Jarv said:
I'm stuck between "Pats land" and "Giants and Jets land"
I think I asked you before, maybe I didn't see the reply. What do your Pats fans friends think about Bledsoe ?
Mine can't stand him, just wondering if that is how your friends feel that way too ?
I too grew up next door to you in CT - Giants land. I also was in Foxborough stadium some 1990-1992 era in the rain on steel seets watching 1/2 filled stadiums and terrible teams.
Parcells and Bledsoe came in and turned the franchise around. Season tickets sold like wildfire. Pats went from dead last in local revenues to top 25% in 4 years. Bledsoe took team to the Super Bowl and waiting list for tickets was now 50,000 long. The NFL in Boston was rocking.
Bledsoe 1997-1999 era has some great moments, the broken finger pin games and last second wins vs Bills, Miami on prime time TV. His popularity was at its peak.
Then 1999/2000 the team started to fall. Fans were turning on Pete Carroll, they lost Curtis Martin and Greer drafted team into tailspin. Defense started to fall apart - Bledsoe started to catch some heat. It was a team on the fall.
Enter Pioli/Bellicheck. 2000 was a 5-11 team being retrofitted. Again the fans on Bledsoe some - then week 2 - 2001 it happened. Bledsoe was knocked out and almost bled to death that night in Hospital. He was out for 2 months and that skinny kid took over. He kind of stumbled around and had the team at .500 mid season. One Terry Glenn saved the season 1 day in San Diego with a big day and Brady and Pats went off on a 2nd half run that was majical. I was at the Snow Bowl game and to this day in the blizzard Tom Brady is one of the luckiest QB's ever. That they converted and moved ball 2nd half was nearly as impossible as the tuck and Vinateri kick. He couldn't make that kick in 10 more tries - JMO
Bledsoe won the Steelers game and Brady came on to win Super Bowl. To answer your question it was a heated debate on who s/b QB. Was Brady a 1 hit wonder? I'd say the mass leaned was to Brady and at the time the tide was one of "Bledsoe bashing" as it unfolded. Bledsoe left town and did bring football back to Buffalo - Season tickets sold and interest buzzed as he instantly turned around a 3-13 team around. Brady went on to win 2 more SB's. The debate really is no debate. Brady is a local hero, he is the better clutch QB. He is Larry Bird, he is Bobby Orr in Boston. He's already all that.
YOU ASK TODAY WHAT DO THEY THINK OF BLEDSOE? In talking to many and listening to talk sports there has been a softening and acceptance of Bledsoe's legacy. He was a very good QB that with Parcells took Pats and put them back on map. They built the new Stadium for Kraft.......There's a knowing he's good - but it was Brady's day. I think that there is a minority Bledsoe beer rant sux element still. But over the years many more fans have admitted to still liking Bledsoe. In fact many still root for him. He was and is a class guy. They think given an Oline he is a very formidable QB. They know his warts and the pro's in his arm.
And you know what? Patriots fans will cheer for Drew when he wins that Super Bowl here - a cheer for one of the good guys. And that Super Bowl ring he has in 2001? Its as much his that he was a team guy and not a prick to Brady and his teamates. He could have sat back and turtled. Instead he helped Brady the entire time - most men could not have done that. Bledsoe is climbing all time charts - he's driven to win a SB.....
You asked
:worthy: :toast2: 
