How much does Drew have left?

[Gryphon]

ARTICLE: Cowboys had offseason priorities in order
By Jeremy Green


TIDBIT: Veteran quarterback Drew Bledsoe turned 34 this offseason. There were times last season when he looked like a 27-year-old gunslinger and other instances when he definitely looked his age.

The bottom line is this: Bledsoe still can play when he gets protection up front. He showed time and time again last season that when his offensive line performed, he could pick a defense apart. When the offensive line got whipped, he was basically a shell of himself.

Bledsoe's success and failures can be tied directly to how well the offensive line performs. I think with the upgrades and the added depth, this is a unit that should be able to give him enough time on most weekends to be effective.

The other factor you have to consider when talking about Bledsoe is how well he can deal with Owens. Being dressed down on the sidelines is nothing new for Bledsoe (roll the Keyshawn Johnson footage here), but I would have to give Owens the nod when it comes to getting under the skin of his own starting QB.

Bledsoe is a veteran, so you would think he could handle Owens, but this is also something I thought Donovan McNabb could deal with in Philadelphia. Owens' constant bashing of McNabb definitely took a toll. If Bledsoe is going to lead this team to the NFC East title, he will need to develop thicker skin than he ever imagined.

 

[KingTuna]

Bledsoe has PLENTY left in his tank.

Everyone knows he is not mobile and he never has been even as a rookie.

This article correctly points out that with a solid O-line in front of him he can still pick apart a secondary as well as any QB in the game.

It's always been that way and I am soo amazed when people sometimes bring up the old "statue" reference like it's something new.

Bledsoe is a true "pocket passer". Always has been always will be. He's a gunslinger that still possesses one of the NFL's strongest arms WITH accuracy.
At age 34 Bledsoe is still the best "deep" ball passer in the league IMHO.
(Remember all of those "touch" passes that he flicked for 70+ yards downfield with seemingly no effort last season? I sure do!)

We saw PLENTY of what Bledsoe still has in his tank last year in all of those come from behind wins and throwing for just over 300 yards short of 4,000 last season and 23 TD's.

Most since Aikman a decade ago.

Had Flozell held up there is no telling how far Bledsoe could have taken us.

Having said that, It's a new year and Flo is back!! If Kosier can hold his own and Rivera is healed to play like the pro bowler he was brought in to be, and if Pettiti screws up again then Fabini comes in and anchors the RT then Bledsoe should have the protection he needs to pick defenses apart.

Throw in T.O. and this could be a record setting year for Bledsoe on a statistical level.

I am on record saying I won't be surprised if Bledsoe breaks the 4000 yard mark by December. Then who knows how many yards he'll end up with.

New Cowboys record that's for sure.

We've got a real shot this year to make it all the way. Bledsoe is our QB and Leader with a hunger to win a championship NOW.

I think this season will prove that there's plenty left in his tank to do just that......

 

[TwoSteppinJJ]

Henson doesnt have much left...

 

[Eskimo]

Bledsoe is definitely the starter for the next couple of years here.

We will probably need to start looking for the future in the draft next year because it looks like Henson and Romo aren't going to be it.

 

[AbeBeta]

Let's see, he's played 64 consecutive games while getting his absolutely hammered b/c of bad OLs. He's incredibly durable and still relatively young.

Bledsoe is the kind of QB who could play until 40 or beyond if he wanted.

 

[CowboyManDan]

He should play really well this year, because the offense and whole team in general has more talent around him.

That said, we better get a QB in here next year who can take over soon. I don't think Bledsoe has much left in the tank myself. And if by chance we win the superbowl, I wouldn't be surprised to see Bledsoe (and Parcells) ride out into the sunset....and then what do we do...

 

[Future]

Let's see, he's played 64 consecutive games while getting his absolutely hammered b/c of bad OLs. He's incredibly durable and still relatively young.

Bledsoe is the kind of QB who could play until 40 or beyond if he wanted.

I agree, he makes the Cowboys front office to be able to be patient looking for a young QB while still giving us a legit chance to contend. It also means that if Romo or Henson arent the future, no big.

I also believe that this might not be his last team, especially if he plays well the rest of the time he is here.

 

[AbeBeta]

I agree, he makes the Cowboys front office to be able to be patient looking for a young QB while still giving us a legit chance to contend. It also means that if Romo or Henson arent the future, no big.

I also believe that this might not be his last team, especially if he plays well the rest of the time he is here.

I honestly think that Drew could stay here for another 4-6 years. He doesn't get enough credit on this board for his leadership. Last year, in a meaningless season ender against the Rams, he stood in and took what might have been his worst beating of the year -- and refused to come out. That wasn't about the '05 season -- it was all about this year. He's got respect in spades from every player on offense.

 

[gbrittain]

I honestly think that Drew could stay here for another 4-6 years. He doesn't get enough credit on this board for his leadership. Last year, in a meaningless season ender against the Rams, he stood in and took what might have been his worst beating of the year -- and refused to come out. That wasn't about the '05 season -- it was all about this year. He's got respect in spades from every player on offense.

I am one of the guys that is a little tougher on Bledsoe than I probably should. Dallas is extremely lucky to have a guy of Bledsoe's caliber considering Dallas has butchered that position since before Aikman got KOed.

However, this is a young man's game. I do not see him playing 4-6 years from now. Well, maybe he could be playing but I hardly think that would be the best scenario for Dallas. Just because he could does not mean he should is what I am trying to say.

Of course I could be dead wrong. Time will tell.

 

[BlueWave]

Just remember, Elway never won a SuperBowl until he was 36 and 37 and not until he had one of the NFL's be O-lines and Running games.

With preotection, Bledsoe is just as good of a pure passer than Elway.

 

[KingTuna]

Just remember, Elway never won a SuperBowl until he was 36 and 37 and not until he had one of the NFL's be O-lines and Running games.

With preotection, Bledsoe is just as good of a pure passer than Elway.

Excellent point!

 

[t.o.boys81]

He has enough, don't worry. I believe he might have a career year this year with all the weapons he has to work with. Possibly a Pro Bowl?

 

[TheEnigma]

He has enough, don't worry. I believe he might have a career year this year with all the weapons he has to work with. Possibly a Pro Bowl?

I believe chances are very good that he'll have a year worthy of a Pro Bowl.

 

[burmafrd]

He was second in the NFl behind P Manning when Flo went down- even late in the season he was 3rd in the NFC. its total BS that Vick went to the Pro Bowl instead of him.

 

[CrazyCowboy]

Hopefully, enough to start and win a Super Bowl!

 

[Zippy Speedster]

Bledsoe is a veteran, so you would think he could handle Owens, but this is also something I thought Donovan McNabb could deal with in Philadelphia. Owens' constant bashing of McNabb definitely took a toll. If Bledsoe is going to lead this team to the NFC East title, he will need to develop thicker skin than he ever imagined.

True. But...lets not overlook the fact that ever since McNabbs entrance into this league, aside from the "racial" stuff, he's been given everything on a silver platter. I would compare him to a "spoiled brat" and I believe his behavior during the whole TO debacle truly showed what he was made of...and that not being very much when you came right down to it. On the otherhand, Bledsoe was brow-beat into this league with a horsewhip by noneother than Bill Parcells. If anything, I'd be worried about TO, not Bledsoe, because it literally could be like a rubber room for TO bouncing back 'n forth off of Bill and Drew all season long.

If I believe one thing, I believe when Bill Parcells picks a quarterback #1 overall in a draft, the only time he's ever done that, I believe he's going to bring in a guy whom fits the Bill Parcells-Mode to a tee. And that is Drew Bledsoe in my opinion.

Up until this point TO has had, Mr. Pushover and Mr. LifeIsSoUnfair, as his QBs. Drew and Bill, combined, are going to make TO look like he's sitting in a corner half the time. I mean sure they'll let the 'kid' play once in awhile, but when it's time for business, it's time for business, and I would hate more then anything to be the guy that steps inbetween that.

 

[ravidubey]

There is no doubt that at times Drew was worn out last year. The older you get the harder it is to maintain a high level of performance over 16 games and more. So the Cowboys have to preserve him as much as possible.

Hopefully the Cowboys will be able to play with a lead more often this year. That will help even more than a good running game, which they also need to establish.

 

[DWelch1775]

Good thread, and Bledsoe is the man.