While the appreciative fans bellowed out chants of "Drewww," Bledsoe discussed the quarterbacks that helped him out throughout his career. That list included Tom Brady.
"I had a a horrible backup, that No. 12 guy," joked Bledsoe when talking about Brady. "He didn't really understand the backup part."
Brady, of course, took over under center during the 2001 season after Bledsoe went down with an injury and never gave the job back.
Bledsoe, who said that he's been coaching flag football, playing golf and making wine since hanging up the cleats, showed appreciation for the time he spent in New England. Patriots fans are a passionate bunch, which the four-time Pro Bowler admitted caught him off guard upon joining the organization in 1993.
"You fans, you embraced me as one of your own. I was sometimes good, sometimes not so good, and you let me know about it," he said. "But I learned over the years how passionately you New England sports fans feel about your sports. You take this stuff seriously. I didn't know that coming from the Northwest. … We go skiing and ride bikes. You play football and baseball, and you're damn serious about it. But for that reason, this honor means more to me than you can imagine. I know how seriously you take it and hope you know how much it means to me."
