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For Drew Bledsoe, old days not quite as good
By Karen Guregian / Patriots Notebook
Friday, May 9, 2008 - Updated 11h ago
FOXBORO - Having just completed a tour of the team’s new Hall of Fame being built at Gillette Stadium, Drew Bledsoe couldn’t help but reminisce about what life was like as a Patriot when he first arrived as a rookie, the first overall pick and projected savior of the franchise.
Back in 1993, the Patriots [team stats] were looking up at the Red Sox [team stats], Celtics [team stats] and Bruins [team stats]. They were fourth on the rung of major sports teams in the Hub.
They also had to hop in their cars every day and drive to their practice facility.
How things have changed. How far the Pats have come.
Bledsoe first talked about the old days during lunch with Patriots owner Robert Kraft. He later shared some memories with the media, who also toured the facility.
“It’s pretty funny to think about where we came from and where we were when we started here,” said Bledsoe, here with several other teammates from the 1990s. “We had portable (toilets) out front, and it rained in the training room. We were getting a good chuckle that we would put on our pads and drive over to the old mental hospital (in Wrentham) for practice and drive back all dirty, sweaty and muddy. You look at that and compare it to where this is now . . . it’s pretty amazing.”
Bledsoe hadn’t been here since he last played with the Buffalo Bills in 2004.
Looking back, he takes pride in helping the organization rise off the mat.
“I am proud of what we did when I was here,” said the quarterback, who was with the team from 1993-2001. “When I got here . . . this was the fourth sports franchise in town. We were forgotten about. And to see where it is now, and to know that I was at least in some small way a part of it and the transition, it feels great. It really does.”
Bledsoe, who retired in April of last year, has been spending time with his four kids, coaching their teams. He also is in involved in making wine and has a coffee business.
“I’ve been busy,” he said. “Retirement is hard work.”
Bledsoe was asked if it was tough when last season started and he wasn’t a part of it.
“I did miss it and I do miss it,” he said. “I think anyone who has ever played does miss it to a certain extent. It was a big part of my life for a long time. I enjoyed every minute of it. But at the same time, I don’t have any regrets about the decision. It was the right time.”
One more year
Willie McGinest reiterated yesterday that the 2008 season likely will be his last.
“I’m definitely leaning toward that way after the season,” said McGinest, who left the Patriots in 2006 to sign a three-year deal with Cleveland. “It’ll be 15 seasons. A great career. I’m proud of where I’ve come from, what I’ve turned into. The guys I’ve played with, the coaches I’ve played under. I think I played the game the way it’s supposed to be played. I have no regrets. I’m still active. I’ve got one more year. I’m going to focus all of my energy into that. I’m going to give it all I got and try to make my team better. At the end of the season, there’s a pretty good chance I might be hanging it up.”
Did Bledsoe offer him any retirement suggestions?
“If I know anything about Willie, he’s probably got a few irons in the fire,” Bledsoe said. “He’s a very intelligent guy. He has a ton going for him. I don’t think he’ll have a problem with that transition. You can tell he’s not done playing yet. He’s still put together like an Adonis. The only unfortunate part about my interaction with Willie is I had to play against him in college and again in the pros.”
Hall worthy
Joining Bledsoe and McGinest at Gillette were Scott Zolak and Todd Rucci, who also played for the Pats during the 1990s. They recorded stories from their playing days for a unique fan experience that will debut when the Hall at Patriot Place opens.
McGinest thinks the Hall will be something to treasure.
“This is definitely something special the Kraft family and the organization put together as a tribute to say this is why we are where we are,” McGinest said. “It’s a great experience to bring the fans in, to bring the people in who don’t know what goes into it. To share something special. It keeps us a part of the sport long after we retire and not playing anymore. It gives us a home to come back to, and say, ‘I’ve got a piece of history here. I put a brick in that building there.’ ”
Added Bledsoe: “It’s very impressive. I’ll be excited to come back and check it out when it’s done. It’ll be fun to bring my family back. My kids will absolutely dig it.”
http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/football/patriots/view.bg?articleid=1092827&srvc=pats&position=2
Drew Bledsoe, Willie McGinest smack at Camera-gate
Karen Guregian By Karen Guregian
Friday, May 9, 2008 -
FOXBORO - Willie McGinest was a member of the Patriots [team stats]’ 2001 Super Bowl team that upset the St. Louis Rams. So was Drew Bledsoe.
Both voiced a measure of relief to learn that among the eight videotapes former Pats employee Matt Walsh turned over to the NFL, the Rams walkthrough prior to Super Bowl XXXVI was not among them.
McGinest, who played in the game and was a pivotal member on defense, took offense to any suggestion the Pats needed help to win that game.
“I didn’t even know about a walkthrough (tape),” McGinest said. “We couldn’t win any games with any cameras on the field. It’s just players giving everything they got, playing hard. Whatever Matt Walsh does, I never really knew the guy, I never seen him when he was here. I never get involved in that.
“I just know the Super Bowls we won, it was all through hard work. A camera can’t defend, or tackle, or throw a pass, or kick a field goal, or do any of that. I know what it took to win every game, one game at a time. It’s definitely hard work and dedication.”
While Bledsoe was relegated to clipboard duty in that Super Bowl, he knows there’s been a rush to taint the Pats’ Super Bowl victories thanks to the fallout of Camera-gate.
“I am glad there was nothing there that would tarnish the championship ring I do have,” Bledsoe said.
Has he even been following the Camara-gate saga, now that he’s retired and out of the game?
“I’ve followed it. I’ve talked to some people about it. To be honest with you, my take now is the same as it’s always been,” Bledsoe said. “Every team in the league is trying to do everything they can to get ahead. I’m sure most, if not all, are bending the rules in some way, shape or form. This just happened to be one that was very public, and the organization has been reprimanded for it.
“As a player here, I never did see anything other than what was already reported,” he said, later adding, “Was it a violation of the spirit of the rules? Absolutely, it was, but I think all of that has been readily acknowledged.”
http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/football/patriots/view.bg?articleid=1092825&srvc=pats&position=1
By Karen Guregian / Patriots Notebook
Friday, May 9, 2008 - Updated 11h ago
FOXBORO - Having just completed a tour of the team’s new Hall of Fame being built at Gillette Stadium, Drew Bledsoe couldn’t help but reminisce about what life was like as a Patriot when he first arrived as a rookie, the first overall pick and projected savior of the franchise.
Back in 1993, the Patriots [team stats] were looking up at the Red Sox [team stats], Celtics [team stats] and Bruins [team stats]. They were fourth on the rung of major sports teams in the Hub.
They also had to hop in their cars every day and drive to their practice facility.
How things have changed. How far the Pats have come.
Bledsoe first talked about the old days during lunch with Patriots owner Robert Kraft. He later shared some memories with the media, who also toured the facility.
“It’s pretty funny to think about where we came from and where we were when we started here,” said Bledsoe, here with several other teammates from the 1990s. “We had portable (toilets) out front, and it rained in the training room. We were getting a good chuckle that we would put on our pads and drive over to the old mental hospital (in Wrentham) for practice and drive back all dirty, sweaty and muddy. You look at that and compare it to where this is now . . . it’s pretty amazing.”
Bledsoe hadn’t been here since he last played with the Buffalo Bills in 2004.
Looking back, he takes pride in helping the organization rise off the mat.
“I am proud of what we did when I was here,” said the quarterback, who was with the team from 1993-2001. “When I got here . . . this was the fourth sports franchise in town. We were forgotten about. And to see where it is now, and to know that I was at least in some small way a part of it and the transition, it feels great. It really does.”
Bledsoe, who retired in April of last year, has been spending time with his four kids, coaching their teams. He also is in involved in making wine and has a coffee business.
“I’ve been busy,” he said. “Retirement is hard work.”
Bledsoe was asked if it was tough when last season started and he wasn’t a part of it.
“I did miss it and I do miss it,” he said. “I think anyone who has ever played does miss it to a certain extent. It was a big part of my life for a long time. I enjoyed every minute of it. But at the same time, I don’t have any regrets about the decision. It was the right time.”
One more year
Willie McGinest reiterated yesterday that the 2008 season likely will be his last.
“I’m definitely leaning toward that way after the season,” said McGinest, who left the Patriots in 2006 to sign a three-year deal with Cleveland. “It’ll be 15 seasons. A great career. I’m proud of where I’ve come from, what I’ve turned into. The guys I’ve played with, the coaches I’ve played under. I think I played the game the way it’s supposed to be played. I have no regrets. I’m still active. I’ve got one more year. I’m going to focus all of my energy into that. I’m going to give it all I got and try to make my team better. At the end of the season, there’s a pretty good chance I might be hanging it up.”
Did Bledsoe offer him any retirement suggestions?
“If I know anything about Willie, he’s probably got a few irons in the fire,” Bledsoe said. “He’s a very intelligent guy. He has a ton going for him. I don’t think he’ll have a problem with that transition. You can tell he’s not done playing yet. He’s still put together like an Adonis. The only unfortunate part about my interaction with Willie is I had to play against him in college and again in the pros.”
Hall worthy
Joining Bledsoe and McGinest at Gillette were Scott Zolak and Todd Rucci, who also played for the Pats during the 1990s. They recorded stories from their playing days for a unique fan experience that will debut when the Hall at Patriot Place opens.
McGinest thinks the Hall will be something to treasure.
“This is definitely something special the Kraft family and the organization put together as a tribute to say this is why we are where we are,” McGinest said. “It’s a great experience to bring the fans in, to bring the people in who don’t know what goes into it. To share something special. It keeps us a part of the sport long after we retire and not playing anymore. It gives us a home to come back to, and say, ‘I’ve got a piece of history here. I put a brick in that building there.’ ”
Added Bledsoe: “It’s very impressive. I’ll be excited to come back and check it out when it’s done. It’ll be fun to bring my family back. My kids will absolutely dig it.”
http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/football/patriots/view.bg?articleid=1092827&srvc=pats&position=2
Drew Bledsoe, Willie McGinest smack at Camera-gate
Karen Guregian By Karen Guregian
Friday, May 9, 2008 -
FOXBORO - Willie McGinest was a member of the Patriots [team stats]’ 2001 Super Bowl team that upset the St. Louis Rams. So was Drew Bledsoe.
Both voiced a measure of relief to learn that among the eight videotapes former Pats employee Matt Walsh turned over to the NFL, the Rams walkthrough prior to Super Bowl XXXVI was not among them.
McGinest, who played in the game and was a pivotal member on defense, took offense to any suggestion the Pats needed help to win that game.
“I didn’t even know about a walkthrough (tape),” McGinest said. “We couldn’t win any games with any cameras on the field. It’s just players giving everything they got, playing hard. Whatever Matt Walsh does, I never really knew the guy, I never seen him when he was here. I never get involved in that.
“I just know the Super Bowls we won, it was all through hard work. A camera can’t defend, or tackle, or throw a pass, or kick a field goal, or do any of that. I know what it took to win every game, one game at a time. It’s definitely hard work and dedication.”
While Bledsoe was relegated to clipboard duty in that Super Bowl, he knows there’s been a rush to taint the Pats’ Super Bowl victories thanks to the fallout of Camera-gate.
“I am glad there was nothing there that would tarnish the championship ring I do have,” Bledsoe said.
Has he even been following the Camara-gate saga, now that he’s retired and out of the game?
“I’ve followed it. I’ve talked to some people about it. To be honest with you, my take now is the same as it’s always been,” Bledsoe said. “Every team in the league is trying to do everything they can to get ahead. I’m sure most, if not all, are bending the rules in some way, shape or form. This just happened to be one that was very public, and the organization has been reprimanded for it.
“As a player here, I never did see anything other than what was already reported,” he said, later adding, “Was it a violation of the spirit of the rules? Absolutely, it was, but I think all of that has been readily acknowledged.”
http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/football/patriots/view.bg?articleid=1092825&srvc=pats&position=1
