Drew Bledsoe Q&A
FOXBOROUGH – Here is part of today’s media Q&A session with Drew Bledsoe after he toured the team’s Hall of Fame construction
What were your thoughts going through there?
“It’s very impressive. I’ll be really excited to come back and check it out when it’s done. It will be fun to bring my family back. My kids will absolutely dig it.”
What have you been up to?
“I’ve been busy. Retirement is hard work. I need to go get a job so I can be less busy. I’m having a lot of fun. I have four young kids and have been able to spend a ton of time with them, and did a bunch of snow-skiing this winter. I have a little wine project going on out in Walla Walla [Washington] and have a few other endeavors too – a little coffee biz. We’re moving and shaking and it’s really fun. It’s been a great education. I’m enjoying every minute of it.”
Can you put it into perspective from when you first got here, what it was like, to now?
“I had a chance to sit down for lunch with Robert Kraft and then talked to Jonathan [Kraft] and Danny [Kraft] a little bit. It’s pretty funny to think about where we came from, and where we were when we started here. 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 for practice and drive back all dirty, sweaty and muddy. You look at that and compare it to where this is now, obviously setting a new benchmark for entertainment in the sports world. It’s pretty amazing.”
Do you take some pride in the fact you were, in some ways, responsible for the turnaround of the franchise?
“Yeah, I am proud of what we did when I was here. When I got here, and obviously there are a ton of facets to that, this was the fourth sports franchise in town and almost forgotten about. To see where it is now, and to know I was, at least in some small way a part of that transition, yeah it feels great, it really does.”
Any chance of you moving back? Your house [in Medfield] is for sale.
“Maybe he’ll actually make some money on it, because I sure didn’t [laughter] We’re settling out there in the Northwest, and loving life. We have the kids in school out there. They all ride their bikes to school each day, which is a great scenario. We’re having a great time, but it does feel good to come back here and visit.”
When was the last time you were here?
“The last time I was here, the last couple times, was when I was playing for Buffalo (2002-2004). Those aren’t really warm, fuzzy memories. Outside of that, it’s been quite a while. A lot has changed. The Big Dig is done. I didn’t think that would ever happen. It was cool to see that and kind of drive around and see some of the old spots. To be able to come down and see this is outstanding.”
What was it like last July and the reality set in that you weren’t playing?
“In July, it was awesome. That’s when everybody is going to training camp. I think every football player looks forward to the day when training camp starts and they don’t have to do that. That was different when the regular season started and the other games started being played. I did miss it, and I do miss it, and I always will miss playing ball. I think anybody who has ever played at whatever level misses it to a certain extent. It was a really big part of my life for a long time, and I enjoyed every minute of it. I do miss it, but at the same time, I don’t have any regrets about the decision. It was the right time to hang them up.”
There was no feeling about coming back during the season?
“No. There were some calls that came in, a couple of them where I took the all-important step of talking to my wife about the scenarios. I thought about it, spent some time on some of the different opportunities, and ultimately woke up the next morning and said ‘I’m done, I’m ready to be done.’ It’s a really good feeling to know that.”
What are some of your favorite Patriots memories?
“There are so many, it’s hard to pick a few. If I had to, there are a few games that would obviously stand out. The game against the Vikings in 94 that we won in overtime was a special one. The year before that, my rookie year, when we were so awful but we came back and won our last four games and beat the Dolphins and knocked them out of the playoffs. That was great, going way back. The Steelers game in the playoffs, here in the fog, and obviously that AFC Championship game when the lights went out. There are tons of great memories. The nice thing about being retired is they are the only ones I have to [think about], so I don’t have to re-live any of the other stuff now. It’s fun to come back. You certainly get nostalgic, particularly spending time with Willie [McGinest] and [Todd] Rucci, and I saw Tedy Bruschi for a while today. And [Scott] Zolak. There is some nostalgia, it’s all very good stuff.”
Have you followed the story about the team’s videotaping procedures? What are your thoughts?
“My take now is the same as it’s always been – every team in the league is trying to do everything they can to get ahead, and I’m sure most, if not all of them, are bending the rules in some way, shape or form. This just happened to be one that was very public and obviously the organization has been reprimanded for it. As a player here, I never did see anything other than what has already been reported."
Time will judge Bledsoe well in New England. At the end of the day, there is no shame in being beaten out by one of the 5 greatest quarterbacks of all time and Bledsoe was a good to very good quarterback. He wasn't prolific like Brady and didn't have a set of rocks like Grogan. But he steadied that position here for years. When you see teams talking about starting Joey Harrington, Tavaris Jackson, Cade McNown among others, it wasn't a bad thing having Bledsoe around.
Mike, awesome Q&A on Bledsoe. It gave me the chills when I found myself sitting at my desk and thinking back on the first days of Drew. He truly was the start of the new, NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS.
Thank You Drew..I have always liked you and wish you nothing but BEST. Thank You
hahaha I was getting chills too. I started following football religiously as a kid when Bledsoe came to town, so he was my first football hero. I have a pile of Bledsoe jerseys in a drawer. Bledsoe was a class act and will be remembered as one of the great Patriots of all-time. If Parcells and his staff stuck around Drew would have a couple of rings on his fingers IMO. I wish he retired a Patriot. Thanks for the memories #11!
Drew Bledsoe is the reason I became a Patriots fan.
Parcells and Bledsoe put this team on the map (sorry Tony E.) and it's great to see Bledsoe carrying himself with the dignity and class he always has. Great Q&A Mike and ATB to the Bledsoe family. Now he's retired he's a Patriot forever.
Drew made every game exciting. Sometimes a little too exciting. Thanks for the memories as well Drew.
Can not wait for the Pats to retire his jersey and number
Will be there for sure
Good guy. He carried the team on his back for years, taking sack after sack.
I used to run into Bledsoe more than a few times at a local establishment during his time here ...he was one of the most down to earth, class guys. I hope the Pats do something special for him this season as he was the first one to help them get out of the basement of the NFL. He still is a HUGE part of Pats history, and like what was said before there is no shame and losing your job to possibly the greatest quarterback to ever play.
Drew Bledsoe was always a classy guy. And he should get credit for his part in turning around the franchise.
As a Pats fan growing up throught the late 70's and 80's (outside the year of 85) it was tough sledding and trying to defend your team against all the 9ers, Cowboys, and Steelers fans but when Drew came on something immediately changed. There was a confidence, a swagger, a feeling that hey this could really be something and I think that he brought us to the promised land even though Tommy closed the deal. It's not about Brady though right now, Bledsoe was tremendous for this franchise and it should never be forgotten. The class, the stats - he's a Hall of Famer in my books! Thanks Drew!!!
Great job Mike!
Holding my breath here...10 comments in and none of the anti-Drew jerks have shown up. Is it possible that for once they'll let the man's class shine through on its own? We can only hope.
Drew you are what every father should teach their son to be a stand-up roll model. You laid the groundwork for all the success that we have had the pleasure of seeing over the past 15 years.
THANK YOU!
Can't wait to see you throw a pass to Benny at your HOF induction ceremony!
Hall of Fame no questions asked. Out of all of the quarterbacks to ever come through this league he is one of only 10 to throw for more than 40,000 yards. Along with Parcells and Kraft he is the reason why we have the Patriots here today. Dont give me the fact that he never won the Superbowl. That shouldnt decide someones career. I would take Dan Marino over Trent Dilfer any day...
Great to see a Q&A with #11 the real Patriot missile!!
If my memory serves me right... he does have a ring... he might not have played in the big game, but he came up big in upsetting the steelers in Pittsburgh (I'm sure Walsh has the tape to prove that it was actually Brady in disguise)... so technically he has more bling than Marino.
He will always have a place in my heart... a long with Troy, Tedy, Tommy, Willie and that guy I can't remember his name.. oh yeah Vinateri......
I have many great memories of Bledsoe from my teenage years. He even referenced one of my 5 favorite Pats games ever, the divisional playoff game against Pittsburgh in the fog in early '97. On a day when you couldn't see more than 15 feet in front of you, Drew went deep to Terry Glenn on one of the first plays of the game, setting the tone for a great blowout win.
If it wasn't for Drew we wouldn't have Gillette stadium and I wouldn't have my season tickets.
Thank you Drew!
When I look back on athletes after their career is over, I try to think of the 1 or 2 things that I associate that player with. When I think of Drew, "Class Act" is the thing that comes to mind for me. He was always the epitome of how you define a "team player", which for me is the most critical element of how I judge athletes. He took a lot of crap in the media when he became the backup and not once can I recall his ego getting in the way. I'm sure if you ask Brady, he would be able to enlighten you on how much Drew meant to him at the beginning of his career. Some people didn't like the laid back personality that he portrayed but he was always a tough, stand-in-the-pocket QB who took a lot of hits, especially early in his career. In my time as a Patriot fan (over 30 years) being able to watch Grogan, Bledsoe and Brady is a damn good trio in my book. I hope that the next 3 are remotely close. Enjoy your retirement Drew.
The "mental hospital" Drew referred to was the Foxboro State Hospital, not Wrentham. I remember watching practices there with my dad way back in the day...
Drew was all class. Let's not foget the full-page ads he took out in the Globe and Herald when he was traded to Buffalo, thanking Pats fans for their support. Needless to say, most professional athletes in Boston haven't left town that way (yeah, I'm talkin' to you, Texas Con Man, Damon, etc.). And if it weren't for Drew, the Patriots might be in St. Louis right now. Kraft, Parcells and Bledsoe saved professional football in New England, and we owe them all a great debt of gratitude.
thanks Drew for all the great memories--I became a Patriots fan because of you--you are missed here in New England--you made football a very exciting game to watch--I miss watching you on Sundays wherever you were playing! You are what made the Patriots what they are today
Great interview with one of the GREATEST QB's in Patriots History. It's too bad that it seems like you cant love Brady and still like Bledsoe. It's almost like the media made it a pick one or the other type of thing with these two guys. I will always give Drew the respect he deserves because if it wasn't for him this team probably would have left New England. The guy took a beating and never complained. I wish him well and I hope he is one of the first inductees into the Patriots HOF. By the way Tom Brady is GOD but it really is sad when fans take cheap shots at Drew!
Drew continues to be a class act. This Patriots franchise owes much thanks for his contributions. I remember before he left New England he took out a full page ad to thank the fans for their support over the years. That's class!!
i hope they retire drews #11 in gillette!! he deserves it
My all time favorite QB is and always will be Drew Bledsoe. He is the reason I started watching football to begin with at my early age. I hope everyone remembers that without Drew, Tom Brady's first ring wouldn't be on his finger. Drew came into a team with nothing and within 3 years had them in a Superbowl. Brady walked into a good team. And I can honestly say before they hang Bledsoes Jersey up, he should come back for one more season next to Tom Brady. That would be the most feared QB duo in the League. If you knock one down your still in trouble. Thanks for the memories Drew. We'll miss you!!!!
drew bledsoe is the reason i've been a patriots fan ever since i started watching football. he was the face of the franchise for so many years, and to see him leave for buffalo... it absolutely crushed young fans, as drew was all we knew. i hope everyone ultimately remembers him as a classy guy, an outstanding quarterback and the savior of patriots football in new england. because of drew, i am still a football fan. my college dorm room is still adorned by drew posters and jerseys and i hope the organization and gillette honor him in the same way. truly a patriot great, you'll never know drew what you've meant to this area. next stop, canton. all the best to the bledsoe family
He is a Hall of Famer. He has the stats, took one team to the Super Bowl and helped another win one.
He has a ring and a great career to look back upon.
PATRIOTS : RETIRE HIS NUMBER !!!
thank you,drew
Thanks Drew...Your the reason I started playing football. I will never forget watching you play! Please Comeback!! Your better than half the guys in this league!
Drew bledsoe is and always will be my all time fav qb. Drew was the person that got me into football. Seeing drew stand tall in the pocket with a bunch of d lineman and linebackers ready to take his head off and then bledsoe blasting a laser to terry glenn or ben coates was what i loved about him. He was a fearless warrior. He took a lot of blame when they lost and not much fame when they won. He was a quiet man who would play through pain and still gave you hope in thise close games. I was a peed of 8th grader when drew was traded and i would wear my bledsoe jersey proudly whenever we won a game or lost a game. My friends bust me about bledsoe more than id like even if where talking about something totally unrelated to him. Drew just gave me a lot of joy when i was growing up when, at times there wasnt much. I just hope he know that he helped one boy grow up to be a man. The guy was a class act and deservises everything the pats and the nfl honor him with.
Drew thanks for everything.
Vinny
Drew, Im your biggest fan. Man we could really use you here in Chicago. Please tell us that your at least thinking about joining a playoff contender late season. #11 4 life come on back.
drew, i have followed your career since washington state.one of the saddest days of my life is when the sports ticker showed you at retired.i was wanting you to reach the 50,000 yard passing mark .i know it would have took 2 more years.i really think you would have fit in minnesota one final playoff push.i rank you in the top 10 quarterbacks of all-time.your numbers do the talking for you.i wish you would e-mail me sometime it would blow my wifes mind she loves you too.
proctorm@bellsouth.net
Hey,Drew come out of retirement, the Patriots could really use you now.
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