If only teams could afford that '93 Bledsoe - Insider

Those shiny, top of the line 2002 models--the Carr, the Harrington and the Ramsey--are tempting to everyone in the market. Convertibles like the Randle El or the Crouch will appeal to those who are feeling sporty.

But the lemon factor has some considering a pre-driven quarterback. Take a look at the consumer report for this 1993 model Bledsoe, and decide for yourself if it's better to go used.

Drew Bledsoe

Luxury quarterback

This was once the most desired model on the market, but now potential buyers are sparse. It's an old-school prototype, big enough to meet all your needs. It has a smooth, luxurious feel. The styling is classic. It has been a reliable model with few breakdowns, but it has depreciated significantly.

KEY TO SATISFACTION

(a)=Execellent (b)=very good (c)=good (d)=fair (e)=poor

1 Body and mechanics (a)

At 6-5, 240, Bledsoe looks like all quarterbacks are supposed to look. And he throws like all quarterbacks are supposed to throw. Bledsoe's arm is as strong and lively as any quarterback's in the NFL, with the exception of Brett Favre's and possibly Daunte Culpepper's.

Bledsoe's physical skills are so impressive that two NFL front-office men agreed that if he were coming out in this draft, he would be the first player taken, ahead of David Carr. Of course, Bledsoe also was the first player taken nine years ago.

2 Acceleration and handling (b)

Being immobile and having a slow release are a bad combination. Bledsoe has difficulty avoiding pressure with his feet or his arm.

In 2000, his last full season as a starter, 21 quarterbacks were less likely to get sacked than he was. In 1999, 30 quarterbacks were less likely to get sacked. Some of this clearly was the result of the players around Bledsoe, but he wasn't able to do much to help them.

The issue is this: How important is mobility. "Tom Brady and Kurt Warner are not that mobile," one general manager says. "Mobility is nice, but you don't want to overrate it. Passing ability is the No. 1 thing."

3 Mileage (c)

At 30, Bledsoe is not nearing the end. But he has been involved in numerous collisions. One personnel man suggested those collisions might have affected his performance and could affect his performance and durability in the future.

Certainly, his play declined over the last three seasons. In his last 34 starts, dating to the beginning of the 1999 season, Bledsoe has a 76.4 passer rating and a 13-21 record. In the three previous years, Bledsoe had an 84.1 passer rating and a 30-18 record as a starter.

What's more, Bledsoe was outperformed last season by Brady, a second-year player and former sixth-round pick who never had started an NFL game until 2001. In fact, Brady, while much less prolific, was arguably more effective last season than Bledsoe has been in any year of his career. Brady had a better passer rating last season than Bledsoe had in eight of his nine years. Brady's 63.9 completion percentage was better than Bledsoe's best mark. And Brady's average gain per pass of 6.88 was better than all but three of Bledsoe's yearly performances.

Some of this undoubtedly was the product of the circumstances around the players. For instance, the Patriots averaged 3.8 yards per rush last year, when Brady started all but two games. In the previous three years, they averaged 3.4 yards. Additionally, defenses might have been game-planning more to stop Bledsoe and the passing game when he was starting, and more to stop the running game with Brady in the lineup.

But some of the performance drop-off must be attributed to Bledsoe.

4 Financing (d)

Anyone interested in Bledsoe must have deep pockets and ample cap space. Barring a renegotiation, Bledsoe's new team will have to reserve $5 million in cap space this year, $5.5 million next year and $6 million in 2004. Additionally, $2 million of his salary in each of the next two years is guaranteed.

Bledsoe was more valuable in February, before teams appropriated much of their cap space to other veterans. His market has shrunk in part because few teams have the 2002 cap space he would require or the available means to create it.

Recommendation

Bledsoe's throwing skills are impeccable. If the measure of a quarterback is his ability to get to the Super Bowl, Bledsoe already did it--after the 1996 season. And the Patriots would not have made it to the Super Bowl this year if not for Bledsoe's inspirational performance off the bench against the Steelers in the AFC championship game.

Yet there is a reason the Patriots are shopping him. You have to look beyond the skills. "If he's not special for them, why would he be special for us?" asks one general manager.

The overwhelming problem is his performance is not likely to live up to his bloated salary-cap figure. With a cap number of $5 million to $6 million, Bledsoe should be the primary reason a team wins, not just another piece of the puzzle. In his most recent attempts, he failed to be the impetus for the Patriots, losing effectiveness as the team around him deteriorated.

A team will have to clear out and/or not pursue valuable veterans in order to create spare for Bledsoe and probably have to give up a high draft choice to acquire him in a trade. In order for Bledsoe to justify that price, he'll have to perform like he never has before.

Anyone would like to have a Bledsoe parked in his driveway.

But given what he'll cost, he's no "best buy."

Before and after the draft, the NFL free-agent market keeps buzzing. Get the scoop on who is going where by subscribing to TSN's Free Agent Scouting Insider at http://ultimate.sportingnews. com/nfl/freeagent.

M@IL BONDING DAN POMPEI ANSWERS YOUR QUESTIONS

How far do you think Joey Harrington might fall if Detroit or Buffalo doesn't pick him? Which team really needs a first-round quarterback that hash't drafted one recently?

Paul Horness, Tokyo

Paul: Assuming Joey Harrington gets past the Lions and Bills, the next biggest threat to select him would be the Chiefs at No. 8. Next would be the Bengals at No. 10. If he were to get past the Bengals, the next team with a need for a quarterback would be the Redskins at No. 18. Possibilities after the Redskins would be the Broncos (19th), Raiders (21st and 23rd), Bears (29th) and Rams (31st).

INSIDE DISH

By DAN POMPEI

For the Patriots to send QB Drew Bledsoe to AFC East rival Buffalo, the Patriots want the fourth pick in the draft in return. The player they are rumored to be targeting is Texas OT Mike Williams. In order to get the fourth pick, the Patriots would be willing to part with more than Bledsoe. The buzz is they also would give up their first-round pick (the last in the round), as well as another high pick, possibly their second-rounder. The Bills, however, have shown no interest in giving up their first-rounder. Their idea of a good deal was giving up the fourth pick in the second round for Bledsoe while getting the Patriots' second-round pick in return.... Why were some teams hesitant about giving former Raiders DT Grady Jackson too fat a contract? Jackson, a very effective run defender with some quickness to rush the passer, likes to eat. When he took a free-agent visit to one team this offseason, he weighed 352 pounds. Three weeks later, while visiting another team, he checked in at 370. The Saints, more concerned with his production than his appetite, signed Jackson last week to pair with Norman Hand. New Orleans now has biggest defensive tackle tandem in the NFL.... There had been speculation that the Texans would try to impose pay cuts on pricey veterans who were selected in the expansion draft such as CB Aaron Glenn and WR/KR Jermaine Lewis. But it won't happen. The Texans, under G.M. Charley Casserly and coach Dom Capers, have made building player morale a priority. They want players who are fired up and excited about being in Houston, so they are not going to mess with contracts this year. After next season, however, players who haven't earned their keep will be held to a different standard.... Tulane QB Patrick Ramsey might not be rated highly enough to be selected with the 18th pick in the first round, but many believe Redskins coach Steve Spurrier will be pushing team owner Dan Snyder to select Ramsey. The thinking is Ramsey would be the perfect quarterback to run Spurrier's system. Like a lot of quarterbacks Spurrier coached at Florida, Ramsey isn't the most physically gifted passer or runner, but he's smart and accurate.... If, as expected, the 49ers acquire a veteran left tackle or draft one in the first round, look for Derrick Deese to move to guard. Although Deese has spent most of his career at tackle, he feels most comfortable at guard. The move is possible even though the 49ers signed free-agent guard Ron Stone.

3-POINT STANCE

1 Shannon Sharpe. The king of trash-talk returns to Denver. The team offered a deal loaded with incentives--not for catches, yards and TDs, but "Yo' mommas," "Who's your daddys?" and more elaborate smack-downs.

2 NFL draft. Less than a month after the Dick Vitale season, Disney's ESPN and ESPN2 go on the clock with Chris Berman and Mel Kiper Jr. Think of it as the network of a noise, annoys and a nerd.

3 David Carr. The presumed No. 1 pick is house hunting in the Houston area. No need for a skylight. He'll quickly tire of that view working behind the expansion Texans' line. --Mike Kilduff

DAN POMPEI

pompei@sportingnews.com

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