Would you like to see Drew Bledsoe back next year?

[ABQCOWBOY]

Pay attention son, I don't want to have to eduacate you constantly.



I did not say either could step up. I aked what proof he had that they couldn't.

There's a difference there.

Its that whole Super Soybean, Ozone Decaying, Save the Whales thing he was talking about earlier. After awhile, it alters you in ways you can't recover from.

 

[Zaxor]

I don't agree with that statement either but then I also don't agree with Vick and his poor numbers going to the Pro Bowl. I know I will get slammed by some but I also don't think Larry Allen should be on the Pro Bowl team.

It is not always about the numbers...if it were than like I said VT did better than Bledsoe and with less... also you maybe hard pressed to find another worthy guard

 

[Hostile]

No it doesn't. I already posted this fact, but I am happy to repeat it for you. Of all the modern free agency era QB's (18), only Bledsoe and Brady have reached the SB prior to their fifth pro season. That it what I am basing my statement upon.

Fair enough kmd, but let's look at your statement that I responded to.

While I see DB as a flawed player, I think he is the best shot the Cowboys will have for the next 5 years or so.

Please show me where you explain you are talking about Draft picks who reach the SB in 5 years or less and that Draft picks are the only option.

There is no way I could have gleaned this from that statement. It reads Bledsoe is the only good option for 5 years or so.

Maybe we'll get lucky and hit with Romo or Henson, or maybe a draftee, but in general it is a slow process with QB's.

Not always. In general, yes.

BTW, my statement has less to do with how good Bledsoe is and more to do with how difficult it is in today's NFL to hit on a QB and develop him quickly. Even if Dallas manages to secure a top flight player in the draft, it will take some time for him to develop.

Upon reading your explanation here I understand this. My response is based upon how your post confused me.

Top echelon guys just don't become available in FA. And I am considering Bledsoe when I make that statement.

It truly depends on the situation, but in general I do agree. The truth is there are always options.

I'm not saying this. I actually think Romo or Henson are the best shot the Cowboys have at improving the position in the short term (not immediately), but the general consensus is that both have a long road ahead of them. I think either would be a step back before taking several steps forward. But you have to try at some point.

We agree.

What I think will happen is that Drew will start for the next couple of years, and then one of the young guys will come in and take a couple years to get his feet under him.

I'm on record as saying this would not bother me. JFYI.

Maybe it is better to start the process now, but it seems to me that the team is on the cusp of something big in the immediate future, and I'd hate to see the Cowboys take a step back now for the sake of something nebulous and in the more distant future.

The optimist in me wants to believe we just barely missed and this off season can fix it all.

The pessimist in me wants to say we need a killer instinct at QB that Bledsoe no longer possesses and may have never had given his career.

Hopefully someone will become available, but past history suggests such players won't be available. Of the guys who project to be FA in the near future, none seem very exciting to me. It's been that way for several years now.

Culpepper does excite me.

I was a big time opponent of Plummer or Delhomme. The prevailing thought at the time they were available ws that they weren't much better than what we had. In hindsight we blew it on both.

Pretty hard to say whether any QB will be healthy. Bledsoe has been pretty durable, so I don't see why anyone should predict otherwise for the next couple years. Maybe you're the one with the crystal ball?

You don't want my crystal ball kmd, it sucks bad.

Just to avoid confusion, I'm not saying that DB will be the Cowboys QB for the next 5 years. If that's what you inferred, you are reading too much into what I said.

No, that isn't what I inferred.

I have already said my piece to neil about Aikman vs. Bledsoe.

So did I. Just amplifying what you said about high expectations unless it wasn't clear.

You didn't mean to imply anything? So you were just throwing out random facts?

Either that or being barasive. The jury is out.

Let me clue you in to how debate works. When you bring up statistics and facts, they necessarily imply something. That's the whole reason you bring them up. It's your job to get your point across and mine to make sure I infer properly and understand what you mean. That is why I did ask you (slightly indirectly) if my inference was incorrect.

Silly me I guess. I hope you'll forgive me.

:wink2:

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

You know, in this whole EPA NFL thing you got going on, a guy like Brett Favre would never have gotten an opportunity to play at all. Probably would have never seen the light of day in Atlanta. Not certain how that could ever be a good thing.

 

[Hostile]

Hostile you should work for Monsanto. They make things like pesticide and Genetically Modified Seeds. They put the onus on the public to prove that these are damaging. But I think the onus should be on them to prove that they are not. Likewise with Romo/Henson - they need to prove that they are safe for the environment BEFORE they get a chance.

I think you should work for Charmin as a product tester. You'd be worth millions.

 

[Hostile]

They need to prove it in:

A) Preseason
B) Replacement for disastrous QB
C) Injury to starter.

You're kidding?

No one knew that. Thank you so much for saving this discussion.

[/sarcasm off]

 

[jterrell]

Neil you need to look at their stats they are pretty close to identical...

Vinny threw 3 more picks and 5 less TD's...While Bledsoe had 10 more fumbles and 15 more sacks...

Plus like I pointed out Vinny did not have T. Glenn, Dan Campbell, Julius Jones for most of the season plus Key was playing on a bum wheel and there was no backup running back unless you want to include a washed up Eddie George...

Your "poll" is meaningless...

it won't change a thing especially my mind...

Its really hard to respond your Vinny/Bledsoe comparison without actually being insulting.

Honestly there was a huge difference and the 3 picks and 5 TDS si abotu the same difference between Vinny and Bledsoe as there is between Bledsoe and Manning. Do you realize how much +/- 8 in the TD to INT ratio means??? That is a huge difference.

So you want to lean on injuries? We had injuries both years. VT didn't lose his LT. Julius was injured both years. He was actually more impressive in his rookie campaign. We lost Crayton this year at WR. We didn't send the Pro Bowl TE out inpatterns because we couldn't block.

Vinny could not complete 20 yard outs. His throwns were dying by the end of the year. Last years team scored 2 less points per game. It won 3 less games.

That comparison is about as one-sided and the silly Staubach/Aikman to Bledsoe ones.

 

[jterrell]

So how can you do that with the 15th best QB in football?

Same way the Bucs did with Brad Johnson or the Skins with Doug William/Mark Rypien or the Ravens did with Trent Dilfer.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

Same way the Bucs did with Brad Johnson or the Skins with Doug William/Mark Rypien or the Ravens did with Trent Dilfer.

JT, are you saying that we need to find a way to stock pile talent and create a surplus of talent at every other position like the Skins teams of the 80s did or are you saying that we need to build a defensive team that rivals (arguably) the best that's ever played in the NFL?

 

[Hostile]

JT, are you saying that we need to find a way to stock pile talent and create a surplus of talent at every other position like the Skins teams of the 80s did or are you saying that we need to build a defensive team that rivals (arguably) the best that's ever played in the NFL?

I don't know if JT is saying it or not, but I am saying the latter.

We need a dominant Defense to win it all with this offense. Finish the D.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

I don't know if JT is saying it or not, but I am saying the latter.

We need a dominant Defense to win it all with this offense. Finish the D.

I would have to agree with you Hos. At this point, the way the Skinz did it is not possible, IMO. It would have to be a situation where we create a defense the calibur of the ones TB and Baltimore had in those years. That won't be easy even with the players we have now IMO. I also think it's unlikely to happen in the next two seasons or so. I really don't expect Bledsoe to last more then that. Could certainly be wrong but that would be my guestamite.

 

[DLCassidy]

I don't know if JT is saying it or not, but I am saying the latter.

We need a dominant Defense to win it all with this offense. Finish the D.

Peyton Manning at QB, Moss and TO at WR with Reggie Bush in the backfield couldn't win with Tucker and Petitti at tackle. Draft an OT.

 

[iceberg]

Same way the Bucs did with Brad Johnson or the Skins with Doug William/Mark Rypien or the Ravens did with Trent Dilfer.

we build a strong defense and hope our offense doesn't screw it up?

forgive some of us for aiming higher.

 

[Zaxor]

Its really hard to respond your Vinny/Bledsoe comparison without actually being insulting.

Boy am I with you there...

Honestly there was a huge difference and the 3 picks and 5 TDS si abotu the same difference between Vinny and Bledsoe as there is between Bledsoe and Manning. Do you realize how much +/- 8 in the TD to INT ratio means??? That is a huge difference.

Again means nothing if the mitigating circumstances are not taken in too consideration

So you want to lean on injuries? We had injuries both years. VT didn't lose his LT. Julius was injured both years. He was actually more impressive in his rookie campaign. We lost Crayton this year at WR. We didn't send the Pro Bowl TE out inpatterns because we couldn't block.

all right this is just plain silly you are not gonna seriously compare losing a LT and a bit player...to losing a starting WR, starting TE and yes Campbell was starting, Starting RB plus having your other Starting WR playing on one leg... Do me a favor and stop responding to my posts you have brought little value and only wish to attack the poster and not the post.

 

[kmd24]

The optimist in me wants to believe we just barely missed and this off season can fix it all.

The pessimist in me wants to say we need a killer instinct at QB that Bledsoe no longer possesses and may have never had given his career.

I am hoping like hell that DB can do it, because the pessimist in me says that if he's not we will go back to looking under rocks for a QB and it will be a long time before the Cowboys are back where they belong.

Culpepper does excite me.

I was a big time opponent of Plummer or Delhomme. The prevailing thought at the time they were available ws that they weren't much better than what we had. In hindsight we blew it on both.

Culpepper scares me. He seems very uncertain in the pocket, which would be a disaster on this team from a passing standpoint, but at least he can run if things break down. He is also a turnover machine at times.

Delhomme has proven to be much better than the jokers we had at the time, but I had my reservations (and still do). Living in Louisiana has given me a chance to hear and see quite a bit about the guy. He does have a quality, I'll give him that.

Plummer, I thought would be OK. He's another flawed QB, but he can do a little more than the average QB, doesn't need to be placed in a virtual bubble to succeed, and he was right around the point in his career that QB's either turn the corner or don't.

Silly me I guess. I hope you'll forgive me.

It is difficult to discuss this topic with reasonable folks like yourself because the signal to noise ratio is so very low. It's like trying to have a discussion about conservative social values with Ralph Reed shouting over your shoulder. :bang2: :shootme:

Anyway, you've made some good points, and I think I see where you're coming from, which is a perfectly reasonable position IMO. Not that you needed my approval. :beer2:

 

[Kilyin]

I finally agree with big_neil on something, and that's the fact that Michael Vick has absolutely zero business playing in a Pro Bowl. Then again, I'm not sure Bledsoe does either, but he is definitely more of a candidate than Vick.

And since we're on the subject - When Vick went in 2004 during our 6 and 10 season he had worse numbers than Vinny. Just one of several reasons the Pro Bowl is a joke.

 

[Hostile]

Peyton Manning at QB, Moss and TO at WR with Reggie Bush in the backfield couldn't win with Tucker and Petitti at tackle. Draft an OT.

Yeah right.

 

[Hostile]

I am hoping like hell that DB can do it, because the pessimist in me says that if he's not we will go back to looking under rocks for a QB and it will be a long time before the Cowboys are back where they belong.



Culpepper scares me. He seems very uncertain in the pocket, which would be a disaster on this team from a passing standpoint, but at least he can run if things break down. He is also a turnover machine at times.

Delhomme has proven to be much better than the jokers we had at the time, but I had my reservations (and still do). Living in Louisiana has given me a chance to hear and see quite a bit about the guy. He does have a quality, I'll give him that.

Plummer, I thought would be OK. He's another flawed QB, but he can do a little more than the average QB, doesn't need to be placed in a virtual bubble to succeed, and he was right around the point in his career that QB's either turn the corner or don't.



It is difficult to discuss this topic with reasonable folks like yourself because the signal to noise ratio is so very low. It's like trying to have a discussion about conservative social values with Ralph Reed shouting over your shoulder. :bang2: :shootme:

Anyway, you've made some good points, and I think I see where you're coming from, which is a perfectly reasonable position IMO. Not that you needed my approval. :beer2:

On Culpepper being a turnover machine...so can Bledsoe and Culpepper is younger and more mobile. He put up a season in 2004 Bledsoe never touched in his best years. His best years may be coming if he heals.

I don't think we can get him, but I refuse to ever shut my mind totally to any prospect again.

It was fun, thanks.

 

[Nors]

Culpepper is likely out next year. Culpepper on the free agent market would be a thought down the road. To trade a high pick for him is not viable - JMO

Bledsoe never had Randy Moss.

 

[big_neil]

As for all the people who insist Drew is no good because not only the Pats let him go but the Bills too - check this out:

Bills Fire Tom Donahue:

Tom Donahoe was fired as Buffalo Bills president and general manager Wednesday in a shakeup that also marked Hall of Fame coach Marv Levy's return to the franchise, this time in a consultant's role.

The moves were announced by Bills owner Ralph Wilson, just a few days after he promised changes for an underachieving team that finished 5-11 and missed the playoffs for a sixth straight season.

Donahoe, the only executive to hold the president's title in the franchise's 46-year history, was dismissed after five seasons. Despite increasing the team's ticket base, Donahoe's ultimate failure was the team's failure to win.

The Bills went 31-49 during Donahoe's tenure - the 31 wins tied with Cleveland for the third fewest in the NFL during that span. Besides Houston, which joined the league in 2002, the Bills are the only AFC team since 2001 that has failed to make the playoffs.

Buffalo hasn't made the playoffs since 1999.

Wilson asked Levy to help with the search for the next general manager.

Levy, who turns 81 this year, is the team's winningest coach with a 112-70 record and led the Bills to four consecutive AFC titles in the early 1990s before retiring after the 1997 season.

Levy's involvement is considered a mild surprise, but reflects Wilson's desire to bring in a trusted confidante and longtime friend to an organization that, at times, alienated fans and even the team's owner under Donahoe.

Wilson said he has not determined the status of coach Mike Mularkey. Mularkey has three years left on his contract.

The owner said he will take back the role of team president, and will be more active than he has been in the last five years. He said assistant general manager Tom Modrak will retain his duties, but is not a candidate for the GM's job.

Donahoe was knocked for his management decisions, particularly the hiring of coach Gregg Williams, who was dismissed following the 2003 season after going 17-31 in three years.

The Bills produced in their first season under Mularkey, rallying from a 1-5 start to finish 9-7, but missed a shot at a playoff berth with a season-ending collapse despite playing against Pittsburgh's reserves.

The Bills struggled this season, undone by injuries and a sputtering offense under first-year starter J.P. Losman, who was eventually benched in favor of journeyman Kelly Holcomb.

With his coaching hires, Donahoe was faulted for passing over several other worthy candidates, including Carolina's John Fox, Cincinnati's Marvin Lewis, Chicago's Lovie Smith and New England coordinators Charlie Weis, now the coach at Notre Dame, and Romeo Crennel, now with Cleveland.

Donahoe was also faulted for failing to address his offensive line this season despite awarding the starting job to the untested Losman. Losman went 1-7 as a starter and was eventually benched. The Bills offense struggled overall and their 4,122 yards were the fewest produced by Buffalo in a 16-game season.

Donahoe took over in Buffalo after Wilson fired John Butler.

Donahoe broke into the NFL as a scout with Pittsburgh in 1985 and eventually worked his way up to become the Steelers director of football operations. He was dismissed following the 1999 season after losing a power struggle to coach Bill Cowher.