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Rich Cimini
Almost 25 years ago, former Jets linebacker Mo Lewis executed a hit on Drew Bledsoe that significantly altered the trajectory of NFL history.
Frustrated by being blamed by Jets fans for initiating the Tom Brady era and the Patriots’ supremacy, Lewis has made another statement.
In a forthcoming book, breaking a lengthy media silence, Lewis argues that it’s Bledsoe — not himself — who should bear the accountability for what transpired on September 23, 2001. Bledsoe was hit so violently that it severed a blood vessel in his chest — he was close to dying in transit to the hospital — creating a chance for the untested Brady.
«[Bledsoe] just signed a $100 million contract to be what kind of quarterback? A passing quarterback, right?» Lewis states in «Brady vs. Belichick,» authored by veteran NFL journalist Gary Myers. «If he hadn’t left the pocket and attempted to run, would we even be discussing this? Who caused the incident? The guy who had the ball.
«Now he’s doing something he didn’t intend to do. He signed to be a passing quarterback. What do I do? I stop the players with the ball. For me, it’s just another play. But it’s something else for him.»
Lewis claims he had no knowledge of Bledsoe’s state and did not check because he was concentrated on his responsibilities.
«I’m not trying to be insensitive,» he remarks. «I’m on the field. I’m not a physician. I do not know how serious that impact was. It was merely another tackle. I’m a linebacker. I make tackles. I don’t assess whether I hit someone hard or soft. What you’re expecting is for me to foresee the aftermath of the hit. I’m saying, I’m not looking ahead. I’m just trying to prevent him from getting a first down. End of story.»
During the NFL’s centennial celebration in 2019, a survey was conducted to identify the top 100 game changers in league history. Lewis was ranked No. 82.
«He was the individual who actually kickstarted Tom Brady’s journey,» states Herm Edwards, the Jets coach during that 2001 matchup, in the book.
Former Patriots assistant coach Pepper Johnson expressed his frustration towards Drew, as he cautioned him «not to engage one-on-one with this guy.» Johnson and Lewis were teammates on the Jets, and he characterizes Lewis as «a Scud missile.»
«I illustrated the scenario for him to run out of bounds,» Johnson adds.
