Cowboys Insider: Parcells wants Bledsoe for more than just mop-up duty
Tom Orsborn
Express-News Staff Writer
Drew Bledsoe's pride suffered a serious blow when Bill Parcells benched him in favor of Tony Romo.
Parcells is mindful of that fact and doesn't want the old pro to face further embarrassment.
That's why Parcells didn't force Bledsoe into mop-up duty at the end of the Cowboys' 38-10 thrashing of Tampa Bay on Thanksgiving Day.
"I talked to Drew last week about going in if he wanted to," Parcells said. "I said, 'Look, I'm not embarrassing you, putting you in there if you don't want to go in.' I said, 'Do you want to play?' He said, 'No, I'm fine. Don't worry about it.'
"He knows. I talk to Drew in that manner because I know there's a chance I'll need him again."
Don't misunderstand. Parcells wouldn't hesitate to play Bledsoe late in the fourth quarter if he thought Romo was in danger of being hurt by an angry defense.
"I would do it, sure. ... I don't think (Bledsoe) would have a problem with that. He would understand," Parcells said.
It's no surprise that Parcells treats Bledsoe with such respect. Parcells drafted Bledsoe No. 1 overall for New England and then coached him for four seasons before bolting to the New York Jets.
The two men have been through a lot together, including a trip to the Super Bowl after the 1996 season. Bledsoe has always given his best for Parcells, and Bledsoe's best was pretty darn good during the early part of his career.
Parcells also knows what Bledsoe did when he filled in for Tom Brady in the 2001 AFC championship game. After Brady went down with a knee injury late in the first half, Bledsoe threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to David Patten with 58 seconds left.
Bledsoe went on to direct a scoring drive in the second half and finished 10 of 21 for 102 yards without a turnover in the Patriots' 24-17 victory over Pittsburgh.
It's that kind of a performance – not mop-up duty – that Parcells has in mind should he be forced to play Bledsoe.
Express-News Staff Writer
Drew Bledsoe's pride suffered a serious blow when Bill Parcells benched him in favor of Tony Romo.
Parcells is mindful of that fact and doesn't want the old pro to face further embarrassment.
That's why Parcells didn't force Bledsoe into mop-up duty at the end of the Cowboys' 38-10 thrashing of Tampa Bay on Thanksgiving Day.
"I talked to Drew last week about going in if he wanted to," Parcells said. "I said, 'Look, I'm not embarrassing you, putting you in there if you don't want to go in.' I said, 'Do you want to play?' He said, 'No, I'm fine. Don't worry about it.'
"He knows. I talk to Drew in that manner because I know there's a chance I'll need him again."
Don't misunderstand. Parcells wouldn't hesitate to play Bledsoe late in the fourth quarter if he thought Romo was in danger of being hurt by an angry defense.
"I would do it, sure. ... I don't think (Bledsoe) would have a problem with that. He would understand," Parcells said.
It's no surprise that Parcells treats Bledsoe with such respect. Parcells drafted Bledsoe No. 1 overall for New England and then coached him for four seasons before bolting to the New York Jets.
The two men have been through a lot together, including a trip to the Super Bowl after the 1996 season. Bledsoe has always given his best for Parcells, and Bledsoe's best was pretty darn good during the early part of his career.
Parcells also knows what Bledsoe did when he filled in for Tom Brady in the 2001 AFC championship game. After Brady went down with a knee injury late in the first half, Bledsoe threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to David Patten with 58 seconds left.
Bledsoe went on to direct a scoring drive in the second half and finished 10 of 21 for 102 yards without a turnover in the Patriots' 24-17 victory over Pittsburgh.
It's that kind of a performance – not mop-up duty – that Parcells has in mind should he be forced to play Bledsoe.
posted by The Gryphon at 6:32 PM
<< Home