Archives for February 2005

‘Determining a winner and loser from the April 21, 2002, trade that sent quarterback Drew Bledsoe from the Patriots [stats, news] to Buffalo didn’t take long. The only question was how long it would take the Bills to stop the bleeding.’

‘”Backing up anybody is not something I foresee for me,” Bledsoe said during a conference call Wednesday. “I just don’t see myself ever being a backup in this league. If it comes to that, you will probably see me tip my hat and head back here to the Northwest.”‘

‘Other than eight years in age, and that both had a previous history with Bill Parcells, what actually is the talent difference between Vinny and Bledsoe? For all of us who cussed Vinny, this might be Big Bill’s revenge. Bledsoe could be worse.’

‘The Cowboys have been looking for a reliable starter for years, and while Bledsoe won’t be confused with Troy Aikman, he’s an upgrade from Vinny Testaverde.’

‘”I mean they’re going to pick up a second- or third-ranked quarterback who’s released because of salary cap or age,” said Lou Jones. “It isn’t going to work for them. The team won’t coalesce around someone like that.”‘

‘Losman is raw. He has plenty of rough edges. He will make the kind of mistakes all first-time starting quarterbacks make. And the Bills will have to deal with the consequences, some larger than others.’

‘"Our starting quarterback next year will be J.P. Losman," Mularkey said. "We had a good year last year. It was not a super year. You’re constantly trying to grow (and) with that comes change."’

‘"Dallas is intriguing for obvious reasons, with playing for my old coach and looking at the weapons they have offensively," said Bledsoe, who has 39,808 passing yards and 221 touchdowns in his career. "That’s intriguing, but there’s a number of teams that are possible, and Dallas is one of those. That would be an interesting option, no question."’

‘"We don’t see this like we’re changing the course or we’re changing the direction," said Donahoe. "We’re trying to go forward and we think our best opportunity to go foward offensively is with J.P. at quarterback."’

‘The fan loyalty and the national following that the Bills have was truly something to experience. With the exception of maybe Green Bay, there is not a place like Buffalo with the fan loyalty and their devotion to the team. It was really special to be a part of that. When and if the Bills ever win a World Championship, I will be a fan along with all of those people, just because of the experience that I had there.’

‘"I think when Drew came here, we were in a big black hole with this football team," Buffalo president/general manager Tom Donahoe said. "He certainly helped us get out of that. He brought respectability back to the Bills and we owe him a debt of gratitude."’

‘”Do I think this is fair? No, I don’t think it’s fair,” he said by phone from Oregon. “But I’m also aware that that’s how it works, and I understand that. When I had the conversation with Mike (Mularkey) and first found out the direction they were going to go with J.P., I was beside myself. I completely disagree and can’t understand their point of view.”’

‘Buffalo cannot officially release Bledsoe until February 22, but the team made the decision at this time as as a courtesy to him. Cleveland acted in a similar fashion on Monday with Jeff Garcia.’

”’Our starting quarterback next year will be J.P. Losman,” Mularkey said. ”We had a good year last year. It was not a super year. You’re constantly trying to grow. With that comes change. It was a tough decision just out of respect for Drew and J.P.”’

‘Mike Mularkey spoke in front of the media today and confirmed the reports that Drew Bledsoe will be released on February 22nd.’