Drew Bledsoe Retires

[UNHWildCats]

He was a very very good QB, even as a Patriots fan I dont think I will say great.

He completed 3839 passes (5th alltime) on 6717 attempts (5) for 44,611 yards (7) and 251 TD (13)

The question is... Is Drew Bledsoe a HOFer?

[blackfordpu]

If he were top 10 in all of those categories I would say yes.

[blackfordpu]

UNHWC, you have to start voting in your own polls.

[UNHWildCats]

he was 10 TD from the top 10 does that change ur opinion at all?

He only played 14 seasons and considering he missed most of 2001 with a injury that nearly killed him, and then sat out most of this past season were talking a little over 12 seasons that makes those numbers even more impressive.

Aikman made it in with much less impressive stats.

[UNHWildCats]

UNHWC, you have to start voting in your own polls.

I never like when the creators of polls vote first cause everyone will know it was his opinion though my sencond post prolly shows ,my opinion LOL

[Fresno St. Alum]

why is it bad to see what the starter of the poll's opinion is first? I think he's HOF

[UNHWildCats]

just my opinion I have since voted :p

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

I've been a Drew Bledsoe fan since i was a kid which made me a Patriots fan starting in the mid 90's. He was a great QB and an equally good guy from what i gather. He really changed the culture of the Patriots. When they drafted him in '93 along with hiring Bill Parcells the Patriots organization laid the groundwork for where they are today. He led them to a Super Bowl as a well as a few other playoff appearances and put up very good stats. With that said i don't think he's a HOF. On numbers alone he is but i think you have to go beyound numbers and look at the whole resume. Favre is really the only QB from Bledsoe's generation that's a HOF, i really don't know anyone else to compare him to, perhaps McNair? He was already established in the league when Manning, McNabb etc arrived. Bledsoe just didn't leave a big enough footprint i believe for him to be a HOF.

[LeopardFan04]

I said no...a good, solid player for a long time, but I agree with TU: just not a big enough footprint for the Hall...

[blackfordpu]

he was 10 TD from the top 10 does that change ur opinion at all?

He only played 14 seasons and considering he missed most of 2001 with a injury that nearly killed him, and then sat out most of this past season were talking a little over 12 seasons that makes those numbers even more impressive.

Aikman made it in with much less impressive stats.

Aikman also won three Superbowls.

[Mod33]

Bledsoe helped the pats to two with less talent.

[dbackjon]

No - solid player - not a HOFer

[Mr. C]

Honestly, does Bledsoe rank up there with Johnny Unitas, Sonny Jurgensen, Bart Starr, Fran Tarkenton, Otto Graham, Sammy Baugh, Roger Staubach, Len Dawson, Dan Marino, John Elway and the other great QBs in the Hall of Fame? Good player, but I don't think Bledsoe is anywhere close to those guys (and I'm not talking numbers here). Now Tom Brady has an excellent shot at HOF if he continues his current production a few more years. IMO that Bledsoe will never even make the nomination list to get voted upon.

[UNHWildCats]

Honestly, does Bledsoe rank up there with Johnny Unitas, Sonny Jurgensen, Bart Starr, Fran Tarkenton, Otto Graham, Sammy Baugh, Roger Staubach, Len Dawson, Dan Marino, John Elway and the other great QBs in the Hall of Fame? Good player, but I don't think Bledsoe is anywhere close to those guys (and I'm not talking numbers here). Now Tom Brady has an excellent shot at HOF if he continues his current production a few more years. IMO that Bledsoe will never even make the nomination list to get voted upon.

I think if Brady were to go out and win the Super Bowl next year then retire he makes the HOF. ANythoing after that is just icing on the cake

[Fresno St. Alum]

he has a super bowl ring. but brady won it for him. still numbers puts you in, marino, moon, kelly

[Tod]

he has a super bowl ring. but brady won it for him. still numbers puts you in, marino, moon, kelly

Excellent point and exactly what I was thinking. While Marino is a no-brainer and Kelly did at least play in four Super Bowls, what did Moon really do that is better than Bledsoe?

Edit - OK, I looked it up. I knew Moon had great stats, in fact, I remember that between the NFL and CFL he has passed for more yards professionally than any other QB in history (if that still stands). BUT...I didn't realize his stats were as good as they are. He does have Bledsoe in all of the stats.

But I still think Bledsoe may (and I say MAY) deserve to be at least on the ballot. There have been an awful lot of QB's in the league, and I'm guessing there are QB's in the Hall that are less impressive than Bledsoe.

Seems to me that that should be a yardstick. Not so much "is he better than the worst in the hall", but "is he better than some (or many) in the hall"?

[813Jag]

Bledsoe was a good quarterback especially in New England when he was throwing the ball 70 times a game. But the end of his career in Dallas left a lot to be desired. Defenses started blitzing him heavily. It was a shame to see him booed out of the stadium against the Texans.

[Cobblestone]

Bledsoe reached his prime the year the Patriots played the Packers in the Super Bowl. After that he just leveled off and never got any better. The people in Buffalo thought he'd get them to the Super Bowl, I wasn't shocked when that didn't happen. He didn't do a lot for Dallas either. I say he made a good move retiring, no way does he make it to Canton, Ohio.

[kardplayer]

Not even close to a hall of famer.

No rings as many others said, plus comparing numbers across eras is tough, you really need to look at how he did against his peers, plus completions and attempts aren't what get you in, its yards and TD's.

In yards, he only led the league once (1994). All the players above him except Fran Tarkenton played against him - Marino, Favre, Elway, Moon, Testaverde (also not a HOF'er BTW). On the plus side, only Manning is likely to pass him before his first vote, so he'll still be in the top 10.

In TDs, he's #13, with 6 guys he played against above him (including Manning).

Interestingly, the player his numbers look a lot like are Boomer Esiason's (~7k more passing yards and 4 more TD's). Boomer isn't a hall of famer and hasn't been seriously mentioned as far as a I know.

It also doesn't help him, in my opinion, that Brady came in and took over a team that Bledsoe had at 2-2 (if memory serves correctly) and took 'em to 3 titles.

[Marcus Garvey]

No - solid player - not a HOFer

Agreeed.
His numbers are so high because he played for 15 years, but the last 6 or so he was so-so. He reminds me of Ron Jaworski or Joe Furgeson. Solid QB's who had some great seasons, but when they neared the end of their careers, they became train-wrecks. xlolx

[Peems]

Bledsoe reached his prime the year the Patriots played the Packers in the Super Bowl. After that he just leveled off and never got any better. The people in Buffalo thought he'd get them to the Super Bowl, I wasn't shocked when that didn't happen. He didn't do a lot for Dallas either. I say he made a good move retiring, no way does he make it to Canton, Ohio.

Me neither, he just didn't have anything that was that spectacular in buffalo. When their offense was good, the D was bad, when the D was decent the O struggled. Never could get the two together, and no I dont think he is a HOFer

[andy7171]

He was a good player, but not a Hall of Famer. There is no shame in not making the Hall of Fame. 14 years in the NFL is quite an accomplishment. I'm sure he has a nice life laid out for himself. I don't see the HOF in that future though.

[appfan2008]

Aikman also won three Superbowls.
that is the key difference there

[appfan2008]

having read all the comments this is what i surmise to be the popular opinion...


good but not great and not in the hall but should be on the ballot!

[UNHWildCats]

he has a super bowl ring. but brady won it for him. still numbers puts you in, marino, moon, kelly

And yes Brady did win the SB in 2001, But Bledsoe led the team to victory in the AFC Championship game at Pittsburgh when Brady went down

[AZGrizFan]

And yes Brady did win the SB in 2001, But Bledsoe led the team to victory in the AFC Championship game at Pittsburgh when Brady went down

I figured you'd be in mourning this a.m. after the BEATING your favorite Asian took last night! xbawlingx xbawlingx xbawlingx xlolx xlolx xlolx xlolx

[UNHWildCats]

3 ER in 7IP isnt a beating, though the sox hitters should get a beating after their pathetic performance.

[AZGrizFan]

3 ER in 7IP isnt a beating, though the sox hitters should get a beating after their pathetic performance.

If you're the Seattle pitcher, you've got to LOVE that yesterday was ALL ABOUT Dice-K, and then he goes out and almost throws a no-hitter. Funny *****. xlolx xlolx xlolx xlolx

[UNHWildCats]

No one was underestimating him, in fact i was pissed when I saw the mathups Monday. I cursed the snowed out series in Seattle lol

[appfan2008]

3 ER in 7IP isnt a beating, though the sox hitters should get a beating after their pathetic performance.
I agree, one of the best lineups in baseball got told who was boss last night

[spelunker64]

good but not great and not in the hall but should be on the ballot!


First part, so true, xnodx

Last part, debatable xeyebrowx

[appfan2008]

the pardon the interruption folks just said they both thought he should be in the HOF

[spelunker64]

idiots

[appfan2008]

yeah i dont agree with it either ... he just didnt have that it factor

[spelunker64]

Phil Simms did, he's not in

[spelunker64]

List of Modern era QBs, who is Bledsoe better than?

Troy Aikman 1989-2000
George Blanda (Also PK) 1949-1958, 1960-1975
Terry Bradshaw 1970-1983
Len Dawson 1957-1975
John Elway 1983-1998
Dan Fouts 1973-1987
Otto Graham 1946-1955
Bob Griese 1967-1980
Sonny Jurgensen 1957-1974
Jim Kelly 1986-1996
Bobby Layne 1948-1962
Dan Marino 1983-1999
Joe Montana 1979-1994
Warren Moon 1984-2000
Joe Namath 1965-1977
Bart Starr 1956-1971
Roger Staubach 1969-1979
Fran Tarkenton 1961-1978
Y.A. Tittle 1948-1964
Johnny Unitas 1956-1973
Norm Van Brocklin 1949-1960
Bob Waterfield 1945-1952
Steve Young 1985-1999

[Mr. C]

Spelunker64:

I dare say, I'd taken every one of these QBs ahead of Bledsoe, not that Bledsoe was not a very good QB, but that all of these guys are better in my book. Mr. C is old enough to have seen 18 of them play extensively and I've seen tape on all of the others.

Blanda is probably the one I'd say was most comparable in this group to Bledsoe, in terms of style. Blanda had a weird career, being blackballed by George Halas and missing a good part of his prime. He had similar mobility and a similar arm to Bledsoe. But a large part of Blanda's reason for being in the HOF was the fact he was also one of the most prolific kickers and point scorers of his era, not to mention his reputation for comebacks late in his career.

Namath was extremely overrated and is in largely because of his contributions to saving the AFL and winning one Super Bowl game. Great arm, very immobile and made far too many turnovers for my liking.

Bobby Layne wasn't great either, but he got in for his leadership abilities. He was a little better version of Billy Kilmer.

Bradshaw is somewhat overrated, too, but he was surrounded by GREAT talent and had the capacity to come up big in big games. Montana is similar to Bradshaw in that regard, overrated, GREAT talent around him, but great in big games.

The rest are pretty solid. You could make cases for Graham, Unitas, Jurgensen, Marino and Elway as being the best of the best. If Jurgensen (who had the best pure arm I've ever seen) had not played on such bad teams (with almost NO running game) for most of his career, he might be on top. Put Jurgensen in Bill Walsh's offense and it would have been incredible. Bart Starr is another one who is in a special class, because of what his leadership abilities were able to accomplish.

[spelunker64]

Spelunker64:

I dare say, I'd taken every one of these QBs ahead of Bledsoe, not that Bledsoe was not a very good QB, but that all of these guys are better in my book. Mr. C is old enough to have seen 18 of them play extensively and I've seen tape on all of the others.

Blanda is probably the one I'd say was most comparable in this group to Bledsoe, in terms of style. Blanda had a weird career, being blackballed by George Halas and missing a good part of his prime. He had similar mobility and a similar arm to Bledsoe. But a large part of Blanda's reason for being in the HOF was the fact he was also one of the most prolific kickers and point scorers of his era, not to mention his reputation for comebacks late in his career.

Namath was extremely overrated and is in largely because of his contributions to saving the AFL and winning one Super Bowl game. Great arm, very immobile and made far too many turnovers for my liking.

Bobby Layne wasn't great either, but he got in for his leadership abilities. He was a little better version of Billy Kilmer.

Bradshaw is somewhat overrated, too, but he was surrounded by GREAT talent and had the capacity to come up big in big games. Montana is similar to Bradshaw in that regard, overrated, GREAT talent around him, but great in big games.

The rest are pretty solid. You could make cases for Graham, Unitas, Jurgensen, Marino and Elway as being the best of the best. If Jurgensen (who had the best pure arm I've ever seen) had not played on such bad teams (with almost NO running game) for most of his career, he might be on top. Put Jurgensen in Bill Walsh's offense and it would have been incredible. Bart Starr is another one who is in a special class, because of what his leadership abilities were able to accomplish.


Thank you, good post. That was my point. Bledsoe isn't better than any on that list nor some QBs that aren't in(Simms). xnodx

[bincitysioux]

Bledsoe should be a first ballot hall of famer. Holds records for completions and attempts for both a season and a game. I believe fastest QB ever to get to 15,000 yards. Got his team to two Super Bowls. He put a winner on the field throughout most of his career basically all by himself offensively except for the 3 seasons that N.E. had Curtis Martin. He also carried himself very well. Very classy guy. For the period from let's say 1993-2003, I think only Favre was better. He struggled in Dallas, and that recent memory makes people forget what he did for the first 10-12 years of his career.

[spelunker64]

Replaced by JP Losman and Tony Romo...

[andy7171]

Bledsoe should be a first ballot hall of famer. Holds records for completions and attempts for both a season and a game. I believe fastest QB ever to get to 15,000 yards. Got his team to two Super Bowls. He put a winner on the field throughout most of his career basically all by himself offensively except for the 3 seasons that N.E. had Curtis Martin. He also carried himself very well. Very classy guy. For the period from let's say 1993-2003, I think only Favre was better. He struggled in Dallas, and that recent memory makes people forget what he did for the first 10-12 years of his career.
xeyebrowx huh? xeyebrowx
I don't think I can say Bledsoe was even at top 3 QB in any of his years. Arguing that he is a HOFer is reasonable. Saying he's a first ballot HOFer is laughable.

[bincitysioux]

xeyebrowx huh? xeyebrowx
I don't think I can say Bledsoe was even at top 3 QB in any of his years. Arguing that he is a HOFer is reasonable. Saying he's a first ballot HOFer is laughable.

As UNHWildcat pointed out, Bledsoe won the AFC championship game following the 2001 season. The Pats were trailing when Brady got hurt. To come into a big game like that, having not played for about 19 weeks and then to play the way he did says something about the type of player he was and what he was capable of. That game could have ended up differently had Damon Huard come on in relief. What 3 QB's other than Favre were consistently as good or better as Bledsoe was during the first 10 years of his career?

[andy7171]

As UNHWildcat pointed out, Bledsoe won the AFC championship game following the 2001 season. The Pats were trailing when Brady got hurt. To come into a big game like that, having not played for about 19 weeks and then to play the way he did says something about the type of player he was and what he was capable of. That game could have ended up differently had Damon Huard come on in relief. What 3 QB's other than Favre were consistently as good or better as Bledsoe was during the first 10 years of his career?
Well in the early to mid 90's, I'd say Steve Young, Troy Aikman, Jim Kelly, Dan Marino, John Elway then bleeding into the mid to late 90's, Brett Farve, Elway, Culpepper, Warner, McNair and in the 00's I'd have to say Warner, Culpepper, Manning, Brady, Palmer, Green.

All I am saying is that he's never been THE man in the league, there have always been at least 3-4 guys ahead of him. Good reliable QB, yes. HOFer? eh, debatable.

[kardplayer]

Look at the season by season ranking numbers for bledsoe - you've got to be a consistent Top 3 guy to be the man, and three years, with none higher than three isn't going to do it (1994, 1996, 1997, with a nice yardage/low TD year in 2002):

Seasons in the top 10 (career was 1993-2006)
Passing yards:1994 (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/leaders1994.htm)-1, 1996 (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/leaders1996.htm)-3, 1997 (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/leaders1997.htm)-4, 1998 (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/leaders1998.htm)-6, 1999 (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/leaders1999.htm)-6, 2002 (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/leaders2002.htm)-2, 2005 (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/leaders2005.htm)-8

Passing TDs:1993 (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/leaders1993.htm)-10t, 1994 (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/leaders1994.htm)-4, 1996 (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/leaders1996.htm)-3, 1997 (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/leaders1997.htm)-3, 1999 (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/leaders1999.htm)-10t, 2002 (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/leaders2002.htm)-7, 2005 (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/leaders2005.htm)-8t

Compare to Favre (1992 was first year as starter):
Passing yards:1992 (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/leaders1992.htm)-9, 1993 (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/leaders1993.htm)-6, 1994 (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/leaders1994.htm)-5, 1995 (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/leaders1995.htm)-1, 1996 (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/leaders1996.htm)-4, 1997 (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/leaders1997.htm)-2, 1998 (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/leaders1998.htm)-1, 1999 (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/leaders1999.htm)-4, 2000 (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/leaders2000.htm)-5, 2001 (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/leaders2001.htm)-3, 2002 (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/leaders2002.htm)-8, 2004 (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/leaders2004.htm)-5, 2005 (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/leaders2005.htm)-3, 2006 (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/leaders2006.htm)-6

Passing TDs:1992 (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/leaders1992.htm)-8t, 1993 (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/leaders1993.htm)-5, 1994 (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/leaders1994.htm)-2, 1995 (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/leaders1995.htm)-1, 1996 (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/leaders1996.htm)-1, 1997 (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/leaders1997.htm)-1, 1998 (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/leaders1998.htm)-3, 1999 (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/leaders1999.htm)-8t, 2000 (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/leaders2000.htm)-10t, 2001 (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/leaders2001.htm)-2t, 2002 (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/leaders2002.htm)-2t, 2003 (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/leaders2003.htm)-1, 2004 (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/leaders2004.htm)-4, 2005 (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/leaders2005.htm)-10t

Compare to Simms (10 years as a starter)
Passing yards:1984 (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/leaders1984.htm)-3, 1985 (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/leaders1985.htm)-4, 1986 (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/leaders1986.htm)-8, 1988 (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/leaders1988.htm)-7
Passing TDs:1984 (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/leaders1984.htm)-8, 1985 (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/leaders1985.htm)-7t, 1986 (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/leaders1986.htm)-7t, 1987 (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/leaders1987.htm)-10, 1988 (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/leaders1988.htm)-5, 1993 (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/leaders1993.htm)-10t

I'd say better than Simms, by a good amount, not nearly as good as Favre.

For those that want to refute: http://www.pro-football-reference.com/

[EKU05]

I voted yes. In the interest of full disclosure my NFL team is Buffalo. I think letting Bledsoe go is among the stupider things the Bills have ever done. Even though JP Losman showed some big time potential this past season, he was handed the reigns to early, and Drew was a great fit in Buffalo. I would have liked to see him finish his career there.

[bincitysioux]

Well in the early to mid 90's, I'd say Steve Young, Troy Aikman, Jim Kelly, Dan Marino, John Elway then bleeding into the mid to late 90's, Brett Farve, Elway, Culpepper, Warner, McNair and in the 00's I'd have to say Warner, Culpepper, Manning, Brady, Palmer, Green.

All I am saying is that he's never been THE man in the league, there have always been at least 3-4 guys ahead of him. Good reliable QB, yes. HOFer? eh, debatable.

Remember the time frame I was talking about. 1993-2003. I'll agree with you on Young and Favre.

Aikman-made his living handing off to the arguably the best running back ever to play in the NFL. Also had probably the second best receiver of his era (next to Rice), not to mention Novacek and the best offensive line of the 1990's. He would not be hall of famer if he didn't have 3 rings. He was a "good reliable quarterback".

Kelly-very good player, but also surrounded by an excellent back and WR's. He was an average player by 1995.

Marino-I feel he and Bledsoe were so similar. Great arms, great leaders, great stats, just never won a Super Bowl game. I still remember the 40+ point/400 yard games they exchanged in the last game of 1993 and first game of 1994. Marino was not the "Marino" we think of after the achilles injury, IIRC, around 1996.

Elway-again, a different era than Bledsoe. He was a great clutch player throughout his career. But he is probably one of the most streakiest QB's of the modern era. Didn't really flourish statistically or "winning the big one"-wise until the last 3-4 years of his career, when Shannahan took over the Broncos.

Culpepper-not even close

Warner-a product of the system he played in. Had three stellar years because of it, but never even had the full support of his own head coach. He hasn't even showed the simplest sign that he is capable of replicating his performance over those three years since leaving St. Louis. Also played with a great running back and a couple stand-out receivers.

Palmer-totally different era, way too early to tell on him

Manning-same credentials

Brady-hard to say where he and the Patriots would be right now without Bledsoe

Green-huh?