Bledsoe to Cowboys?
 

ESPN.com is reporting that Drew Bledsoe will be released by the Bills before the start of free agency on March 2, 2005. The Cowboys have reportedly expressed interest in Bledsoe.

If the Cowboys acquire Bledsoe, he would likely supplant Vinny Testaverde as Dallas' starting quarterback. At 33, Bledsoe's NFL career may be coming to a close. But, he'd be a big improvement over Testaverde, Drew Henson, or Tony Romo.

I for one would not like to see a deal consummated. Anyone have any thoughts?

Re: Bledsoe to Cowboys?
 

Bledose is not a great QB anymore or anything; but he would certianly be an upgrade for the Cowboys. So therefore, I would not like to see a deal with them come together. I think if the Cowboys go in with their QB's as is, they are going to struggle. With Bledose, I think they could be in ok shape, which is bad news for us.

Re: Bledsoe to Cowboys?
 

I would be all for it,he's not mobile and he's at the tail end of his career and it would prolong Dallas developing a qb,unless theyre planning on bringing back Vinny for another yr,I'd rather see them do that

Re: Bledsoe to Cowboys?
 

If you put him in the right situation, namely behind a solid o-line, Bledsoe can still air it out. As a side note, anyone else find it kind of crazy that Bledsoe is seen as old yet he's younger than guys like Jeff Garcia, Brad Johnson, Tren Green?

I think the Cowboys are definitely going to bring someone in, but I think it will be someone not quite as experienced (read: old) as Vinny and not nearly as raw as Henson.

Someone like Brian Griese comes to mind.

What's the salary cap situation for the Cowboys? I think they still need a playmaker at WR

Re: Bledsoe to Cowboys?
 

I think it would be a questionable move for Dallas to bring in Bledsoe, depending on how much $$ he is asking for. He is better than the other QBs on the roster, but he is clearly declining and I question how much of an improvement he would be over Vinny. I would not be too scared if they got Bledsoe, as this team has many other needs, and acquiring him is not going to put the Cowbitches over the hump.

Re: Bledsoe to Cowboys?
 

they have a decent receiver corp, I dont think thats a huge need.
Bledsoe would be a huge upgrade for them and can definitly air it out. I hope hes a bust and costs them a lot of money, of course, but if their running game with Jones gets going bledsoe can be dangerous.

His limited mobility could be fun for our defense though.

Re: Bledsoe to Cowboys?
 

I like Bledsoe - hope he doesn't go to the Boys. I think the Bills had problems protecting him (he was around P.Ramsey numbers in sacks) so if he has a line watch out!

Re: Bledsoe to Cowboys?
 

drew has always tended to hold onto the ball too long, but hes got a cannon

Re: Bledsoe to Cowboys?
 

[QUOTE=SKINSnCANES]they have a decent receiver corp, I dont think thats a huge need.
Bledsoe would be a huge upgrade for them and can definitly air it out. I hope hes a bust and costs them a lot of money, of course, but if their running game with Jones gets going bledsoe can be dangerous.

His limited mobility could be fun for our defense though.[/QUOTE]

Bledsoe had Willis McGahee really cranking up in Buffalo this year and he still played like garbage. He had Eric Moulds to throw to and rookie Lee Evans had a solid season. I can't imagine that his surrounding talent in Dallas would be significantly better than what he had in Buffalo. The only reason to believe Bledsoe might have a better year in Dallas is the fact that he's so familiar with what Parcells tries to do on offense. I see no reason to fear the Cowboys if they pick up Bledsoe. The reason to fear them would be the large amount of cap room they have, and flexibility to make other major moves this offseason.

Re: Bledsoe to Cowboys?
 

Bledsoe is definitely on the downside of his career but he can still play and he's certainly an upgrade over old man Vinny.

Re: Bledsoe to Cowboys?
 

Parcells doesn't like Henson at all and I don't think he would have agreed to continue if forced to play him, despite "personnel expert" Jerry Jones' touting of him. Clearly they need an option other than Testaverde.

It makes all the sense to bring in Bledsoe who has played with Parcells before, and who you would think would still have plenty of gas in the tank if you put him in the right situation. Parcells is not likely going to coach long enough to develop a new quarterback.

Re: Bledsoe to Cowboys?
 

I think we may be overstating things when we talk about "familiarity with the offense". Drew Bledsoe has had four different head coaches since his time with Parcells - [b]nine seasons ago[/b]. That's a lot of new playbooks, terminologies, players, rule changes, and arthitis medications ago. If anything, Bledsoe would be familiar with getting browbeaten by Parcells, and it may not be an experience he wishes to repeat.

Also remember that, despite his visit to the Super Bowl with Bledsoe, the two didn't have a lot of success together. Parcells had a winning percentage of .500 with the Patriots. With the Jets he had a regular season winning percentage of .604 - and with good old Vinnie and the Jets, he went 20-12 in the regular season. Vinnie has fresher knowledge of Parcells and his offense, has the trust of the coaches, and comes cheaper than Bledsoe likely will. Besides, if you are going to impede the growth of your young QB's, does it really matter if the guy you are doing it with is 34 or 40?

Re: Bledsoe to Cowboys?
 

Does this mean that the Cryboys new standard play will be the one where Drew falls down and goes boom? Cause that seemed to happen about once every 3 downs in Buffalo last year. Bring him.

Re: Bledsoe to Cowboys?
 

[QUOTE=Schneed10]Bledsoe had Willis McGahee really cranking up in Buffalo this year and he still played like garbage. He had Eric Moulds to throw to and rookie Lee Evans had a solid season. I can't imagine that his surrounding talent in Dallas would be significantly better than what he had in Buffalo. The only reason to believe Bledsoe might have a better year in Dallas is the fact that he's so familiar with what Parcells tries to do on offense. I see no reason to fear the Cowboys if they pick up Bledsoe. The reason to fear them would be the large amount of cap room they have, and flexibility to make other major moves this offseason.[/QUOTE]


I would not use the word Fear, and cowroids in the same sentence, however, but the point about the large cap room they have, and the flexibility to make other moves is the best point made in this entire thread.

Schneed10, welcome to the board, and great post!

Re: Bledsoe to Cowboys?
 

Bledsoe at this point in his career is only a slight upgrade over Vinny. I see a full year of Julius Jones as a big reason to fear Dallas. He looked really good at the end of last season. And as the previos post indicated they have plenty of cap room to improve their defense which slipped badly last year.

The biggest reason to fear dallas though is simply that they somehow always beat the Redskins whether they have a good team or not...

Re: Bledsoe to Cowboys?
 

We can try to downgrade Bledsoe all we want, but he is an improvement over Vinny. He may not be the 1995 Bledsoe, but he can still be effective and would rather see him somewhere else than in Dallas.

Re: Bledsoe to Cowboys?
 

redrock-skins:

You hit that nail right on the head!

Re: Bledsoe to Cowboys?
 

[QUOTE=celts32]Bledsoe at this point in his career is only a slight upgrade over Vinny. I see a full year of Julius Jones as a big reason to fear Dallas. He looked really good at the end of last season. And as the previos post indicated they have plenty of cap room to improve their defense which slipped badly last year.

The biggest reason to fear dallas though is simply that they somehow always beat the Redskins whether they have a good team or not...[/QUOTE]

I couldn't agree more regarding Julius Jones. Once he finally got healthy, his burst through the line looked as quick and powerful as any back in the league. In both stature and quickness, he already reminds me of a young Curtis Martin. He's got a ways to go when it comes to receiving and blocking, but Parcells certainly loves him and figures to lean on him heavily. The other scary thing about the Cowboys, they hardly have anybody up for contracts this year. The most notable names are Vinny Testaverde and Eddie George, who both suck anyway. The only player up for free agency who is even moderately good is safety Tony Dixon. They've got $17 million in cap room to go out and fill some needs: a QB worth a damn (almost assuredly Bledsoe), speedy linebackers to facilitate their move to the 3-4 defense (Adalius Thomas, Rob Morris, Chris Claiborne?), a CB to play opposite Terence Newman (Ken Lucas, Aaron Beasley, or *shudder* Fred Smoot?), probably a kicker to replace Billy Cundiff (Jay Feely?), and depth at guard to eventually replace Larry Allen.

Re: Bledsoe to Cowboys?
 

I hope he goes to the boy's they will waste a decent amount of money to sign a stupid QB. I am not worried about Bledsoe in the lest!

Re: Bledsoe to Cowboys?
 

Jones does remind me of a young Curtis Martin too, or even a young Emmitt.

If they get him cranking next year whoever is playing QB for them will look A LOT better.

Re: Bledsoe to Cowboys?
 

Bledsoe isn't so far beyond his prime that he couldn't whip out a good statistical year behind a solid o-line with a decent rb and some WRs. Dallas is fine on the o-line and jones looked like the real deal last season. The question is whether they have the horses at WR to utilize the only Bledsoe still does real well....throw the ball downfield. I remember hearing that Bledsoe's main problem his entire career has been that his talent is better than his mind and that every team he has been on has had to either trim the play book to a real basci level so he could master it or they simply would cut the field in half and and require him to only read half the D. This has lead to him holding the ball longer since he doesn't have many options. I think this was the main reason they went with Brady and bagged Bledsoe altogether in NE(I mean besides the fact that Brady basically single handidly got them to the superbowl that year out of nowhere). Bledsoe could have been kept around but they didn't think he could get the job done mentally even if physically healthy. He has never been on a good team even when there was talent. I think that is telling. But with all that being said he is an upgrade over what they have (wow that really puts into focus how bad their QB situation is) and I'd rather see TesteRomHen back their for the 'Girls next year.

Re: Bledsoe to Cowboys?
 

I dont care who they have throwing the ball. They will not have time to throw nor be able to run against our D, which I think will be even better than last season providing that the offense can produce more and control the clock.

Re: Bledsoe to Cowboys?
 

[QUOTE=angryssg]I dont care who they have throwing the ball. They will not have time to throw nor be able to run against our D, which I think will be even better than last season providing that the offense can produce more and control the clock.[/QUOTE]

Vinny sure had enough time on that bomb that beat us in the last minute. But I agree, our D is strong and should be able to control just about anybody's offense. But the Dallas D is going to undergo some major changes, most likely for the better, and the key to beating them for us will be can we move the ball against them and put up some points.

I don't want to sound like I'm touting the Cowgirls because I hate their freakin guts; but I gotta be a realist.

How was your day, Napoleon? Worst day of my life, what do you think!

Re: Bledsoe to Cowboys?
 

Don't get me started on Bledsoe!
I was in buffalo in December of 2003 on a bussiness trip. Greg Williams, our great defensive coordinator, was in his final year with Buffalo. He and 8-time pro bowl guard Ruben Brown had a huge argument about Bledsoe. Brown was frustrated and complaining during prior games that Bledsoe was holding onto the ball too long and taking too many sacks. After the game Greg Williams suspended Ruben Brown for the season finale. The Bills refused to say in the press why he was suspeneded. However since I was there, I got the skinny on Buffalo's sports radio. Williams should have benched Bledsoe weeks earlier. Bledose was getting boo-ed by the Buffalo fans. Willaims was fired a few weeks later.
In 2003 Bledsoe threw more interceptions (12) than touchdown passes (11), was sacked an NFL-high 49 times and failed to produce an offensive touchdown in an incredible seven games.
Why do think the Pats and Bills have given up on him? Great arm but no QB brains.
Bledsoe is another Jeff George, great arm and brief moments of great play, but mostly bad play.

Re: Bledsoe to Cowboys?
 

I think Drew Bledsoe is in the top 15 or top 20 of the starting QBs in the NFL. He ain't great, but he isn't horrible either. For everyone here who says he stinks and he's through, consider this:

In mid-November, the Patriots held the Bills to 6 points in a game in New England. After that loss, Bledsoe led the Bills to a 6-1 record and the Bills averaged 36 points a game over the last 7 gaems of the season.

How is that an indicator of a guy at QB who stinks and is washed up? If Bledsoe's record last year and his stats and his point production says that he stinks, please tell me what adjective you want to assign to Partrck Ramsey?

Over the same time period - the final 7 games - the Skins were 3-4 and the team averaged less than 16 poihnts per game.

In fact, I'll go so far as to say that if you needed a starting QB for the 2005 season only (not considering the age factor), Bledsoe would be a better choice than Ramsey. And a lot better than Brunell also...

Re: Bledsoe to Cowboys?
 

[QUOTE=sportscurmudgeon]I think Drew Bledsoe is in the top 15 or top 20 of the starting QBs in the NFL. He ain't great, but he isn't horrible either. For everyone here who says he stinks and he's through, consider this:

In mid-November, the Patriots held the Bills to 6 points in a game in New England. After that loss, Bledsoe led the Bills to a 6-1 record and the Bills averaged 36 points a game over the last 7 gaems of the season.

How is that an indicator of a guy at QB who stinks and is washed up? ...[/QUOTE]

Lets put into perspective...who did the Bills play in that incredible stretch of six wins....

2-14 San Francisco 49ers
4-12 Miami Dolphins
4-12 CLEVELAND BROWNS
8-8 Cincinnati Bengals
8-8 ST. LOUIS RAMS
9-7 Seattle Seahawks

Bledsoe faced some of the worst defenses in the NFL in that list!
I said in my post he plays well in stretches but then folds.

Re: Bledsoe to Cowboys?
 

You can also give credit for those six wins almost entirerly to the playing of Willis McGahee.

Re: Bledsoe to Cowboys?
 

SC, when we say someone stinks why does it always have to relate back to the Redskins' players?

If you want some adjectives for Ramsey here you go: inexperienced, young, still learning, has potential.

How about some for Bledsoe? Veteran, experienced, aging, past his peak, down side of career.

I don't think anybody will say Ramsey is anywhere near the level of Bledsoe, Bledsoe is obviously a much more accomplished QB who's been in the league for 12 years now.

Comparing him to Ramsey really isn't much of an accurate comparison. If I say Bledsoe isn't what he used to be I'm not at the same time trying to say Ramsey is somehow better.

Re: Bledsoe to Cowboys?
 

You took the words right out of my mouth Matty.

Re: Bledsoe to Cowboys?
 

[QUOTE=Mattyk72]Comparing him to Ramsey really isn't much of an accurate comparison. If I say Bledsoe isn't what he used to be I'm not at the same time trying to say Ramsey is somehow better.[/QUOTE]


well said matty.

Re: Bledsoe to Cowboys?
 

Matty:

The reason for the comparison to Patrick Ramsey is very simple. Posters here immediately like to say that anyone on any other team who is not a bona fide hall of fame inductee stinks or chokes or whatever. [In fact,even some shoo-in Hall of Famers get some nasty things said about them here but that's a detail...]

But at the same time each and every third string player on the Redskins - or better yet someone on the practice squad who twice gained more than seven yards on a running play in a pre season game - is "great" or "awesome" or a "difference maker". Fact is, there are some really good players on other teams - even the Cowboys and the Eagles - and there are some really marginal talents on the Redskins. In the modern vernacular, what Im trying to do is called "keeping it real."

Remember when someone dug out Ramesy's first 15 game stats and showed how they were better than Peyton Manning's and Brett Favre's and Joe Montana's and so on to show that Ramsey was on track to be better than all those guys? That wasn't me. I've always been the one who says that Ramsey is young and learning and has potential AND HASN'T ACCOMPLISHED MUCH OF ANYTHING JUST YET. But saying that Beldsoe "stinks" or is a "stupid QB" is a bit much. Saying he is another Jeff George when Bledsoe has been to two Super Bowls (one as a bench warmer to be sure) is a bit of a stretch since George probably did not win two playoff games in his career.

So I simply used Patrick Ramsey as a point of reference. I told you where I am on that comparison. For 2005, Bledsoe is a better choice; for the future, Ramsey is better choice.

Re: Bledsoe to Cowboys?
 

Oh, one other thing about the Ramsey/Bledsoe comparison that might be interesting to ponder. Which one would be slower in a 100 yard race? You could probably time it with a calendar.

Re: Bledsoe to Cowboys?
 

[QUOTE=smootsmack]If you put him in the right situation, namely behind a solid o-line, Bledsoe can still air it out. As a side note, anyone else find it kind of crazy that Bledsoe is seen as old yet he's younger than guys like Jeff Garcia, Brad Johnson, Tren Green?

I think the Cowboys are definitely going to bring someone in, but I think it will be someone not quite as experienced (read: old) as Vinny and not nearly as raw as Henson.

Someone like Brian Griese comes to mind.

What's the salary cap situation for the Cowboys? I think they still need a playmaker at WR[/QUOTE]

Interesting point smootsmack......it seems like Bledsoe has been around for ages...........Well the Cowboys don't have a very good line.....their only decent lineman.........Flozell Adams is OVER-RATED and an UNDERACHEIVER
.............Bledsoe is an upgrade probably more mobile than Vinny too. But Wilbon had an interesting point on PTI said most coaches in the NFL have figured out how to pressue Bledsoe and thats why he hasn't been as effective.......... Living in Texas I hear a lot about the Cowboys they have MAJOR needs...in addition to the offensive line, WR and defintely SECONDARY help...............