bledsoe, Brad Johnson, Jay Fiedler and Kurt Warner will be available at some point for a variety of different reasons. And let's not forget last year's starter Vinny Testaverde, who is a free agent.
Last year, Garcia was linked to the Cowboys even though the team had no interest in him. Now, it's Bledsoe's turn to be linked. This one, at least, makes sense.
There's the Bill Parcells connection. Bledsoe knows what type of offense Parcells likes to run. He knows what the coach wants in a quarterback. He is eight years younger than Testaverde.
Parcells chose Bledsoe with the No. 1 overall pick in the draft in 1993 because he saw a big, talented quarterback with a rocket of an arm. He helped develop Bledsoe into a Pro Bowler. Together they threw an NFL record 691 passes in 1994. In 1996, they went to the Super Bowl together.
By the end, however, their relationship was, shall we say, not the best. Bledsoe felt Parcells needed to back off a little. Parcells, of course, would never do that. But there was always a respect for each other.
Phil Simms went through the same thing with Parcells. He couldn't stand Parcells when he was coach but learned to appreciate him as the years went by. It's the same thing with Bledsoe.
Under Parcells, Bledsoe became the youngest quarterback in history to throw for more than 10,000 yards (23 years, 299 days). Twice he threw for more than 4,000 yards under Parcells. He had 80 touchdown passes and 73 interceptions for Parcells, and New England went to the playoffs twice in those four years.
Recent years have not been kind to Bledsoe. Traded by New England to Buffalo in 2002, Bledsoe had a 23-25 record for the Bills.
He still has the arm strength, but he has been hit so many times that he looks more at the line of scrimmage than down the field.
But Parcells can be what Bledsoe needs to return to his Pro Bowl form. He can protect him in certain situations. And the Cowboys have pieces in place that have helped Bledsoe succeed before.
He was at his best when he had Ben Coates as his tight end. Here, he would have Jason Witten. He can rekindle the magic he had in New England with Terry Glenn (21 touchdowns). He would have a clutch receiver in Keyshawn Johnson. And he would have a running back in Julius Jones.
When Willis McGahee started running for the Bills, they won. Bledsoe was protected better and he didn't find himself in so many third-and-long situations.
When Jones started running for the Cowboys, Testaverde's numbers did not improve. In the final seven games, which Jones started, he threw six touchdown passes and nine interceptions. Only twice did he complete more than 60 percent of his passes. He was also sacked 19 times.
This Bledsoe is not the Bledsoe Parcells coddled in New England, but if the Cowboys want to get on the carousel, he's the best choice.
12:52 PM CST on Thursday, February 17, 2005
IRVING - The quarterback carousel is beginning again and the question does not appear to be, "Will the Cowboys get one?" but, "Which one will they get?"
Jeff Gracia, Drew Bledsoe, Brad Johnson, Jay Fiedler and Kurt Warner will be available at some point for a variety of different reasons. And let's not forget last year's starter Vinny Testaverde, who is a free agent.
Last year, Garcia was linked to the Cowboys even though the team had no interest in him. Now, it's Bledsoe's turn to be linked. This one, at least, makes sense.
There's the Bill Parcells connection. Bledsoe knows what type of offense Parcells likes to run. He knows what the coach wants in a quarterback. He is eight years younger than Testaverde.
Parcells chose Bledsoe with the No. 1 overall pick in the draft in 1993 because he saw a big, talented quarterback with a rocket of an arm. He helped develop Bledsoe into a Pro Bowler. Together they threw an NFL record 691 passes in 1994. In 1996, they went to the Super Bowl together.
By the end, however, their relationship was, shall we say, not the best. Bledsoe felt Parcells needed to back off a little. Parcells, of course, would never do that. But there was always a respect for each other.
Phil Simms went through the same thing with Parcells. He couldn't stand Parcells when he was coach but learned to appreciate him as the years went by. It's the same thing with Bledsoe.
Under Parcells, Bledsoe became the youngest quarterback in history to throw for more than 10,000 yards (23 years, 299 days). Twice he threw for more than 4,000 yards under Parcells. He had 80 touchdown passes and 73 interceptions for Parcells, and New England went to the playoffs twice in those four years.
Recent years have not been kind to Bledsoe. Traded by New England to Buffalo in 2002, Bledsoe had a 23-25 record for the Bills.
He still has the arm strength, but he has been hit so many times that he looks more at the line of scrimmage than down the field.
But Parcells can be what Bledsoe needs to return to his Pro Bowl form. He can protect him in certain situations. And the Cowboys have pieces in place that have helped Bledsoe succeed before.
He was at his best when he had Ben Coates as his tight end. Here, he would have Jason Witten. He can rekindle the magic he had in New England with Terry Glenn (21 touchdowns). He would have a clutch receiver in Keyshawn Johnson. And he would have a running back in Julius Jones.
When Willis McGahee started running for the Bills, they won. Bledsoe was protected better and he didn't find himself in so many third-and-long situations.
When Jones started running for the Cowboys, Testaverde's numbers did not improve. In the final seven games, which Jones started, he threw six touchdown passes and nine interceptions. Only twice did he complete more than 60 percent of his passes. He was also sacked 19 times.
This Bledsoe is not the Bledsoe Parcells coddled in New England, but if the Cowboys want to get on the carousel, he's the best choice.