If You Drew the Short Straw in the Secret Santa Pool

We were at Toys “R” Us yesterday shopping for the 3-year-old who lives in our house; apparently it’s gettin’ close to Hannukah or something. Whatever. Anyway, while browing the action-figure aisle (though, oddly, not for the 3-year-old who lives in our house) we came across more than a dozen of these Drew Bledsoe figures buried on a shelf beneath other sports collectibles manufactured by the company owned by Spawn creator Todd McFarlane. Turns out, they were just released in September and are still selling at their original retail price of $19.95; said a Toys employee, they can’t give the things away, though if you try to steal one, well, don’t think that’ll go over too well.

I just like the copy that accompanies info about the figure on the McFarlane Web site:

“The quarterback for ‘America’s Team’ heads into the 2006 season with something to prove. After last year’s disappointing season, the Cowboys made a major transition on offense, bringing in talented but troubled wideout Terrell Owens. Despite causing the occasional headache, Owens is one of the best receivers in the league, and his presence should make Bledose’s life easier. Bledsoe’s career doesn’t always get the respect it deserves — in his 13 seasons he’s surpassed legends like Joe Montana, Jim Kelly, Johnny Unitas and Boomer Esiason for 7th place on the all-time passing yardage list.”

Twenty bucks for a statue of a back-up QB? Not bloody likely. Then again, after last night’s debacle, I might put one on layaway just in case. (How quickly they turn; yeah, right.) Oh, and we were also informed that late last week, the Cowboys’ official pro shops around the metroplex finally got their Tony Romo replica jerseys. The Bledsoe “replithentic” jersey — really, that is so not a word — is 30 percent off. –Robert Wilonsky