What if Mo Lewis had not injured Drew Bledsoe?

[HardHittingRoy31]

Backup quarterbacks are told to always be prepared, for they are only one snap away. But Tom Brady could have been forgiven for ignoring the advice. A sixth-round pick out of Michigan in 2000, Brady had done well to even make the Patriots' roster his rookie season, and work his way up to second on the depth chart the following training camp.

Drew Bledsoe probably expected to finish his career in New England.




Playing behind Pro Bowler Drew Bledsoe, one of the most durable quarterbacks in the league, Brady was unlikely to see significant playing time in 2001. But that all changed in Week 2, when Bledsoe was drilled by New York Jets linebacker Mo Lewis as he ran upright trying to make it out of bounds.
The hit caused Bledsoe to suffer internal bleeding, leading to a change at quarterback, and, ironically, the begining of the Patriots' championship run. Brady displayed so much composure in his first few starts, when Bledsoe finally returned, he was the one relegated to the sideline.
Brady capped off an improbable season by leading the Patriots on a game-winning drive against the Rams in Super Bowl (XXXVI). His success made Bledsoe so expendable, the nine-year veteran was dealt to divisional rival Buffalo following the season. Brady has added two more Super Bowls to his collection (XXXVIII, XXXIX), winning a place in the hearts of all New England fans. But it is worth remembering that place once belonged to Bledsoe, and it's also fair to wonder how long things might have stayed that way, had it not been for one vicious hit.

-- David Mosse

link:espn.com

 

[Achozen]

...and what if Romo didn't have moxie.

 

[CM Duck]

what if a frog had wings...

 

[Aikbach]

Backup quarterbacks are told to always be prepared, for they are only one snap away. But Tom Brady could have been forgiven for ignoring the advice. A sixth-round pick out of Michigan in 2000, Brady had done well to even make the Patriots' roster his rookie season, and work his way up to second on the depth chart the following training camp.

Drew Bledsoe probably expected to finish his career in New England.




Playing behind Pro Bowler Drew Bledsoe, one of the most durable quarterbacks in the league, Brady was unlikely to see significant playing time in 2001. But that all changed in Week 2, when Bledsoe was drilled by New York Jets linebacker Mo Lewis as he ran upright trying to make it out of bounds.
The hit caused Bledsoe to suffer internal bleeding, leading to a change at quarterback, and, ironically, the begining of the Patriots' championship run. Brady displayed so much composure in his first few starts, when Bledsoe finally returned, he was the one relegated to the sideline.
Brady capped off an improbable season by leading the Patriots on a game-winning drive against the Rams in Super Bowl (XXXVI). His success made Bledsoe so expendable, the nine-year veteran was dealt to divisional rival Buffalo following the season. Brady has added two more Super Bowls to his collection (XXXVIII, XXXIX), winning a place in the hearts of all New England fans. But it is worth remembering that place once belonged to Bledsoe, and it's also fair to wonder how long things might have stayed that way, had it not been for one vicious hit.

-- David Mosse

link:espn.com

Revisionist whispers claim New England was ready to try Brady soon but you're probably right, New England likely would not have won three Super Bowls or realized the talent on their roster without the life threatening injury that befell Bledsoe.

 

[SupermanXx]

...and what if Romo didn't have moxie.

:laugh2::laugh2:

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

"What if God was one of us.... just a stranger on the bus"

 

[CowboyMike]

what if a frog had wings...

Frogs don't have wings?

 

[Achozen]

Frogs don't have wings?

mmmm..frog legs.

 

[SupermanXx]

what if Vinny Testaverde was a good QB in 2004? oh wait, we're supposed to be asking questions of outrageousness... not sheer ungodliness.

 

[CowboyMike]

what if Vinny Testaverde was a good QB in 2004? oh wait, we're supposed to be asking questions of outrageousness... not sheer ungodliness.

A lot of things went wrong in 2004, not just Vinny.

 

[burmafrd]

Woody's injury, losing Glenn, Blade, Ross and company not panning out, there were a whole lot of problems in 2004.

 

[HoleInTheRoof]

Woody's injury, losing Glenn, Blade, Ross and company not panning out, there were a whole lot of problems in 2004.

Losing Blade. How sad a team we had that we have to regret losing Willie Blade.

 

[superpunk]

Losing Blade. How sad a team we had that we have to regret losing Willie Blade.

If you ever start to forget, read "When the Tuna went down to Texas".

I had started to forget what a ****-hole this team was. It was a miracle they lucked their way into 5 wins a year. Re-reading this book....you remember real fast.

Opening day 2002. Otherwise known as Rock-bottom.

 

[burmafrd]

I will always believe that by far the best coaching Job BP did in his whole career was that first year with us. Sure the schedule was easy, but to get 10 wins and into the playoffs with the garbage we had here....

 

[joseephuss]

I will always believe that by far the best coaching Job BP did in his whole career was that first year with us. Sure the schedule was easy, but to get 10 wins and into the playoffs with the garbage we had here....

Then he replaced garbage with worse garbage in 2004 while also running into some bad luck. Wiley was worse than Ekuban. Carson was worse than Blade. Whomever was at right corner was worse than Edwards. Vinny was worse than Carter.(I just made this a 10 pager ) Injuries to Julius caused George to play more and he was worse than Hambrick. I personally thought Keyshawn was worse than Joey. Galloway was more of a weapon. Antonio Bryant's attitude caused him to be replaced and Quincy Morgan was worse than him.

For as good a job that Parcells did in 2003(and it was good), his and Jerry's GM moves for 2004 were horrible. He took the weakest links of the 2003 squad and made them worse. Then Woody unfortunately was lost to injury.

 

[burmafrd]

Blade ate himself out of a job- not BPs choice. Vinny was better then Q- that has been shown in many threads- NOT a great increase, but better. Wiley was supposed to be an upgrade- and was not. However, everyone wanted Ekubust gone. Julius was injured- George was supposed to be the backup. And George was better then hambone. Glenn is better then Galloway, but was injured. Key was very good as the possession guy we needed and had not had for a long time- but his knee injury halfway through the season slowed him up even more. I notice you tried to blame BP for all this and the only one he blew, really, was Wiley- which at the time looked like a good deal. We were SNAKEBIT in 2004.