| | By John Clayton
ESPN.com
AKRON, Ohio -- Through the years, Drew Bledsoe has treated his blockers to expensive clothes, DVD players, paid vacations and even engraved shotguns. For his salvation, though, he should give knee braces and a season's supply of aspirin as gifts.
Six Patriots offensive linemen are sidelined with knee injuries. Though none is considered serious and all but second-round choice Adrian Klemm should be back by the start of the regular season, Patriots fans will have to hold their breaths when Bledsoe drops back during his preseason cameos.
|  | | Injuries to offensive linemen, such as Bruce Armstrong (left), will make for a precarious preseason for Drew Bledsoe (11). |
He was sacked 55 times last year when the line was reasonably healthy.
"It's unbelieveable," guard Max Lane said of the knee injuries. "It's just freaky how they happened. It's kinda good it happened now rather than late in the preseason."
Lane, Klemm, Bruce Armstrong, Lance Scott, Grant Williams and Todd Rucci are all resting their knees. "A couple of the players were injured last year, but they should be back in three weeks," coach Bill Belichick said. So don't expect more than a cameo appearance from Bledsoe in Monday's AFC-NFC Hall of Fame game against the 49ers.
As hard as it is to believe, this is Year Eight for Bledsoe. He's only 28 and he's two years away from free agency, something that the Patriots can't afford to let happen. He's the franchise. He still stands tall in the pocket, but he stands even taller now that his line is limping around on wounded knees.
"It seems strange at times," Bledsoe said as he reflected on his longevity in a Patriots uniform. "There are times where it seems like I've been doing this forever. Sometimes you feel like you have 10 years left."
Since being drafted in 1993, Bledsoe has been the one constant on the Patriots. He's missed only six games in seven years. Part of his durability is because of his powerful arm and quick release.
But here is a scary stat. His sack totals have increased gradually every season, starting with 16 in 1993 to 55 last year. Last year's total was 19 more than the previous season. Bledsoe is still a young quarterback but 50-sack seasons age quarterbacks quickly. That is why it's important for him to play behind a solid, healthy offensive line.
"I don't know if I've taken more hits than anybody else," Bledsoe said. "I don't know where the stat stacks up against other quarterbacks in the league. All I know is that I'm always out there and haven't missed many games. I've been fortunate."
And the Patriots need Bledsoe to carry the offense. Except for Curtis Martin's best Patriots years from 1995 to 1997, Bledsoe has worked with a different leading rusher every season. Only once has one of those backs averaged four yards a carry.
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“ |
I think we are talented enough to be able
to beat any team in the league. The test is going to be how we cover up for injured
players. ” |
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— Drew Bledsoe, Patriots quarterback |
With Terry Allen gone, the Patriots need yet another back to emerge, the options being Kevin Faulk, Raymont Harris or rookie J.R. Redmond, who is recovering from groin surgery.
"Every year we are not supposed to throw that much," Bledsoe said. "I don't mind that. If you feel like you can win a football game by running the ball 40 times, then you do that."
For the Patriots to run the ball, they will need a coordinated effort from the offense line, which may not be in place until the last preseason game. The Pats play the 49ers Monday with an offensive line that consists of Jason Anderson, Adam Davis, Damien Woody, Derrick Fletcher and Greg Robinson-Randall.
"I think we are talented enough to be able to beat any team in the league," Bledsoe said. "The test is going to be how we cover up for injured players."
Said Lane: "We're going to be working with different guys on the line, just trying to see who can play the position. As it gets closer to the season when decisions are made, we'll see how it goes."
Bledsoe enters this season with a positive outlook. He has to be positive. He once again will have to carry this team.
"It falls heavily on my shoulders to be productive," Bledsoe said. "If I don't make turnovers and if I score points, we usually win. When I turn the ball over, we usually struggle. If I have a consistent year, we can go far."
But if the offensive linemen don't get healthy, Bledsoe could go down.
John Clayton is the senior NFL writer for ESPN.com.
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