Drew Done Good
I recall sitting on the edge of the bed in my hotel room during a family vacation. We had left the beach in favor of hotel room to see who the Patriots would take with the 1st over all pick in the 1993 draft. 14 years later, I’m not disappointed in their selection.
Before 1993 the New England Patriots were the "Cousin Oliver" of the Boston sports scene and the laughing stock of the NFL. From 1960 to 1992 the team had no titles, few winning seasons, a crummy stadium (which still has a warm place in my heart thanks to all the Sundays spent there), and a sexual harassment scandal involving Boston Herald reporter Lisa Olson. In the last three years they had won 1, 6 and 2 games. On top of all that they appeared headed for a new home in St. Louis…Then everything changed. The owner James Orthwein kept his promise not to move the team and hired two-time Super Bowl winning head coach Bill Parcells. Suddenly an already legendary coach was leading the half-dead Patriots organization into the 1993 draft with the 1st over all pick. It was that draft in which Parcells selected Washington State's Drew Bledsoe over Notre Dame's Rick Mirer. Of course they went with Drew, and thank the lord they did.
From 1993 to 2001 Drew Bledsoe was arguably the biggest sports star in Boston. He put up 300-yard games like it was no big deal, made pro bowls and helped deliver the team's second AFC title during the 1996-97 season. Even though his big arm/slow feet game was figured out (thanks mainly to Bill Belichick while he was with the Jets) by early 1998, Drew was still looked upon as the greatest football player in the Pats history by many. Even in 2001, as backup Tom Brady was showing that he was clearly the future of the franchise, leading the Pats to their 1st Division title since 97, calls were flooding WEEI phone lines claiming Drew should be the starter.
With the announcement of his retirement last week, it is only fair to review some of the highlights of Drew's career:
The 1993 Season Finale vs. Miami: In a sign of things to come, Drew and the Pats win their final 4 games of the year, including the finale at Foxboro, where they knock the Fish out of the playoffs with the 33-27 win in overtime. Drew's final touchdown pass is his 4th on the day.
The 1994 Opener in Miami against Dan Marino:This was an epic match up between two of the strongest arms in the history of the league (on a muddy football/baseball field). The Dolphins would win the game 39-34 but Drew throws for 418 yards on 32 of 51 passing. Of course Marino has a 456 yard day.
The 1994 Record Breaker vs. Minnesota:After a 3-6 start and trailing 20-3 at half time at home, the season was over. In the second half, however, Parcells let Drew loose and the kid threw a league record 70 times, completing a league record 45 passes for 425 yards. The Pats finish the year 7-0 and make the playoffs for the 1st time since 1986-87 (losing to Belichick’s Cleveland Browns).
The Fog Bowl vs. Pittsburgh: After a disappointing 1995-96 season, Drew and the Pats go 11-5 in 1996-97 and host their first playoff game in forever. They welcome the defending AFC Champion Steelers and go on to romp them 28-3 in heavy fog. Executing a play that Drew suggested to Parcells days earlier, the first play goes to Terry Glenn for 53 yards and it's all Pats from there on out.
The Only Title Ever Won At Foxboro Stadium:Following up the win over the Steelers the week before, Drew and the Pats deliver a 20-6 win over the Jaguars and an AFC Championship to the fans. Drew only throws for 178 yards but does help deliver the only title ever won at Foxboro Stadium.
The 1998 Monday Night Thriller vs. Miami:Despite a broken index finger, and a 23-19 deficit with 3 minutes left, Drew leads the Pats on a 80-yard drive that ends with a 25-yard TD pass for the 26-23 win.
The 1998 Sunday Night Thriller vs. Buffalo:A week after the last second win over the Dolphins, Drew and the Pats are trailing 21-17 with under 2 minutes left to the Bills. This time Drew goes 82 yards in a drive that ends in a controversial pass interference call in the end zone. A one yard TD to Ben Coates on the next play seals the 25-21 win (The Bills walk off the field in protest, so the Pats line up and walk in the 2 point conversion).
The Comeback: Do we really have to recap the Mo Lewis hit and Drew's off the bench performance in the 2001-02 AFC Championship Game?
After being traded in 2002 to the Bills for a 1st round pick, Drew spent a few years with the Bills and Cowboys but normally had more sacks than big plays and will be remembered as the man who was replaced by JP Losman and Tony Romo. He did gain a measure of revenge/respect after being traded to the Bills when he was named to the Pro Bowl in 2002-03 and was part of the 31-0 crushing of the Pats on opening day in 2003-04.
With Drew’s retirement underway we will now, and perhaps forever, be hearing calls on Boston sports radio arguing about his possible inclusion into the Hall of Fame. At first glance you may think “no,” but keep in mind that he did have a better completion percentage than John Elway (he only trails Dan Marino by 2.2 percent) and has a better touchdown percentage than Troy Aikman. Bledsoe ended his career with 44,611 yards and 251 touchdown passes. He is seventh all-time in yards passing, 13th in touchdown passes and fifth in completions (3,839).
As far as New England goes he will be a member of the Patriots Hall of Fame and have his number retired. The classy way in which he departed, with the personal letter to the fans and his ability to put the team ahead of himself during the Super Bowl XXXVI run, will never be forgotten.
Thanks for the memories Drew, and for helping to throwing the Patriots into the national sports scene.