Bledsoe Set To Enter Patriots Hall of Fame
BOSTON (CBS) - Former New England Patriots quarterback Drew Bledsoe is back at Foxboro, ready to receive a very special honor.
On Saturday, Bledsoe will take his spot in the Patriots Hall of Fame. On Thursday, #11 got a chance to try on the red jacket and reflect on his time here in New England.
"When you're a part of something, you hope that you make it better and then, when you leave, you hope that whoever follows you picks it up and takes it to a better place," said Bledsoe. "That's been the case here under the stewardship of the Kraft family, with Tom and [coach] Bill [Belichick]. They've just taken this franchise to heights that were unimaginable in 1993."
Whether you believe it or not, Drew helped build the new Gillette Stadium. For a long time, he was the main face of the franchise and the reason people came out to see the Patriots play. When talking about his great moments, he mentions the 2002 AFC Championship game when he stepped in for an injured Tom Brady and help lead the Pats to the Super Bowl.
Read: Levan Reid's Patriots Blog
"That was poignant moment for me, for a lot of reasons -- the magnitude of the game and having not been able to play for quite a while," said Bledsoe, who had tears of joy is his eyes after that game. "Being able to get back on the field for that game, that one stands out."
When asked about whether he stays in contact with the team and Brady, Bledsoe said they do talk from time to time.
"We exchange text messages," said Bledsoe. "I'm so proud of that guy and what he's done -- and the way that he's done it. He's not only been one of the very best players in the league now for a long time, but he's continued to handle himself with class, on and off the field. I'm really just proud of what he's done and the way he's led this team."
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After being selected #1 overall in 1993, Bledsoe played nine seasons with the Patriots, tossing 166 touchdowns and 29,657 yards. He finished his 14-year NFL career 251 touchdowns and over 3,000 yards.
Tune in to Patriots Gameday Sunday morning at 11:30am to see Levan Reid's 1-on-1 with Drew Bledsoe.
