Cowboys agree with Drew Bledsoe

[AzWins23]

Just saw it on ESPN NEWS BREAKING NEWS!!!

 

[AzWins23]

Cowboys | Bledsoe Lands Deal - from www.KFFL.com
Tue, 22 Feb 2005 17:24:37 -0800

ESPNews reports the Dallas Cowboys have signed free agent QB Drew Bledsoe (Bills). Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

 

[AzWins23]

ESPN's Ed Werder reported that the Dallas Cowboys have reached an agreement in principle with the free-agent quarterback. Bledsoe will be in Dallas on Wednesday for further discussions.


Bledsoe, who was officially released by the Bills on Tuesday, would join coach Bill Parcells in Dallas. Parcells chose him for New England with the first overall pick in the 1993 draft. Bledsoe, who led the Patriots to the Super Bowl after the 1996 season, was traded to Buffalo after losing his job to Tom Brady in 2001. Brady has led the Patriots to NFL titles in three of the last four seasons and was the MVP in two Super Bowls.


During a conference call with reporters last call, Bledsoe said he wasn't going to stay in Buffalo as a backup -- or anywhere else in the league.


"I just don't see myself being a backup in this league," Bledsoe said. "If it comes to that, you'll probably see me just tip my hat and head back to the northwest."


Bledsoe set 10 franchise passing records and earned his fourth Pro Bowl selection in his first season with the Bills before his numbers began to decline.


He has gone 30 straight games without throwing for 300 or more yards, and finished last season with 2,932 yards passing, 20 touchdowns and 16 interceptions, and had a mediocre passer rating of 76.6.

 

[Red Dawn]

I assume he can sign before March 2 because he is a UFA, is that right?

 

[Russ Smith]

Now they can ignore Drew Brees and wait for Drew Tate to be in the draft.

Wonder if they can get Drew Bennett?

 

[Renz]

I thought teams couldn't sign free agents until March 2nd?

 

[Redsz]

Like the Henry/Shelton trade. It's an agreement in principle. Meaning that it's pretty much a done deal but they have to wait until March 2nd to make it official.

Even right now teams will be talking with FA's. The NFL just turns a blind eye.

 

[ajcardfan]

I thought teams couldn't sign free agents until March 2nd?

If a guy is cut, it's a different situation. They can negotiate with any team immediately. If Bledsoe had become a free agent by his contract ending, then even talking to him before March 2 is tampering.

Everyone knows talks take place, they just don't announce it. The Shelton-Henry deal can be public because it's a trade.

 

[O]

Once again this has been a done deal from day one.
How could anyone possibly be surprised by this?

 

[Scott MS]

I guess Testaverde is done for good, and the Cowboys still don't have enough confidence in Henson.

 

[Russ Smith]

I guess Testaverde is done for good, and the Cowboys still don't have enough confidence in Henson.

Jerry Jones said last week he absolutely believes Henson will be an excellent QB but he's not sure if he's ready yet and wants to bring in a veteran QB. That was a very thinly veiled reference to Bledsoe and that's why the Bledsoe to Dallas rumors started up again last week.

Henson was out of football for so long it shouldn't be a surprise to anybody that he's not ready to play.

 

[Pariah]

As much as it pains me to say it, the Cowboys will be have a pretty good offense next season, I think.

Julius Jones obviously came on big at the end of last season and with Keyshawn, Morgan and Glenn they have a formidable receiving trio. Bledsoe will do fine to keep the QB position warm for whomever Parcells is grooming for the spot in the future.

Good pickup by the Tuna, IMO.

 

[john h]

ESPN's Ed Werder reported that the Dallas Cowboys have reached an agreement in principle with the free-agent quarterback. Bledsoe will be in Dallas on Wednesday for further discussions.


Bledsoe, who was officially released by the Bills on Tuesday, would join coach Bill Parcells in Dallas. Parcells chose him for New England with the first overall pick in the 1993 draft. Bledsoe, who led the Patriots to the Super Bowl after the 1996 season, was traded to Buffalo after losing his job to Tom Brady in 2001. Brady has led the Patriots to NFL titles in three of the last four seasons and was the MVP in two Super Bowls.


During a conference call with reporters last call, Bledsoe said he wasn't going to stay in Buffalo as a backup -- or anywhere else in the league.


"I just don't see myself being a backup in this league," Bledsoe said. "If it comes to that, you'll probably see me just tip my hat and head back to the northwest."


Bledsoe set 10 franchise passing records and earned his fourth Pro Bowl selection in his first season with the Bills before his numbers began to decline.


He has gone 30 straight games without throwing for 300 or more yards, and finished last season with 2,932 yards passing, 20 touchdowns and 16 interceptions, and had a mediocre passer rating of 76.6.

I think this puts the Cowboys in playoff contention. Bledsloe still has a lot of football left in him. Parcells is no fool.

 

[john h]

Jerry Jones said last week he absolutely believes Henson will be an excellent QB but he's not sure if he's ready yet and wants to bring in a veteran QB. That was a very thinly veiled reference to Bledsoe and that's why the Bledsoe to Dallas rumors started up again last week.

Henson was out of football for so long it shouldn't be a surprise to anybody that he's not ready to play.

Those are sort of the words Denny uses about our QB which in dennyspeake is you are in trouble.

 

[Russ Smith]

Those are sort of the words Denny uses about our QB which in dennyspeake is you are in trouble.

Jones is the owner, Parcells the coach. Jones thinks he has his long term answer, but parcells doesn't want to rebuild, so he let him sign Bledsoe while they "coach up" henson. Makes perfect sense to me.

 

[joeshmo]

If a guy is cut, it's a different situation. They can negotiate with any team immediately. If Bledsoe had become a free agent by his contract ending, then even talking to him before March 2 is tampering.

You sir are correct.

 

[SuperSpck]

Who mentioned the greatness that is Drew Tate?

Iowa!

 

[TheCardFan]

Cowboys | Bledsoe Lands Deal - from www.KFFL.com
Tue, 22 Feb 2005 17:24:37 -0800

ESPNews reports the Dallas Cowboys have signed free agent QB Drew Bledsoe (Bills). Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

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[Second Deck]

I am not sure Bledsoe will help the Cowgirls that much. He is so slow and with the speed of the defenses now I expect Bledsoe will struggle. This is the day of the mobile QB. I know we have to make an exception for NE.

 

[coloradosun]

Who mentioned the greatness that is Drew Tate?

Iowa!

The next Fran Tarkenton, but greater.

GO HAWKS; CLASS OF '83

 

[Skkorpion]

Signing Bledsoe is another dumb retread move by Parcells. As a personnel guy, Parcells is horrible.

I am so thrilled Bledsoe can't can't play here now that I'm going to visit the cowdung boards and thank them.

 

[Russ Smith]

Signing Bledsoe is another dumb retread move by Parcells. As a personnel guy, Parcells is horrible.

I am so thrilled Bledsoe can't can't play here now that I'm going to visit the cowdung boards and thank them.

What's interesting is ESPN just pointed out in a story the following. Buffalo traded with Dallas last year, that's how they got JP Losman and Dallas got Julius Jones. NOw Buffalo cuts Bledsoe to make room for Losman, and Bledsoe goes to Dallas. So in effect Buffalo traded Bledsoe and Julius Jones for Losman, AND, Dallas gets Buffalo's #1 this year.

So Bledsoe, Jones, and the #20 pick, for Losman is the net effect.

But I do agree that Parcells is going too far with not trusting anybody he hasn't coached before. If Jerry jones weren't so vocal about loving Henson I'd be starting a thread about we should trade for Henson.

 

[chickenhead]

Interesting points. Buffalo does still *get* the money they won't be paying Bledsoe, though, which in addition to trading Henry for Shelton, may help them sign PW, for example. All I know is that I would rather have Losman and McGahee going forward than Bledsoe and Julius Jones, though it's a close one, because Jones is promising, and Bledsoe will ultimately be replaced.