Drew Bledsoe for the HOF? (1 Viewer)

[Pure Energy]

Let me be more specific with the question: Did Drew Bledsoe meet the expectations that one would place upon the #1 overall pick of the draft (not necessarily compared to other 1st rounders in the '93 draft).

Without a doubt....under the guidance of Parcells, he led the Patriots to Playoffs in 3 of his first 5 seasons including a trip to the Superbowl. The last time the Patriots were in the Playoffs was 1986.

However, that doesn't make him HOF material

 

[Mamba]

Without a doubt....under the guidance of Parcells, he led the Patriots to Playoffs in 3 of his first 5 seasons including a trip to the Superbowl. The last time the Patriots were in the Playoffs was 1986.

However, that doesn't make him HOF material

I would agree with that assessment. The reason I brought up the question is that it's intriguing to me that we would say that a player is worthy of a #1 overall pick, yet not worthy of the HoF. There's certainly nothing wrong with that, but I wonder if there are any other #1 overall draft picks who we would feel that way about. Keyshawn was a #1 overall pick. He certainly had a solid career and might be considered one of the better WRs of the last decade, but I don't think he's even NEAR Hall-of-Fame worthy, nor do I think he was worth the #1 overall pick (in retrospect of course). I think Bledsoe is the Keyshawn Johnson of QBs. I do agree that he was worth the #1 overall pick, though. In other words, I do think that if they re-did the draft today (without the benefit of knowing the outcome of postseason games), the Patriots probably would have selected Drew Bledsoe at #1 overall anyway.

 

[Blue]

I like Bledsoe but don't think he's done enough to get in. If his early momentum had continued for a few more years, yes. But it didn't.

 

[canuckredux]

He played for 3 teams and was pushed aside in favour of another QB with each team. It's not uncommon for a QB to lose his place near the end of his career (e.g. Montana, Unitas, Namath), but none of them lost their job to J.P. Losman.

Bledsoe, like Keyshawn, had a good, but not great career. He put up numbers that rival or surpass many guys in the hall, but it's harder and harder to get in these days. If Boomer Esiason and Art Monk aren't in the hall, then I wouldn't go reserving a spot for Bledsoe and Keyshawn anytime soon.

 

[canuckredux]

Let me throw in another question for the debate:

Was Drew Bledsoe worth the #1 overall pick in 1993?

Yes, somewhat. He was the default #1 pick in 1993, which was a very weak year. All in all, he had a good career. He took his team to the Super Bowl twice (if you count the NFC championship game in the 2001 season) and played fairly well. The player with the best career from that draft was Willie Roaf. There are many drafts in which he still would have warranted the #1 pick, like most years in the awful 90s, when guys like Steve Emtman, Russell Maryland, Ki-Jana Carter, Keyshawn Johnson and Dan Wilkinson were the #1 picks, as well as in 2000, when the top pick was Courtney Brown and may have even gone #1 overall in 1999, when Tim Couch was the top pick. He may not stack up with Peyton Manning or Carson Palmer, but how often do guys like that come along? David Carr, Eli Manning, Ron Mexico, Alex Smith. I'd take Bledsoe in his prime over any of those guys (although they still have several years to prove themselves).

 

[SuperBMG]

the hall of fame shouldn't be cheapened any more than it is

i'd say kurt warner has a better hall of fame chance than bledsoe

 

[iHEARTbush]

No. Period. No discussion. Average choker...:_rofl:

 

[RABDOG]

Just playing devil's advocate, but Bledsoe did, in fact, lead the Patriots to Superbowl XXXI. They lost 35-21, however, he did lead them there once. I'm not sure it's been mentioned on this thread, and I think he deserves a little credit for that.

With that said, I'm solidly in the "no HOF" camp.

also he actually lead them to the superbowl in 2001, remember brady got hurt in the 1st quater of the afc championship game, and bledsoe came in to beat the steelers and lead the patriots to a second superbowl... but after the 2 week layoff between championship game and superbowl ,brady was able to come back and start the superbowl...so he has a ring and without him they would not have gotten that 1st one....now with that said i don't think bledsoe is a hall-of-famer... i think he has had a very good career, but hall of fame, no