Is Bledsoe Really That Bad?

I have seen a lot of articles today criticizing Drew Bledsoe as a quarterback. "Washed up" and "never was" seem to be a theme when discussing Bledsoe. But, I think everyone is missing a couple of points. Bledsoe will never be compared to Montana or Elway, but he is not a bad QB. I believe that Bledsoe is a guy in search of a system.

For all of the criticism this year, you wouldn't think Bledsoe compared well against some of the other QBs in the league. But he had more TD passes and total TDs than Michael Vick and a similar passer rating. I don't see anyone showing Vick the door. Bledsoe threw a lot of interceptions, 16, but 6 QBs threw more, including Jake Plummer, Kerry Collins, Trent Green, and Brett Favre. None of those QBs are being sent packing. In fact Favre is being begged to return and Plummer is getting ready to sign a new contract.

Could it be his won-loss record? He has a losing record in Buffalo, but remember that he came to Buffalo after the Bills went 3-13. Playing .500 was an improvement. And he did lead the Bills on a 9-game winning streak that nearly carried them into the playoffs. But most of all, don't forget that he took the Patriots to the Super Bowl under bill Parcells.

Bledsoe's stats aren't flashy, and he does show moments of incompetence, but he is still a good quarterback and leader under the right circumstances. I believe the Cowboys might be a great fit, since Parcells is familiar with Bledsoe and has the running game that Bledsoe needs to succeed. He could also get a call from Arizona or Cleveland, where he could help to lift a rebuilding franchise to the next level.

In a world where an average QB like Vick can be made by the press into a huge superstar, I guess it shouldn't surprise anyone that the media can also make a good QB look bad. If Bledsoe goes to Dallas, I believe he will succeed and show everyone that, with the right team and coaches, he can be a very good QB again.