Duchess Jack Posted February 17, 2005 Share Posted February 17, 2005 Who needs that? Bills set to release Bledsoe By PFW staff Feb. 16, 2005 Word from Buffalo is that the Bills have made the decision to cut QB Drew Bledsoe after an up-and-down three-year stint with the team. The team has announced a press conference for Wednesday afternoon to announce their intentions though, according to league rules, they are not able to officially cut him until Feb. 22. Bledsoe, 33, posted a 23-25 record as the Bills’ starter, including a 9-7 mark in 2004. However, he finished the season ranked 25th in the NFL in passer rating with a 76.6 mark, which oddly enough matched his career average. He had 20 TD passes and 16 interceptions and threw for 2,932 yards. The 12-year NFL veteran has reportedly told the Bills that he has no desire to be a backup at a reduced salary to second-year QB J.P. Losman in 2005 and would only be amenable to being the starter. The Buffalo braintrust decided to go with the younger player and start the future now. By releasing Bledsoe the Bills will save $2.2 million in cap space. He was due to count $6.5 million against the cap this coming season. Bledsoe has not indicated that he is ready to retire and speculation is that the Cowboys are interested in signing him to be their starter for the ’05 season, a move that would reunite Bledsoe with Bill Parcells, his coach in New England. The Bills acquired Bledsoe on draft weekend in 2002, trading their 2003 first-round draft pick to New England to bring in the veteran signalcaller. Bledsoe looked rejuvenated for the first half of the ’02 season with the Bills, teaming up with WRs Eric Moulds and Peerless Price and RB Travis Henry to form one of the most explosive offenses in the NFL. But Bledsoe’s performance dipped over the second half of the season as the Bills fell short of a playoff berth with an 8-8 record. The ’03 season was an extremely disappointing one for Bledsoe and the Bills as the team finished with a 6-10 record, resulting in the firing of head coach Gregg Williams. Bledsoe struggled throughout, getting sacked 49 times as the team managed to score just 15.2 points per game, scoring 10 or less points on seven occasions. He finished with 11 TD passes and 12 interceptions, his lowest TD total since his rookie season. Bledsoe rebounded somewhat in 2004, leading the Bills back from a 1-5 start to get back in playoff contention. However, he looked awful in losses at Baltimore and New England and struggled mightily vs. the Steelers’ second-team defense in the season finale — a loss that bounced the Bills from the playoffs and caused head coach Mike Mularkey and GM Tom Donahoe to come to the conclusion that Bledsoe had taken the team as far as it could go under his leadership. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WaterMan Posted February 17, 2005 Share Posted February 17, 2005 It's all because Peerless Price left Buffalo and is setting Atlanta on fire. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikesVikes Posted February 17, 2005 Share Posted February 17, 2005 Who needs that? 701367[/snapback] The Bills? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. Rock Posted February 17, 2005 Share Posted February 17, 2005 When Losman got drafted last year, I heard he had plenty of talent, but would probably need more time to mature than most other rookie QBs - both personality wise, and the fact that he played in a lesser conference against lesser competition. Add to that the fact that he missed most of the year with a broken leg... and how do they think he's ready? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phenom Posted February 17, 2005 Share Posted February 17, 2005 Is Bledsoe Hall of Fame material?............. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. Rock Posted February 17, 2005 Share Posted February 17, 2005 Is Bledsoe Hall of Fame material?............. 701425[/snapback] Wait, you're not serious are you? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WaterMan Posted February 17, 2005 Share Posted February 17, 2005 HOF for being sacked so much. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phenom Posted February 17, 2005 Share Posted February 17, 2005 Wait, you're not serious are you? 701436[/snapback] Well everytime someone gets close to the end of his career there is a big debate about if so and so is HOF material. Drew Bledsoe the King of the unnecessary sack, Sultan of the WT F was that throw!. I'm sure someone here is going to make an argument on his behalf............ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wolv Posted February 17, 2005 Share Posted February 17, 2005 The 'Boys could end up 8 years younger at QB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duchess Jack Posted February 17, 2005 Author Share Posted February 17, 2005 Is Bledsoe Hall of Fame material?............. 701425[/snapback] NFL, no. Special Olympics...maybe if you gave him some rollerskates and a powerbar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
major-tom Posted February 17, 2005 Share Posted February 17, 2005 (edited) QB rating 76.6? I thought it would be a bit lower than that. Edited February 17, 2005 by major-tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
policyvote Posted February 17, 2005 Share Posted February 17, 2005 Well everytime someone gets close to the end of his career there is a big debate about if so and so is HOF material. Drew Bledsoe the King of the unnecessary sack, Sultan of the WT F was that throw!. I'm sure someone here is going to make an argument on his behalf............ 701504[/snapback] Everybody east of the Mississippi and north of the Mason-Dixon line proclaimed him a lock for the HOF after his rookie year . . . Peace policy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Donutrun Jellies Posted February 19, 2005 Share Posted February 19, 2005 Bledsoe at 76.6 ??? Wow. That's kinda mediocre, isn't it? Wait ... that's only 0.3 below Michael Vick's career mark of 76.9 -- and just a bit below Vick's outstanding year at 79.0 this year ... Maybe Bledsoe is better than we think. Maybe it's not about passer rating? Maybe it's about your team winning while you're in there ... Could Dallas do that at with Bledsoe like Atlanta did this year with Vick? Big D would have a better chance with Drew than with VTest ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phenom Posted February 19, 2005 Share Posted February 19, 2005 Bledsoe at 76.6 ??? Wow. That's kinda mediocre, isn't it? Wait ... that's only 0.3 below Michael Vick's career mark of 76.9 -- and just a bit below Vick's outstanding year at 79.0 this year ... Maybe Bledsoe is better than we think. Maybe it's not about passer rating? Maybe it's about your team winning while you're in there ... Could Dallas do that at with Bledsoe like Atlanta did this year with Vick? Big D would have a better chance with Drew than with VTest ... 704553[/snapback] Troy Aikman's career QB rating is 82.64 over 12 seasons. Over his first 3 years he never threw over 3,000 yards in a season. In fact over his career he never threw over 3,500 yards in a season. In Aikman's first 3 years he threw 31 TD's and only 46 INT's. In Aikman's first 26 games he had a QB rating of around 60. The 91-92 seasons Aikman was sacked 71 times. Somehow Dallas won with this guy throwing the ball............. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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