Newz Forum: FOOTBALL: Drewlogy

Just like that, it was all over. The game, the season, and in all probability his career as a starting quarterback in the National Football League.

It was obvious to the 68,000 fans at Gillette Stadium and to the millions watching at home. And by the look on his face, it was obvious that he knew it too. As Drew Bledsoe lofted an interception into the hands of his former favorite receiver, it couldn't have felt anything less like yesterday. In fact, the only thing that hadn't changed was Troy Brown's uniform.

This time around, the former future of the Patriots was wearing the red, white and blue of the Buffalo Bills. This time around, he wasn't supposed to throw it to Brown, who was playing defensive back, not wide receiver. This time around, the Foxborough Faithful were cheering, just as they had when Bledsoe found Brown for nine years as a member of the hometown team, but for an entirely different reason: his failure. More importantly, they were cheering a blunder that epitomized and effectively sealed his demise.

Indeed, this past Sunday marked the low point in the career of Drew Bledsoe. How quickly things have changed for the former number one overall draft pick. Just one year ago, Bledsoe was widely regarded as a savior in Buffalo on the heels of an early season drubbing of New England, amidst a chorus of national media speculation that had his team going to the Super Bowl.

But it was not to be. Just as he had in 2001, Tom Brady stole the show and captured the Super Bowl, his second in three years for a region once smitten with Bledsoe's promise.

Now the well has run dry for the 32-year-old Bledsoe, whose seemingly boundless potential was never fully tapped. There will be no rebirths, no more fresh starts, no more second chances. The Drew Bledsoe Experiment is over. And Bledsoe - like his likeness Frankenstein before him - will be unmercifully burned at the stake.

But don't feel bad for Drew. He's had a good career with more wins than losses, a Super Bowl ring and 100-million-dollar salary to show for it all. He is - in the end - a good man with a great arm, whose mind was never as strong as his matter.

A shame really. I always have had great respect for Drew, and was extremely dissappointed when the 'skins didn't pick him up when he left the Pats. I think he may have been the difference for either Marty or Steve, but we'll never know. I'd even be happy to have him nexst year, he'd certianly be better than Bummell...

Yeah, Brunell is the worst free agent signing since the Angels signed Mo Vaughn. I think Ramsey's the guy in Washington. Give him time. Either way, trust me - you don't want Bledsoe. His style of quarterbacking requires way too much time to pass the ball effectively, and that time just isn't there in today's NFL. Defenses are too fast, and they're only getting faster. Quarterbacks have to be able to help themselves with their legs, pocket presence or shiftiness, and Bledsoe can't do any of that. You can only blame the offensive line for so long. At some point, you have to look to the quarterback, and Bledsoe - once a prototype - is anything but the ideal in today's league. He's a great guy and a class act, but it looks to be over.

You may be right, but I'll always wonder "What if?"