In last week's Ladder Challenge it was Dustin Pedroia defeating Wayne Cashman with 61% of the vote to move up to #85 on the Ladder. This week's Challenge features one of the most prolific tandems in Patriots history battling head to head. Troy Brown (#81) attempts to move up the Ladder by taking on the man who got him the ball for so many years, Drew Bledsoe (#73). Despite's Troy's titles, Drew's contributions to turning around this once laughingstock of a franchise earns him our vote this week. So who has your support in this week's Ladder Challenge? (and remember, most votes in the comments section is the tie-breaker, so be sure to voice your opinion!)
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7 comments:
DREW BLEDSOE
currently Ranked: 73
Challenge Record: 0-2-1
Beat: None
Lost: Willie McGinest, Steve Grogan
Tied: Stanley Morgan
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*Played first 9 seasons (1993-2001) with Patriots.
*Drafted #1 overall by Pats in '93 NFL Draft.
*Member of 2001 Super Bowl Champions.
*Won 1996 AFC Championship before losing Super Bowl XXXI to Green Bay.
*Patriot career totals: 2,544-4,518 for 29,657 yards and 166 TD.
*In his 2nd season he broke the NFL record for pass attempts, became 2nd QB ever to complete 400+ passes in a season and led the league in passing yards with 4,555.
*Passed for 3,000+ yards 7 years in a row.
*Was youngest passer to ever reach 10,000 career passing yards and the youngest QB to play in the Pro Bowl.
*Selected to 3 Pro Bowls with Pats.
*Holds franchise records for both completions (400, 1994) and attemps (691, 1994) in a season.
*Team's all-time leader in completions (2,544), attempts (4,518), and passing yards (29,657).
TROY BROWN
currently Ranked: 81
Challenge Record: 3-0-0
Beat: Raymond Clayborn, Ben Coates, Tiny Thompson
Lost: None
Tied: None
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*Played entire 15-year career (1993-2007) with Patriots.
*Helped Pats win 3 Super Bowls (2001, 2003, 2004).
*Also helped Pats win 2 other AFC Championships (1996, 2007).
*Elected to Pro Bowl in 2001.
*Regular season totals: 192 games, 557 receptions, 6,366 receiving yards and 31 receiving touchdowns.
*Career return averages: Punt Return (10.4, 3 TD); Kick Return (21.4).
*Also had 3 career interceptions.
*In 2001 led the NFL in punt return average (14.2) and punt return TDs (2).
*Franchise record holder in receptions (557).
*1st Patriot to catch 100+ passes in a season (101, 2001).
Although Brown was a great Patriot, his contributions to the franchise going from terrible to terrific were not as great as Bledsoe's. Drew's accomplishments have been overshadowed by the greatness of Brady, but he meant more to the franchise than anyone else for nearly a decade. For that he gets a slight nod here. (Though I must admit, tough to argue with Brown here either...sorry if that sounds like a cop out).
Bledsoe definitely was a primary factor from turning this franchise from terrible to really good - but they consistantly declined over the final 5 or 6 years he was here. He could not put them over the top.
Although Brady and Belichick deserve a lot of the credit for the Pats winning 3 SB's Brown had a lot of influence on these victories as well.
Anyone remember who caught the long pass that put the Pats in good field position for Adam V's game winning field goal in SB36.
Who returned a punt vs. the Steelers the week before... in Pittsburgh. Who recovered a fumble on a blocked kick and then was able to latteral it back to Antwain Spann I think for him to run in and score? Remember who Brady's Pro Bowl WR was in 2001? Who temporarily saved the season by causing a fumble on an interception in San Diego in 2006?
Along with all of this does anyone care to venture a guess as to who was second on the team in interceptions in 2004?
As noted earlier Bledsoe was the centerpiece that brought this franchise from horrible to very good, but Brown was at the heart of most events that turned this franchise from good to dominant. Because of all the big plays my vote goes to Brown.
I'm gonna go with Brown as well. I did have to stop and think about it for a second.
Who's the big Winner?! Troy Brown.
Brown handed that ball to Antoine Harris - who by the way had the nickname "sweet feet" Harris
I vote Brown in a close one.
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