04/24/24
April 26, 2002
Drew Bledsoe thanks Patriots fans in full-page ad : that ran in the Boston Globe today, thanking the fans for supporting him during his career as a Patriot. Now, maybe it's just a carefully thought out p.r. move, and if all athletes (this means you, A-Rod) did this is would quickly become just an expected cornball routine, but still- it's an awfully nice gesture, and I hope the New England fans remember that on December 8th.
posted by hincandenza to football at 01:47 PM - 4 comments
Would it have made much of a difference in A-Rod (or Giambi or whoever's case)? "I just spent 1/1000 of 1% of my new salary on this goodbye message to you. Thanks for watching me while I was on my way to real dough." As for Bledsoe, I'm already worried. Maybe he's done, but I'd rather the Pats didn't get to find out twice a year. I loved the guy and I think there's a chance he'll prove his critics wrong. If he can't get it done with Eric Moulds, Jay R-----, Peerless Price, Larry Centers, et al, his critics wre right. But I doubt it.
posted by yerfatma at 05:24 PM on April 26, 2002
The Patriots will regret it. Draft picks are empty promises. The Jets got Shaun Ellis for Bill Belichick, who masterminded the Pats Super Bowl run. Think that was fair? And when the Pats allowed Bill Parcells and Curtis Martin to go to the Jets for a pile of picks, what did they get?
Check this list of immortals: Chris Canty, Tebucky Jones, Rod Rutledge, Tony Simmons, Sedrick Shaw, Chris Carter, Ed Ellis, J’Juan Cherry and Robert Edwards. Of that group, only Tebucky Jones has panned out. Edwards' career came to a halt after a beach football mishap nearly forced amputation of his leg.
The NFL trading deadline is too early (usually like Week 4), so teams never actually trade players during the season. If the deadline was closer to the postseason, teams making a run might actually swap player-for-player to make a postseason run. And if you were going to make a deal with a contender in this case, you wouldn't want one of their picks because it would be at the end of the round.
In summary, Bledsoe is a hell of a player and a class guy, period. And the Pats got a quarter on the dollar for him. What a shame.
posted by Conquistador at 12:04 AM on April 27, 2002
well, a first round pick in the NFL means a lot more than in some other sports (baseball, hockey)... I always love when baseball teams trade stars for a prospect and a pick or something. Since Bledsoe was traded, as opposed to fleeing for the money, I don't think he'll be booed... he did a lot for the franchise and they're the ones who got rid of him. And it's possible, although maybe not that likely, that the pick they got will turn out to be a lot more helpful than a great quarterback who never plays... Personally, my guess is that Tom Brady is going to flame out, a la Doug Williams, and they're going to wish they kept Bledsoe. I hope not, cause I like the guy, but I just see that happening.
posted by Bernreuther at 04:46 PM on April 27, 2002
I think it was a very classy move. P.R. or not, it can't be faulted. As a Bills fan (don't cry for me, I'm okay) I'm quite happy to see him come to Buffalo. I've already forgotten about the lost year with whatshisname when they ditched Flutie.