Drew Bledsoe is bigger in his second career than he was in football



ESPN:
Drew Bledsoe was hit hard as he ran toward the sideline by Mo Lewis with 5:01 left in the game. Bledsoe returned for the next series, which ended with the Patriots' fourth turnover on Marc Edwards' second fumble. But Tom Brady replaced Bledsoe on the final series.
"Drew took a tremendous shot," WR Troy Brown said. "He really scared me. He's big, but he got blasted."

The shot that changed New England Patriots history was a sheared blood vessel that caused internal bleeding for QB Drew Bledsoe. At the time, the hit by the sidelines from Jets LB Mo Lewis, did not appear too serious. Following the 10-3 loss to the New York Jets, Drew was taken to the local hospital for precautionary measures. He lost consciousness on the way, and almost died on the operating table.

On September 30, 2001, QB Tom Brady started his first game for the Patriots. Tom kept the job even when a healthy Drew Bledsoe returned to the field. Drew had received the news from head coach, Bill Belichick that he would be Tom's backup. The 10 year $100 million contract that Drew had signed in March, 2001 did not guarantee the starting QB role.

While Lebron James once took "his talents to South Beach," Drew Bledsoe took his to Foxboro. It is fitting that Drew and Lebron have both returned to their roots.

The soil in Walla Walla, WA is rich. It is not as rich as Drew Bledsoe.

Paul Murphy is a freelance writer from New Hampshire.

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