Bledsoe back in town

FOXBOROUGH – It was a day of memories and reflections for former Patriots quarterback Drew Bledsoe, who returned to town to tour the team’s ongoing Hall of Fame project along with other teammates from the 1990s.

Wearing blue jeans, a white dress shirt and navy sport coat – and the customary hard hat on any construction site – Bledsoe joked with former teammates Willie McGinest, Todd Rucci and Scott Zolak while touring the Hall.

One poignant memory was a 1994 game against the Minnesota Vikings – a 26-20 overtime win in which Bledsoe completed 45 throws on 70 attempts, totaling 426 passing yards. The Patriots had trailed 20-0 in the first half.

After the tour, Bledsoe touched on his return to town while surrounded by media members. He had lunch with the Kraft family, and they talked about how much things have changed.

“It’s pretty funny to think about where we came from, and where we were when we started here,” Bledsoe said. “We had portable [toilets] out front, and it rained in the training room. We were getting a good chuckle that we would put on our pads and drive over to the old mental hospital [in Wrentham] for practice and drive back all dirty, sweaty and muddy. You look at that and compare it to where this is now …”

Bledsoe said the last time he was in town was as a player, when he was with the Buffalo Bills (2002-2004).

“A lot has changed. The Big Dig is done,” he joked. “I didn’t think that would ever happen.”

Bledsoe said he is busier as ever in retirement, working in a variety of businesses – from coffee roasting to making wine.

McGinest, entering his 15th NFL season, reiterated what he told SI.com earlier in the week that this year is likely his last as a player. He enters his third season with the Cleveland Browns. Rucci is living in Pennsylvania and working in financial planning, while the personable Zolak has settled in Massachusetts and works in sports media.