Drew Bledsoe to be Cut

[rmackman]

Bills to release QB Bledsoe

Jay Glazer / FOXSports.com

First it was Jeff Garcia, and now another veteran Pro Bowl quarterback is being given his walking papers.

FOXSports.com has learned the Bills have decided to release quarterback Drew Bledsoe, and they are expected to announce the decision Wednesday, likely at a press conference.

Due to league rules, Buffalo can not officially release Bledsoe until Feb. 22, but the veteran has already been informed of the decision.

JP Losman now takes over as the Bills quarterback. A former first-round pick, Losman has been working closely with Buffalo quarterback coach Sam Wyche lately.

The former first overall pick of the 1993 draft, Bledsoe struggled with opposing blitzes in recent years and at times had become too sack- and mistake-prone. However, halfway through last season, the Bills installed some adjustments for Bledsoe to counteract the constant blitzes and his play improved dramatically as the Bills made a surprising surge down the stretch.

Bledsoe's stay in Buffalo didn't exactly turn out as hoped after the Bills acquired him from the Patriots in 2002 for a first-round pick. The Bills were only 23-25 under Bledsoe with no playoff appearances.

But the Patriots have done just fine without Bledsoe, with Tom Brady taking over and winning two of the last three Super Bowls after the trade and one before it while Bledsoe looked on from the sideline.

[See Red]

Seems like kind of a leap of faith, to me, for a team that showed they are a playoff caliber team, towards the end of the season.

[CMUBrent]

Can't say I'm stunned at Jeff Garcia being released, but Drew Bledsoe's release is definitely surprising.

[Magus]

i could see him going to dallas, since they are looking for a qb and he's played for parcells in the past. they could use him.

[OnWis97]

It's too bad. I think Buffalo is getting better and he has a couple of recievers. Drew's best days are behind him, but I'd like to have seen him get another shot at a playoff start.

Well, the NFC is weak and Parcells and Bledsoe worked well toghether before. Maybe Drew will go to Dallas and get them to the playoffs this year (before they decide to make Henson the starter).

[CaolinaJoe]

Can't say I'm stunned at Jeff Garcia being released, but Drew Bledsoe's release is definitely surprising.

Somewhat makes sense. They have a team that didn't make the playoffs, but almost. They have a young QB they think of very highly. Why not give him a shot from the beginning of the year? If you wait you risk the team starting poorly and putting him in a bad situation. If they start well, you risk losing another year out of the guy. If they start poorly with him, at least they can say they are rebuilding.

Kinda like the SD situation except the Chargers made the playoffs, and Brees had a great year. So they are stuck with Brees for another year. Bledsoe wasn't terribly impressive, so they are looking to see if there investment in Losman is worthwhile.

[Saintsfan]

I wonder how Bledsoe will be remembered. The guy gets injured and his replacement turns out to be a future Hall of Famer. He moves on and after a few years is cut. For such a talewnted guy, he may not leave the game with the reputation he deserves.

[buffalo soldier]

This is just plain dumb. They were ONE game away from making the playoffs. Why the hell are they taking a step back? Theres undoubtedly going to be a learning curve for Losman, and i dont think that he's gonna pan out anyway. the last thing we need is another surfer from california as our qb.

[Braden]

Well next year we can call him JP Loserman.

[NJTank]

I hear Beldsoe is going to Dallas.

[Domi28]

I'm a Pats fan and loved Bledsoe, even bought a Bledsoe Bills jersey. But I will NEVER buy a Cowboys jersey nomatter who plays for them.

[winters in buffalo]

It was time.

Bledsoe is too old, too slow.

[pcgd]

Another Veteran QB that is semi proven that the bears won't sign.

God...would you feel safe with this lineup going into camp?

Rex Grossman (got a future...maybe)

Craig Krentzel (Please start med school)

Dr. Jonathan Quinn, Quarterback (Grossman's out...Look who is in...We won't win nothin' with the Mighty Quinn)

Chad Hutchensen. (He's a good QB...if he's got a headset on)

Jeff George. (hahahahahahahaha)

Please, just sign one of these veterans that has played successfully within the last 4 seasons. Warner, Bleadsoe, Flutie and not as much but I'll take Garcia.

when you hope your team signs one of these jerks...you know its bad.

[Sabrejeff]

Thank God!!!!!!!

I mean, he is a great person off the field, but you get on the field, he is all about "me, me, me."

It's about time and good riddance!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[STL FANATIC]

Another Veteran QB that is semi proven that the bears won't sign.

God...would you feel safe with this lineup going into camp?

Rex Grossman (got a future...maybe)

Craig Krentzel (Please start med school)

Dr. Jonathan Quinn, Quarterback (Grossman's out...Look who is in...We won't win nothin' with the Mighty Quinn)

Chad Hutchensen. (He's a good QB...if he's got a headset on)

Jeff George. (hahahahahahahaha)

Please, just sign one of these veterans that has played successfully within the last 4 seasons. Warner, Bleadsoe, Flutie and not as much but I'll take Garcia.

when you hope your team signs one of these jerks...you know its bad.

Rumor has Warner and the Bears talking.

You guys would be lucky to have him.

Sign him and I'll trade you Bulger for Warner.

Oh I'm not the Rams GM? Doesn't matter because Martz screws up the personal anyways? But I'm actually smarter than all of 'em?

Crap.

[epper]

If you followed the Bills at all this year, you shouldnt be suprised that Drew is being cut.

Ive tried to be a Bledsoe-supporter the last few years, i really have. the man is so professional and throws the long-ball as pretty as anyone in the NFL. i even have a #11 Bills home jersey. but the thing is, the guy is an 11 year vet, and is still making ROOKIE mistakes. he holds on the ball too long, overthrows recievers, and is an absolute statue in the pocket.

the reason the bills made such a strong playoff run this year had VERY little to do with Drew. The bills defense played rock-solid football, creating so many turnovers that Drew had to very little to get into the endzone. The blowout scores during their 6game winstreak were misleading, as the offense was not as efficient as the scores seemed. in the last game of the year, with the season riding on the line, Drew flat out choked. he got outplayed by a bunch of 3rd-string Steelers defenders, and that was all Donahoe and Mularkey needed to hand the keys to the Bills to JP.

so THAT is why Drew is getting shipped outta town. sure, JP Losman may go through growing pains, but in my opinion, he cant be worse than Drew, and in order for Losman to get experience to be the future of the Bills that everyone is touting him as, he need to PLAY. JP is also a very athetic QB, and look what Mularkey can do with mobile QBs. He made a pro-bowler out of Kordell Stewart. nuff said.

so, so long drew. i wish you well in Dallas or wherever you end up.

(wow that was long).

[GeorgesL]

I can honestly say this is definitely a shock. I always liked Bledsoe. He did pretty good with the Patriots, and I like the Pats even more during that time. But ever since Brady took over, and that cursed "tuck-rule" game, I can't stand them. (My apologies to New England fans.)

I'm sure he'll catch on with another team. But he's not getting any younger.

[Sabrejeff]

Before he walked out to midfield for the flip, Bledsoe was advised by coaches to choose to defend the east goal if Pittsburgh won the toss and elected to receive. That way, the Steelers wouldn't be wind-aided when they took the ball. Pittsburgh won the toss. Pittsburgh elected to receive. Bledsoe said Buffalo would defend the west goal.

West? We told him east! The Bills sideline was stunned. What is God's name was Bledsoe doing? Bledsoe explained that when he got to midfield, it seemed to him the wind was whipping around differently than the way the coaches thought, and so he picked the opposite goal to defend. There was some anger toward Bledsoe on the sideline, and maybe it was just coincidental, but the Steelers scored 23 of their 29 points going from west to east that day -- and Bledsoe's decision backfired.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2005/writ...ng/02/20/mmqb1/

[sacker12]

Kinda like the SD situation except the Chargers made the playoffs, and Brees had a great year. So they are stuck with Brees for another year. Bledsoe wasn't terribly impressive, so they are looking to see if there investment in Losman is worthwhile.

Don't you mean that the Chargers are stuck with Rivers for another year?

[FiddySicks]

This is just plain dumb. They were ONE game away from making the playoffs. Why the hell are they taking a step back? Theres undoubtedly going to be a learning curve for Losman, and i dont think that he's gonna pan out anyway. the last thing we need is another surfer from california as our qb.

i never did think losman was that great. Tampa Bay has a similar situation, they may have to cut Brad Jhonson. the only difference is that they have Brian Greeseball, who accually, i like and think could be a very good QB, and we have Simms, who im sure will be great in his career and will have a ton of success with Tampa Bay. but then again, most buc fans thought the same about Vinny Testicleverdie.