McNair vs. Bledsoe

[rcaldw]

I couldn't help last night, watching the interview with Steve McNair after their loss, comparing his response to that of Drew Bledsoe. Let me preface by saying that Bledsoe, as a pattern, is as classy as they get, so this isn't meant to take away from that. But I wasn't pleased with Bledsoe trying to put that last interception off on Witten. Saying "it was miscommunication."

McNair, last night, said that you can't win games throwing 3 interceptions, period. Said that if you have played in the league as long as he has you have to know that. In other words, McNair took the whole thing upon himself.

Never mind that one of his interceptions, the one taken away by Champ Bailey was a legitimate 1 on 1, give your receiver a chance throw that the receiver made a horrible attempt at.

McNair said, "This one is completely on me."

What does that do? It causes you to RESPECT him. It causes his teammates to play harder for him.

This isn't the first time that Bledsoe is willing to talk about "us" instead of say, "I". "I PLAYED POORLY. I THREW THE GAME AWAY. I MADE POOR DECISIONS."

I think it would go a long way, both with his team and with the fans if he would do that.

 

[WoodysGirl]

Who's to say Bledsoe didn't take this one on the chin in front of the team? Especially when I've read a couple articles "how he sat dejectedly in the back of the team bus"

Just because he didn't give a media soundbite, doesn't mean it wasn't done in the lockerroom.

 

[austintodallas]

To my recollection, Bledsoe is usually pretty good about taking his share of the blame.

 

[YosemiteSam]

I remember Bledsoe taking responsibility for the Jags game. I haven't heard anything about this game, but then again he didn't speak after the game. I'm sure he knows he made mistakes and I'm sure he is man enough to stand up for them. I've never seen him assign blame to anyone else but himself. If someone else was to blame then he would say we played bad as a team.

 

[rcaldw]

Who's to say Bledsoe didn't take this one on the chin in front of the team? Especially when I've read a couple articles "how he sat dejectedly in the back of the team bus"

Just because he didn't give a media soundbite, doesn't mean it wasn't done in the lockerroom.

When you do that in front of the team, and you mean it, then your message will be the same in front of the media, not a different one. What I read this morning, a quote from Bledsoe, is that he thought Witten was breaking out, but Witten broke in.

Who does that put it on? It puts it on Witten. What is amazing about that statement is that it doesn't match what OTHER PLAYERS on the team said about the play. Other players were reported to have said that Witten ran it like they always run it.

Not only that, but anyone who has watched Pro Football for any length of time knows that like it or not, fair or not, the QB, ESPECIALLY ON THE DALLAS COWBOYS, becomes the voice of the team. So WHAT YOU SAY TO THE MEDIA is important, not just what you say in the locker room.

 

[ZeroClub]

Bledsoe seems to be a classy guy with solid character. He seems to handle himself well. I don't dislike him at bit, even though I'd prefer Romo be given a chance to start.

 

[WoodysGirl]

When you do that in front of the team, and you mean it, then your message will be the same in front of the media, not a different one. What I read this morning, a quote from Bledsoe, is that he thought Witten was breaking out, but Witten broke in.
Who does that put it on? It puts it on Witten. What is amazing about that statement is that it doesn't match what OTHER PLAYERS on the team said about the play. Other players were reported to have said that Witten ran it like they always run it.

I took that statement totally different. He THOUGHT Witten was breaking out, but went in. Thought is operative word. Sounds to me he was admitting to making a mistake. Not the other way around. You can say he put it back on Witten, I don't.

Not only that, but anyone who has watched Pro Football for any length of time knows that like it or not, fair or not, the QB, ESPECIALLY ON THE DALLAS COWBOYS, becomes the voice of the team. So WHAT YOU SAY TO THE MEDIA is important, not just what you say in the locker room.

Not saying what he says or doesn't say to the media as the QB isn't important. He's the offensive captain, so it's obvious the team respects him as a leader and his voice carries weight. However, no matter what is said in front of the media, I'm sure there are alot of things said totally different in the lockerroom. Parcells is a classic example of that.

Personally, I'm not interested in falling on the sword statements to the media. I'm interested in what he does to bounce back yet again from a piss poor outing.

 

[rcaldw]

Bledsoe seems to be a classy guy with solid character. He seems to handle himself well. I don't dislike him at bit, even though I'd prefer Romo be given a chance to start.

I'm with you on this, and have stated it more than once. All I'm talking about is this last game. I would have liked to have heard Bledsoe do what Steve McNair did last night. "I lost the game." "This one is on me." Even if that is not ENTIRELY true, it has ALOT of truth in it, and it builds respect to hear your field general say it.

 

[Stautner]

This is much ado about nothing.

Fans need to quit expecting players to make the perfect comment every time they speak - being put on the spot with a microphone in your face isn't easy.

Besides, it's not as if Bledsoe attacked Witten. Perhaps he truly thought the play was intended to go to the outside - he didn't say who's fault the miscommunication was.

Sure, he could have taken it completely on himself, but considering that he didn't actually blame anyone either, and considering his history of being a stand up guy, this single press conference is a non-issue.

 

[Frozen700]

Who's to say Bledsoe didn't take this one on the chin in front of the team? Especially when I've read a couple articles "how he sat dejectedly in the back of the team bus"

Just because he didn't give a media soundbite, doesn't mean it wasn't done in the lockerroom.

damn...are u seriouse?? weres that article?? he just sat in the back all by himself? i hope hes ok...i hope this lights a fire under him

 

[rcaldw]

This is much ado about nothing.

Fans need to quit expecting players to make the perfect comment every time they speak - being put on the spot with a microphone in your face isn't easy.

Besides, it's not as if Bledsoe attacked Witten. Perhaps he truly thought the play was intended to go to the outside - he didn't say who's fault the miscommunication was.

Sure, he could have taken it completely on himself, but considering that he didn't actually blame anyone either, and considering his history of being a stand up guy, this single press conference is a non-issue.

My friend, if you don't think a QB taking the blame when he should is much ado about nothing then we just respectfully disagree. I hear what you are saying, you are saying that Bledsoe usually DOES take the blame when he should. I think in general terms you are right about that. I say, again, however, that I've heard him before speak in terms of "we" when he would have been better served (in my opinion) to have just said he had a bad game. Anyway, one thing you are completely right about, is it doesn't matter what I FEEL ABOUT IT, it matters what his teammates feel about it. If they feel that Parcells and Bledsoe himself, hold the QB accountable, then that is all that matters.

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

I couldn't help last night, watching the interview with Steve McNair after their loss, comparing his response to that of Drew Bledsoe. Let me preface by saying that Bledsoe, as a pattern, is as classy as they get, so this isn't meant to take away from that. But I wasn't pleased with Bledsoe trying to put that last interception off on Witten. Saying "it was miscommunication."

Well he did say miscommunication... he didnt say on whom?
Also... with all of his Turnovers... if he deflected a little on one is no big deal.

 

[kartr]

I couldn't help last night, watching the interview with Steve McNair after their loss, comparing his response to that of Drew Bledsoe. Let me preface by saying that Bledsoe, as a pattern, is as classy as they get, so this isn't meant to take away from that. But I wasn't pleased with Bledsoe trying to put that last interception off on Witten. Saying "it was miscommunication."

McNair, last night, said that you can't win games throwing 3 interceptions, period. Said that if you have played in the league as long as he has you have to know that. In other words, McNair took the whole thing upon himself.

Never mind that one of his interceptions, the one taken away by Champ Bailey was a legitimate 1 on 1, give your receiver a chance throw that the receiver made a horrible attempt at.

McNair said, "This one is completely on me."

What does that do? It causes you to RESPECT him. It causes his teammates to play harder for him.

This isn't the first time that Bledsoe is willing to talk about "us" instead of say, "I". "I PLAYED POORLY. I THREW THE GAME AWAY. I MADE POOR DECISIONS."

I think it would go a long way, both with his team and with the fans if he would do that.

I wanted us to sign him in the off-season and trade Bledsoe. McNair has a history of rallying his team to wins and Bledsoe has a history of choking in the clutch. The had the same qb rating last year, yet McNair played on a horrible team.

 

[Seven]

This is much ado about nothing.

Fans need to quit expecting players to make the perfect comment every time they speak - being put on the spot with a microphone in your face isn't easy.

Besides, it's not as if Bledsoe attacked Witten. Perhaps he truly thought the play was intended to go to the outside - he didn't say who's fault the miscommunication was.

Sure, he could have taken it completely on himself, but considering that he didn't actually blame anyone either, and considering his history of being a stand up guy, this single press conference is a non-issue.

Yeah it is. It's trying to pile on the examples, as feeble as some may be, in an effort to make Bledsoe look as horrid as possible, as it seems to ALWAYS be directly connected to the Bledsoe/Witten touchdown to make their point even more poignant. I mean c'mon, we're slinking to new levels here. Now, as fans, he's lost respect because he doesn't use the pronoun "I" when asked a specific question about the team on a certain play? Who knows what was decided on in the huddle anyway. This is how silly this sounds : Maybe he should of took one for McBriar.
Before you even start........This is in defense of my thoughts on the thread topic as a whole. NOT a Drew Bledsoe apologist attempt.

 

[Seven]

I wanted us to sign him in the off-season and trade Bledsoe. McNair has a history of rallying his team to wins and Bledsoe has a history of choking in the clutch. The had the same qb rating last year, yet McNair played on a horrible team.

Well, of course you did. You wasted your time typing it. We know.

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

Originally Posted by kartr
I wanted us to sign him in the off-season and trade Bledsoe. McNair has a history of rallying his team to wins and Bledsoe has a history of choking in the clutch. The had the same qb rating last year, yet McNair played on a horrible team.

Well, of course you did. You wasted your time typing it. We know.

Oh Damn!

 

[Stautner]

My friend, if you don't think a QB taking the blame when he should is much ado about nothing then we just respectfully disagree. I hear what you are saying, you are saying that Bledsoe usually DOES take the blame when he should. I think in general terms you are right about that. I say, again, however, that I've heard him before speak in terms of "we" when he would have been better served (in my opinion) to have just said he had a bad game. Anyway, one thing you are completely right about, is it doesn't matter what I FEEL ABOUT IT, it matters what his teammates feel about it. If they feel that Parcells and Bledsoe himself, hold the QB accountable, then that is all that matters.

Are you paying attention? You guys are acting like Bledsoe is TO and pointing fingers at everyone.

This is tabloid quality manufactured crap. Perhaps he could have handled it slightly better, but it's not as if he said anything even remotely offensive or harsh.

It's an overblown, overexxagerated attempt to make an issue out of something that isn't there - the kind of thing that the media pulls out of their backside when they don't have any other story to write about.

 

[rcaldw]

Are you paying attention? You guys are acting like Bledsoe is TO and pointing fingers at everyone.

This is tabloid quality manufactured crap. Perhaps he could have handled it slightly better, but it's not as if he said anything even remotely offensive or harsh.

It's an overblown, overexxagerated attempt to make an issue out of something that isn't there - the kind of thing that the media pulls out of their backside when they don't have any other story to write about.

Whoa there. I think you are getting a little overworked here. It was a simple observation, not meant to "manufacture" anything. If you think Bledsoe is handling himself well, I don't want to disturb you. Feel free to think that. And yes, I'm paying attention

 

[Stautner]

Whoa there. I think you are getting a little overworked here. It was a simple observation, not meant to "manufacture" anything. If you think Bledsoe is handling himself well, I don't want to disturb you. Feel free to think that. And yes, I'm paying attention

If you want to observe that perhaps Bledsoe could have chosen his words slightly better, that's fine.

But to act like there is any significance to it is just so blantently BS that it's laughable.

High profile politicians that recieve extensive coaching in what to say and how to say it in all situations make serious misstatements every day, yet here we are giving significance to a statement made by a football player that wasn't false or harsh to anybody - a matter of fact explaination of a play - and treating it as if it somehow is a blemish on his character.