LouGrant
11-25-2002, 09:16 AM
COMMENTARY
As league catches on, Bledsoe's star dims
By JERRY SULLIVAN
Buffalo News
11/25/2002
<img src="http://www.billszone.com/images/gamephotos/billschiefs/bledsoechiefsAP001.JPG" align="left" border="2">EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - It's not easy to criticize Drew Bledsoe. The man has been a living monument since arriving in Buffalo last spring, a welcome source of hope and inspiration. They threw him a parade; he threw them touchdown passes. He was a gentleman, a model parent, everything our town admires in its sports heroes.
For awhile there, it seemed almost too easy. For the first eight weeks of the season, Bledsoe took the town on a wild, exhilarating ride. He played like an MVP. He had the Bills ahead of schedule. They were 5-3, and people wondered if they had a playoff team on their hands, maybe even a Super Bowl contender.
Then, in the last three games, the whole thing came crashing to Earth. It started with the Bledsoe Bowl, which turned into the Bledsoe Blowout. Then came the excruciating one-point loss to the Chiefs a week ago. Finally, on Sunday, they lost their third in a row, falling by 31-13 to the Jets and dropping into sole possession of last place in the AFC East.
And yes, it feels like last place, too. Forget the playoffs. They're done. They'll be lucky to go 7-9.
It's been quite a comedown for the Bills and their star quarterback. For the third consecutive game, the offense managed just one touchdown. A team that set the NFL on fire in the first six weeks, averaging 32.3 points a game, has averaged only 16.6 points since.
...MORRE... (http://www.buffalonews.com/editorial/20021125/3046664.asp)(AP Photo)
As league catches on, Bledsoe's star dims
By JERRY SULLIVAN
Buffalo News
11/25/2002
<img src="http://www.billszone.com/images/gamephotos/billschiefs/bledsoechiefsAP001.JPG" align="left" border="2">EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - It's not easy to criticize Drew Bledsoe. The man has been a living monument since arriving in Buffalo last spring, a welcome source of hope and inspiration. They threw him a parade; he threw them touchdown passes. He was a gentleman, a model parent, everything our town admires in its sports heroes.
For awhile there, it seemed almost too easy. For the first eight weeks of the season, Bledsoe took the town on a wild, exhilarating ride. He played like an MVP. He had the Bills ahead of schedule. They were 5-3, and people wondered if they had a playoff team on their hands, maybe even a Super Bowl contender.
Then, in the last three games, the whole thing came crashing to Earth. It started with the Bledsoe Bowl, which turned into the Bledsoe Blowout. Then came the excruciating one-point loss to the Chiefs a week ago. Finally, on Sunday, they lost their third in a row, falling by 31-13 to the Jets and dropping into sole possession of last place in the AFC East.
And yes, it feels like last place, too. Forget the playoffs. They're done. They'll be lucky to go 7-9.
It's been quite a comedown for the Bills and their star quarterback. For the third consecutive game, the offense managed just one touchdown. A team that set the NFL on fire in the first six weeks, averaging 32.3 points a game, has averaged only 16.6 points since.
...MORRE... (http://www.buffalonews.com/editorial/20021125/3046664.asp)(AP Photo)