For those who don't think Drew makes the HOF

[blindzebra]

I don't know if this has been discussed or not, but I think carrying the label as "The Guy Replaced By Tom Brady" will severely hurt Bledsoe's chances for making the Hall of Fame....unless he adds a big exclamation point to his career here in Dallas. Fair or unfair, people remember him as the guy who *didn't* take New England to three Super Bowls.

Good news for him is that his career is not yet over. Who knows what's still in store for him...he still controls his own destiny, really (corny, yes, I know).

He's got the Wally Pipp label to overcome, and every big game Brady has puts it more out there.

 

[dbair1967]

Call it garbage but it built on his legend just like it did for Roger.

Garbage? Naw. Not going to agree with you on that one.

garbage might have been harsh, but meaningless statistic isnt

like I said, when QB's like Aaron brooks and Jake Plummer are at the top of that list, it pretty much discounts how important it is

David

 

[dbair1967]

By that logic Ted Williams would be out - never won a World Series.

pretty bad example Nors...Ted Williams is probably the best hitter in baseball history...he did something that hasnt been dont in 65 years now

I'm not sure if Bledsoe is a hall of fame QB or not...IMO right now he isnt, win a couple of super bowls and have a couple of big yrs here and he might be

David

 

[dbair1967]

I did mention that he's been waived twice and it will hurt.

actually he's only been waived once, by Buffalo

the Bills traded to get him

David

 

[jem88]

Wrong 50,000 yards and 300 TD's are no "ifs" but major consideration.

Plunkett was a 25,000 yard guy 30 Inters over TD's career guy. Not even in this discussion.

Bledsoe walked into this town and kicked Henson to the curb - thats at your craw. We win a SB with Drew he's in. "If" ok


You didn't answer my question? How many QB's have thrown for 50,000 yards? Dre Bled was starting as a 20 year old kid in the NFL.....I kNOW YOU WERE THERE BUT YOU HAVE TO GET OVER THE HENSON PEDIGREE!!!!!!! This is all about Drew and us winning now and LT.

At his current pace, Marc Bulger looks to equal or even pass many passing records, yet I don't even put him in the elite class of QBs in the league. Stats do play a role, but they can be misleading as well.

 

[jay cee]

That isn't "taking away from him?"

Okay.

No, that is not taking away from him. That is the truth. And I truly don't see how anyone can honestly refute that Aikman was pretty average when the talent around him was poor.

He was not a numbers qb, he was a leader. Give him good players to lead and he was going to win.

Give him poor players to lead and he was going to lose and still put up average numbers.

QB's like Bledsoe lose with average or poor players just like Aikman did, the only difference is they usually put up bigger numbers while losing.

Why do you feel that is taking away from Aikman?

 

[joseephuss]

I hope Bledsoe just can continue to play as well as he has for the Cowboys. I didn't expect him to play that well. He hasn't been perfect. He had poor games against Washington and Oakland. The whole offense played poorly in both those games. I guess that shows a correlation that Bledsoe only plays as well as his teammates. He isn't lifting them up when they play poorly. That is alright because I didn't think that would be what he brought to the table. He is however not just getting lost and turning the ball over when the line isn't blocking like he did in Buffalo. My point being that he looks capable of quarterbacking the team to victories especially as the team gets better on defense.

How that correlates to potential HOF?, I don't know. I don't think Drew has had a HOF career up to this point. That is just my opinion. Sure "IF" things go right and he plays several more years and wins a Superbowl or two, that would probably put him in. Because then he would have big career numbers and rings. But that is no guarantee. Anything can happen this weekend and even more can happen over the next several years. What happens "IF" he got hurt and Tony Romo came off the bench and leads the team to 2 or 3 Superbowls?

Seriously. We already use the word "IF" just for this weekends game against the Giants. "IF" Dallas can play as well as last weekend, then they win the game. It is not a fact that Dallas will go out and duplicate the execution by the players and coaches that occurred last weekend. This team has yet to show any consitency this season. Win one, lose one. I sure as heck hope they can play as well as last week, but that remains to be seen. I think they can, but I won't put the cart before the ox that is eating eggs that were put in the basket. This team is still growing on both sides of the ball and especially on defense. That growth will continue from week to week and into next season. Anything can happen over that perioed and it all can impact Bledsoe's career.

Elway had a big impact on the game. Toward the end of his career, people weren't saying he had to win a SB to get into the hall. He was aleady considered hall of fame caliber and then things went right and he won a couple of Superbowls. Denver finally gave him a running game and the rest of the league was weak due to learning to deal with the salary cap.

The comback wins stats don't mean anything by themselves. It is just a number. It is the actual comebacks that matter. Everyone knows Elway's big comebacks and Staubach's big comebacks. They did it in playoff games and presented an aura that they could will their teams to victories. Jake Plummer and Aarron Brooks may have several comeback wins and none are memorable and no one says "don't worry, Plummer or Brooks will lead them back" when the team is behind.

 

[BlueWave]

If Bledsoe get over 50,000 yards, he is in. It's just that simple. If he leads Dallas to the playoffs for two or three years, and never reaches the SuperBowl, he is probably in.

Look at Bettis. For a RB, Bettis is the most comparable case. Let's no forget Bettis was on the trash pile after the Rams thought he was through. He resurfaces in Pittsburgh, and is now the Fifth leading rusher in NFL history, and most people think he is a shoe-in for the HOF. He never won a SuperBowl. He didn't impact the game the way Smith, Payton, or Sanders did. But, you cannot keep him out with those stats. Same goes for Bledsoe.

Dan Fouts is most comparable to Bledsoe as far as QB's go. Bledsoe has eclipsed Fouts stats, and Fouts never even got to the SuperBowl. Fouts also had some of the greatest receiving combos in NFL history around him his entire career in Winslow, Jefferson, Chandler, Joiner, Muncie out of the backfield. Bledsoe's career has already eclipsed Fouts career in all aspects, in much tougher conditions, both weather-wise, and personnel wise.

Now, if Bledsoe continues to play like he has so far this season, I think he will settle this arguement pretty quickly. Let's not forget, he will be playing most of his games in good weather conditions the rest of his career. Buffalo is a very hard place to play QB from November on and many of his road games were cold weather as well with both Buffalo and NE. As as Cowboy, at least eight of his games a season will be in Dallas were it can get cold, but there is no wind like NE and Buffalo especially. He may get a tough passing game at NY or Philly which means maybe two tough passing days all year on average. Taking this into account, it should help him to produce even more passing numbers per year than he has in past season. No bad weather to slow him down.

As it stands now, I give him a 75% chance at the Hall. If he loses his arm tomorrow, the vote would be close. If he continues playing and plays at the level he is capable, he will be in.

 

[jay cee]

How many qb's from bad teams make the HOF? That's what's stupid IMO. If Bledsoe can't make the HOF, then why isn't Roger Craig in the HOF over O. J. Simpson, or Earl Campbell. They never even made it to a superbowl.

I'll tell you why, Campbell and O. J. put up great numbers.

Heck by the time Walter Payton won a superbowl, he was just an average back. Most of his numbers were put up on losing teams.

Why can't a QB go into the HOF by putting up great statistics like a running back can.

They have to be judged by whether their team is good enough to compete for championships.

And I believe a huge reason why Bledsoe has played for 3 teams is because the NFL is now in the salary cap era.

 

[BlueWave]

Three teams, but let's not forget, as a Patriot, he was being touted as a top 3 NFL QB and a future Hall of Famer until he got injured. Then he was traded to Buffalo (we should have got him then instead of screwing around with Carter and Hutchinson). The first season with the Bills, he was an All-Pro. The team then let his second leading receiver walk (Price) and two top O-lineman. His number declined the next season. The Bills then let more offensive players walk. Let's face it, the Bills are a Front office disaster. Look at the QB situation now. By the way Bills, Bledsoe is the top rated passer in the NFC, in case you missed it. Fools.

Anyway, now a Cowboy, and seemingly getting better every game as he gets used to the offense and his receivers tendencies.

 

[jay cee]

Three teams, but let's not forget, as a Patriot, he was being touted as a top 3 NFL QB and a future Hall of Famer until he got injured. Then he was traded to Buffalo (we should have got him then instead of screwing around with Carter and Hutchinson). The first season with the Bills, he was an All-Pro. The team then let his second leading receiver walk (Price) and two top O-lineman. His number declined the next season. The Bills then let more offensive players walk. Let's face it, the Bills are a Front office disaster. Look at the QB situation now. By the way Bills, Bledsoe is the top rated passer in the NFC, in case you missed it. Fools.

Anyway, now a Cowboy, and seemingly getting better every game as he gets used to the offense and his receivers tendencies.

Didn't he make the pro bowl after his 1st season in Buffalo?

What can anyone say if he is a pro bowler on all three teams. I think if he keeps playing at this pace, he will go to the pro bowl this season.

That would be a pretty nice career achievement.

 

[BlueWave]

He did go to the ProBowl his first season in Buffalo. Then, they gave his players away.

If he continues playing at the level is now, he is a lock for the ProBowl. Even if he drops off slightly, he will probably make it.

 

[Established1971]

Listed below are the total and yearly stats for HOF quarterback Archie Manning. Tell me again why people don't think Drew will qualify for the HOF with his current stats which are far superior to Mr. Manning's 24,000yd, 125td and 171int totals

YEAR TEAM ATT COMP YARDS PCT YD/ATT TD INT RATING ATT YARDS AVG TD SAC FUM TMREC
1971 New Orleans 177 86 1164 48.6% 6.6 6 9 60.1 33 172 5.2 4 23 6 4-8-2
1972 New Orleans 448 230 2781 51.3% 6.2 18 21 64.6 63 351 5.6 2 43 6 2-11-1
1973 New Orleans 267 140 1642 52.4% 6.2 10 12 65.2 63 293 4.7 2 29 5 5-9
1974 New Orleans 261 134 1429 51.3% 5.5 6 16 49.8 28 204 7.3 1 25 3 5-9
1975 New Orleans 338 159 1683 47.0% 5.0 7 20 44.3 33 186 5.6 1 40 5 2-12
1977 New Orleans 205 113 1284 55.1% 6.3 8 9 68.8 39 270 6.9 5 29 4 3-11
1978 New Orleans 471 291 3416 61.8% 7.3 17 16 81.7 38 202 5.3 1 34 7 7-9
1979 New Orleans 420 252 3169 60.0% 7.6 15 20 75.6 35 186 5.3 2 17 6 8-8
1980 New Orleans 509 309 3716 60.7% 7.3 23 20 81.8 23 166 7.2 0 41 5 1-15
1981 New Orleans 232 134 1447 57.8% 6.2 5 11 63.6 2 28 14.0 0 21 5 4-12
1982 New Orleans 7 1 3 14.3% 0.4 0 0 15.8 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0-1
1982 Houston 125 66 877 52.8% 7.0 6 6 71.3 13 85 6.5 0 48 5 1-7
1983 Houston 88 44 755 50.0% 8.6 2 8 49.2 2 13 6.5 0 11 2 2-14
1984 Minnesota 94 52 545 55.3% 5.8 2 3 66.1 11 42 3.8 0 18 4 3-13

Manning played alot of 14 game seasons, played before alot of rule changes that helped qb's and the offense in general went into effect

 

[Danny White]

I'm shocked that some Cowboy fans seem to be subconsciously rooting against him still.

He's OUR guy now. I'd expect everyone to be behind him and wishing the best for him... like Super Bowl victories and big-number Pro Bowl seasons... not Theisman-type injuries.

Nors, BlueWave, myself and others aren't saying he's in, we're making the case for him if he has the run in Dallas that we all hope he has and think he realistically could.

Also, I think what happened to him in New England and Buffalo could potentially add to his "story" if he does manage to win a Super Bowl with us. It makes for a great story... "the superstar, discarded and thought to be washed up and finished, ressurects his career with his old HOF coach for one last, great ride and brings the title back to America's Team."

In some ways, that's a story as good as Elway's "career comeback" story... different, but still very compelling.

 

[Hostile]

garbage might have been harsh, but meaningless statistic isnt

like I said, when QB's like Aaron brooks and Jake Plummer are at the top of that list, it pretty much discounts how important it is

David

I just don't think so David because once again are they known for it? He was and is. Along with Staubach and Montana they remain the most feared QBs in history with the game on the line.

Frank Reich of all people engineered the biggest come from behind win of all time. Is he mentioned in the same breath? No, and very few are.

Every QB wins from behind. Hell Brunnell did it to us week 2. Is that his trademark? No, but it was Elway's.

I'm not trying to use it as a stat as much as I am using it as an example of his legend.

Legend = impact. Fair enough?

 

[Hostile]

actually he's only been waived once, by Buffalo

the Bills traded to get him

David

True enough, my bad. Benched is more appropriate. Benched twice in favor of younger, more unproven QBs.

 

[Hostile]

No, that is not taking away from him. That is the truth. And I truly don't see how anyone can honestly refute that Aikman was pretty average when the talent around him was poor.

He was not a numbers qb, he was a leader. Give him good players to lead and he was going to win.

Give him poor players to lead and he was going to lose and still put up average numbers.

QB's like Bledsoe lose with average or poor players just like Aikman did, the only difference is they usually put up bigger numbers while losing.

Why do you feel that is taking away from Aikman?

I truly don't see how anyone can rate him average. It's rpetty clear that is a stats only opinion.

I consider it taking away from him because I don't buy it for 1 minute.

 

[Doomsday101]

As Bledsoe has said, his career is not over with yet. He has a chance to do some good things in Dallas that could help him get into the HOF.

 

[Chuck 54]

I love what Bledsoe is bringing to our team, but I don't really care whether he ever makes the HOF...too many years away from the Cowboys. I have no interest in his making it...I'm still waiting for Chuck Howley, Bob Hayes, Drew Pearson, etc..........

 

[SkinsandTerps]

I thought we discussed this about 6 weeks ago.

Does Coach Jimmy Johnson belong in the HOF ?