DREW BLEDSOE QUOTES

NFL quarterback (1972- )

I played eight years without really being hurt seriously and hadn't had to deal with that part of the game. So, to get hurt and to have to miss games, that part of it was very hard. And so when I came back and somebody else had my job and I couldn't get it back. You know that was hard.

DREW BLEDSOE

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Tommy and I are friends. When he took my job, it was tough. I didn't like that. But it never had anything to do with Tom. He always conducted himself with class. When I see people come out and accuse him of being a cheater and a liar, I've got to stand up and say something. It's just not true. It's not who he is. It's not what he's about.

DREW BLEDSOE

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I played football, I made a decision I knew right away if it was a good decision or a bad decision. If our guys caught it, that was a good decision. If the other guys caught it, that was a bad decision. In the wine business, a lot of the time, it'll be a decade before you know the true implications of decision you make.

DREW BLEDSOE

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I had a great time in Buffalo. I really did. The fans in Buffalo are ultra-loyal. Having that rivalry for a bunch of years where they didn't like me and I didn't like them, going there and being welcomed like I was and playing there for a few years, I really enjoyed it. I have some great affection for that organization and particularly for the fans of Buffalo. I wish them all the best.

DREW BLEDSOE

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I'm proud of what I've accomplished, but I'm not there yet. I want to win that final game of the year.

DREW BLEDSOE

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You know, Belichick, he's such an interesting guy because when you work for him, it is all business and everybody knows that. I mean, there's no warm and fuzzy, there's no small talk, there's none of that. But since I retired, I've been back there a couple of times just for wine deals or to come to a game and he's an entirely different guy when it's not a business relationship. He smiles and he's engaging and interesting. You know, I came back and did a wine presentation at the wine shop there at the stadium and he came over for that and hung out and we talked for a while afterwards and you know, it's actually a pretty decent, pretty friendly relationship.

DREW BLEDSOE

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To be mentioned alongside guys like Marino and Elway, guys who were my heroes growing up, that's heady stuff.... These were the guys I pretended to be at recess.

DREW BLEDSOE

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I've been really fortunate, man, I got out of the game after 14 years and ... I certainly got hit plenty, but everything, so far, functions fairly well.

DREW BLEDSOE

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The 2001 season, you couldn't go write that script because nobody would believe you.

DREW BLEDSOE

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When he was on practice squad his rookie year, I actually called my financial advisor about him. "Hey, I really like this kid. He's never gonna be a starter. He's gonna be Jason Garrett or one of those guys who's just gonna be around forever. You'll really like the kid." And we really did. We kind of brought him in. We had him over for dinner probably at least every other week. But just really liked him--and still do. Nobody outside of maybe Tom himself could ever have predicted that he was going to go on to be a starter in the league and be in the conversation as one of the greatest of all-time.

DREW BLEDSOE

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No, haven't seen him, haven't talked to him. You know, those relationships are always ... they're not always warm and fuzzy and it wasn't warm and fuzzy with Bill, but I'm glad I got a chance to play for him, particularly when I was a young player. But the end of the deal down there in Dallas, wasn't ... it wasn't super friendly.

DREW BLEDSOE

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Those first few plays of the game, you have a lot of adrenaline and excitement. It takes a little while to settle in and start playing football.

DREW BLEDSOE

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