Super Bowl champ Patriots trade prized QB to Buffalo

FOXBORO, Mass. -- The New England Patriots traded Drew Bledsoe to the Buffalo Bills on Sunday after a nine-year career in which he rewrote the record books but watched from the sideline while his former backup led the franchise to its first Super Bowl championship.

The Patriots will get Buffalo's first-round pick in 2003.

New England had been trying to trade Bledsoe since Tom Brady, a former fourth-stringer who inherited the starting job when Bledsoe was injured, led the team to an improbable 20-17 victory over the St. Louis Rams in the Super Bowl on Feb. 3.

"We all knew what the situation was: A football team can have only one starting quarterback," Patriots coach Bill Belichick said. "In the end, it can only be one guy. ... When you put it all together, this is probably best."

The 30-year-old three-time Pro Bowl selection leaves as the franchise's top quarterback in completions, attempts and yards for a game, season and career. But he also showed his worth by keeping quiet last season even though he was obviously irritated that he wasn't given a chance to fight for his job after recovering from a life-threatening injury.

For the Bills, Bledsoe suddenly and significantly raises expectations after a 3-13 season -- their worst since 1985 -- and solidifies a position that had been unsettled since Hall of Famer Jim Kelly retired following the 1996 season.

"You add a Drew Bledsoe to your team, it's huge," said Alex Van Pelt, who was bumped to backup after Bledsoe's signing. "He's already done a ton in this league."