Dreary outlook
Patriots' Bledsoe may be out for season
Posted: Friday December 18, 1998 06:51 PM
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Bledsoe has only practiced twice since fracturing his finger on November 23 AP |
FOXBORO, Massachusetts (AP) -- The New England Patriots may
have to complete their push for the playoffs without Drew Bledsoe. The
quarterback's fractured right index finger may end his season.
Bledsoe, already declared out of Sunday's game against San Francisco,
said Friday he's not optimistic about playing the following Sunday in the
season finale against the New
York Jets.
"We'll see [about the playoffs], Bledsoe said. "I would hope so. ...
but it's really a matter that's going to be left up to our medical staff."
Coach Pete Carroll wasn't hopeful that Bledsoe would be available for
the Jets game.
"He may be able to just go gut it out and do it again," Carroll said.
"But right now, it's not really going to repair in that amount of time.
"It's not just like a bruise or something. It's a broken bone and it's
going to be difficult for him to play next week."
Bledsoe broke the finger when he hit an opponent as he followed through
on a pass during the winning drive late in the fourth quarter against the
Miami Dolphins. He
played the next three games -- wins over Buffalo and Pittsburgh before a
32-18 loss to St. Louis in which he had trouble controlling his passes.
Bledsoe's current streak of 58 consecutive starts is the longest of any
AFC quarterback. Scott
Zolak will start in his place Sunday as the Patriots (8-6) can clinch a
playoff berth by beating San Francisco (11-3) while Tennessee loses to
Green Bay.
Carroll wouldn't comment about whether he would rest Bledsoe against
the Jets if the Patriots clinch a spot Sunday.
To play against the Jets, Bledsoe probably would have to practice
Thursday. He has only practiced twice since fracturing his finger on
November 23.
"A veteran quarterback can go a week or two weeks without practice,"
Bledsoe said. "But I've only had two practices in a month. If I'm going to
play, I need to practice."
For now, New England hopes to ease the burden on Zolak with a strong
ground game.
"It's very important that we get a running game going," Carroll said.
"We have to have a balanced approach or it puts too much pressure on the
passing game and on Scott in his first game.
"It's not different than how we approach it every week, but we better
be effective in our running game. We need to be."
The Patriots have struggled with their running game all season. Against
St. Louis, rookie Robert
Edwards gained 196 yards on 24 carries but was stopped three times from
the 1-yard line in the third quarter.
The 49ers are the NFL's top offense.
Quarterback Steve
Young has his choice of offensive weapons, including running back Garrison Hearst, who set a
team record with 198 yards rushing against Detroit. The 49ers also set a
club mark of 328 yards rushing.
"They're doing everything exactly right," said Carroll, San Francisco's
defensive coordinator in 1995 and 1996. "You can have a good game running
now and then, but to have a month-long span of just dominating the running
game, they're doing a lot of things right."
Young also relies on NFC receiving leader Jerry Rice, who Patriots
cornerback Steve Israel
knows well.
"I went against those guys in practice every day," said Israel, who
played for San Francisco in 1995 and 1996. "Jerry Rice, he made my game
better. He made me a better corner. When I was out there playing practice
against the best, it does nothing but make you better."
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