The Biggest 2010 NFC East "What Ifs"
by One.Cool.Customer on Jul 12, 2011 8:35 AM CDT
in Dallas Cowboys General
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PrintA little over a month ago, Vic Carucci penned an article on NFL.com in which he talked about the hype-machine surrounding the Eagles' Kevin Kolb, and how the lockout news vacuum has led to reporters and analysts ramping up the pressure for Kolb to be an instant star, and viewed as a major flop if he isn't.
Carucci has some interesting points of view on Kolb, but the thing that stood out to me in the article was an entirely different train of thought:
"[Kolb] is the what-if guy, as in, what if he hadn't suffered that concussion halfway through the 2010 season opener? And what if Michael Vick hadn't been so brilliant in Kolb's place?"
I found this a very interesting question, so after the break we'll look at some the biggest what ifs for each NFC East team for 2010. Chime in with your own what ifs in the comments section.
1. What if Kevin Kolb had remained the starter in Philly?
It's kind of hard to project what could have been for Kolb specifically. Technically, Kolb started five games last year and the Eagles lost three of those for a 2-3 record in games Kolb started. But he got knocked out early in the GB game and lost the season-ending game against the Cowboys, so you could argue he's 2-1 as a starter. Then again, he came into the Washington game late in the first quarter for an injured Vick and lost, so his record could be viewed as 2-2. Kind of hard to figure out what to make of him (except if you're an Eagles fan, then of course he's the greatest ever).
Carrucci also agree that there's not much to go on in evaluating Kolb:
It's fair to say that Kolb hasn't had much of an NFL career. He briefly held the Eagles' starting job, and he doesn't have enough of a body of work as a pro to be evaluated at a dramatically higher level than most of the quarterbacks drafted last month.
Anyway, after much back-and-forth by Andy Reid, the Eagles finally decided to go with Vick at QB, and Vick played very well. There was some talk about Vick as an MVP candidate last year, he put up tremendous stats, and as a starter had an 8-3 record, leading the Eagles to a 10-6 regular season record.
Had Reid stayed with Kolb as the starter it's easy to see at least a two-game swing compared to Vick, particularly given the Eagles' young defense. The Eagles could have easily ended the season at 8-8 or worse.
2. What if Alex Barron hadn't been flagged for a hold on the last play of the season opener against Washington?
Three seconds left on the gameclock in the fourth quarter. Tony Romo had just led the Cowboys on an 11-play, 1:42 drive from the Dallas 19 to the Washington 13. Romo passes to Roy Williams on the right side. Touchdown! And a penalty flag. Offensive holding on Alex Barron, touchdown nullified by penalty, game over, Dallas loses 7-13.
Had the Cowboys won that game, it's hard to imagine the team would have gone into the 1-7 tailspin that it did. A win in the opener, a little bit more luck against the Bears and the Cowboys could have headed into the bye week at 3-0. How much that could have changed the way the team played the remaining season is anybody's guess, but a 6-10 record would have been unlikely. Then again, winning that first game might also mean that Wade might still be the coach in Dallas today ...
3. What if Giants Kicker Matt Dodge had simply kicked the ball out of bounds against the Eagles in week 15?
With 14 second left on the clock in the fourth quarter, the Giants punt the ball. But instead of punting it out of bounds, Matt Dodge punts it right into the arms of DeSean Jackson, who then returns the punt for a game-winning TD. The Eagles win 38-31. Of course, that punt return was just the final insult for a team that had led 31-10 in the fourth quarter before the Eagles scored 28 unanswered points in eight minutes.
Before that game, the Giants were on their way to their fifth playoff appearance in six years. Instead, they have now missed the playoffs for two consecutive seasons. Ironically, they were perhaps playing their best late season football in quite some time, and now have to deal with the recurring stigma of a December meltdown. Not that that makes me sad or anything. Far from it.
The Giants crumbled in the following week against the Packers, 17-45. Had they won the game against the Eagles, they may have won the game against the Packers, thereby eliminating Green Bay from the postseason altogether, and perhaps started a serious run of their own in the playoffs as the division winner.
4. What if the Redskins weren't a dysfunctional organization?
Three key organizational moves - Mike Shanahan, Bruce Allen and Donovan McNabb - were supposed to right the ship in Washington. Instead, it was complete anarchy: conditioning tests and an eventual suspension without pay for the highest paid player on the team, benching the starting QB just four weeks after signing him to a huge extension or taking a local paper to court over an article titled "The Cranky Redskins Guide to Dan Snyder".
New names, new faces, same old Redskins.
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Not only might Wade still be HC
But no R. And Dallas likely would not have drafted as it did. Someone in the front office has been in deep denial about the OL. Sometimes you have to hit bottom before starting a recovery.
Don't believe everything you think.
by dunkman on Jul 12, 2011 8:52 AM CDT via mobile reply actions
as painful as it was to watch, the 1-7 start was a blessing
because now the team is headed in the right direction under the leadership of Garrett.
In Romo we Trust
+1
I have huge faith in Garrett.
That being said, it is tough to win a SuperBowl, you need a little serendipidy too (as evidenced by the what if’s above). We need to give him the space to do it.
"Where's Woody? - We need another Darren Woodson
What If? (Part 2)
What if Jason Witten drops that score at the end of the game in Philadelphia, leaving Dallas at 5-11 and holding the sixth pick in the draft.
What if Atlanta called Jerry and Jason with the treasure chest they offered Cleveland for Julio Jones?
What if…..
WHAT IF Part 3?
What if Joe Carpenter never played for Bill Parcells, prompting the Big Tuna to draft Joe’s kid with a first round pick which led to the first round bust for bust trade that gave Dallas Alex Barron to commit the holding penalty that spoiled the Romo to Williams TD that could have beat Washington week one?
Phew……
Rob Carpenter
“Rob” Carpenter was the running back for Parcells back in the 80s, father of Bobby.
Cowboys, Longhorns, and Spurs - all undefeated in 2011-12.
WHAT IF Part 4
WHAT IF JIMMY JOHNSON WENT WITH STEVE WALSH OVER TROY AIKMAN???
I shutter at the thought……
Walsh was Johnson's guy at Miami
Remember, after the Cowboys drafted Aikman #1 overall, Steve Walsh entered the supplemental draft and the Cowboys used their next #1 on Walsh.
He was Jimmy’s quarterback at “The U”, and I believe that he hoped that Walsh could beat Aikman out and be the #1 quarterback.
But, Aikman beat Walsh out in training camp, and started the season as the starter. He got hurt mid-season and Walsh led Dallas to their only win that season (1989). When Aikman got healthy, he returned as starter.
Johnson, though he loved Walsh, made a football decision that off-season. He kept Aikman and traded away Walsh.
Cowboys, Longhorns, and Spurs - all undefeated in 2011-12.
I don't believe that at all
Johnson was a great evaluator of talent and and even a blind person could see that Aikman was clearly the superior player, not even close.
Johnson drafted Walsh not because he thought he could beat out Aikman, but that he was hoping he could cash him in for a high pick in the regular draft from some team.
In Romo we Trust
You need new material
even a blind person could see
"Other than that, Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play?"
For what it's worth
Even if Jimmy thought Troy was a better talent, he had questions, stating(paraphrased)he hadn’t won anything in college. He wanted Walsh there for the competition. And yes, he was a good judge of talent.
I drink to make other people more interesting
what does winning in college have to do with anything
The greatest players can’t win in team sports without good players around them also playing well
In Romo we Trust
because if you are that good you will win something in college
like a guy like jimmy claussen. all that hype yet could not win any major games
one exception to the rule is john elway but that was because his teams stunk even though he was always the best QB in the college game at his time(maybe besides marino who won nat’l titles) he couldnt get stanford to a bowl game
the one time he had a chance to go to a bowl game? oh that time his band ran on the field in the middle of the game-losing kick return td. yeah that was elways final game in college
The realist keepin it real amongst the surrealists
R.I.P. Big Homey Nate Dogg: "Cuz Iiiiiiiiii have ne-evv-ver met a giiiiiiiiiirrrrrrllllllllllllllllllll tha-at I loved in the whole wide wooorrrlllllddddddd"
by starbury_to_s-jaxci2000 on Jul 13, 2011 9:09 PM CDT up reply actions
Hey
Kevin Kolb has won TWO Player of the Week awards!!!! Each one of those is worth a first round pick in a trade! Plus the Giants lost that game well before the Jackson PR, that was just embarassing icing on the cake. They lost it when they gave up three lightning fast TD’s in the 4th quarter through a combination of penalties to stall drives and poor tackling on big plays. It would have been a reverse miracle if they pulled that out in OT.
Your First Ever Pinstripe Bowl Champions- The Syracuse Orange
by bigbluethruandthru on Jul 12, 2011 9:08 AM CDT reply actions
Wow, what value!
Where can I go to cash in my Bryan McCann??
by CotySaxman on Jul 12, 2011 10:51 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions
Haha I was thinking the same thing
Player of the week worth a 1st rounder? Time to trade McCann for the Eagles’ 2012 1st round pick!
The Ohio State Buckeyes are your Sugar Bowl champions... and for the 7th year in a row Michigan still sucks.
by Blue Eyed Devil on Jul 12, 2011 3:16 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
On Kevin Kolb (Just the Facts Please)
Kevin Kolb was Andy Reid’s next gem QB draft pick groomed to replace Andy’s first gem QB draft pick D. McNabb.
For three years Andy talked about how wonderful Kevin Kolb was.
Now, an older Michael Vick who has never won more than a scant few playoff games in his career steps onto the scene and Andy can’t wait to dump Kevin Kolb, even though Kolb is under a financially good contract and Vick, who is injury prone, will require huge money to sign long term….
Something strikes me as odd in this scenario….
what I love is that Philly will trade Kolb
right before Vick starts playing like the real Vick and then they will be right back to the drawing board looking for a franchise qb….gotta love it.
In Romo we Trust
True Terry
Vick started out like gangbusters – had a nifty seven game stretch – then stunk it up for three and half quarters in the Miracle come from behind game in New York, stunk out the Linc in his playoff determining home game against hapless Minnesota, rested a week, then did little at home again versus the Packers in the playoffs…
Yep – and Kevin Kolb, who is such a superior person in every way to Mr. Vick, is told “Hey kid, Exit stage left to Arizona…have a nice life.”
And Eagles fans STILL talk trash about Michael Irvin….puhlease!
Now, an older Michael Vick who has never won more than a scant few playoff games in his career steps onto the scene and Andy can’t wait to dump Kevin Kolb, even though Kolb is under a financially good contract and Vick, who is injury prone, will require huge money to sign long term….
Lol, let’s just ignore the fact that Vick was the MVP runner-up.
http://www.bleedinggreennation.com/ - Eagles
http://bloggingthebeast.com/ - NFC East
Break down the numbers on Vick
Vick was fantastic for five or six games – tallied two games worth of stats in a blowout of the Deadskins in DC. but after that – his numbers were more in line with his historic production AND he did nothing down the stretch…
He stunk for most of the Giants game – down 31-10 (Is that an MVP?)
He did nothing at home against a moribund Vikings team with a WR starting at QB against him. (Is that MVPish?)
And he got beat at home two weeks later by a team that at the time was merely a wild card team. (Again, MVP worthy?)
C’mon – Everyone got caught up in Mike Vick redeeming himself for sadistically killing dogs for years and lying about it like a little scared punk and coming out of jail to play great football..and today’s media drenched and driven society fell in line…but down the stretch, when the games mattered most…Vick was nowhere closer to an MVP than Kevin Kolb.
Vick has a great gun and tremendous weapons to work with in Philly…but Andy tried to trade Vick before last season even started…and now he is trading Kevin Kolb…makes little sense other than confirming that the Eagles have no real clue what they are doing as an organization.
Facts are facts.
So stupid, I’m not even bothering.
http://www.bleedinggreennation.com/ - Eagles
http://bloggingthebeast.com/ - NFC East
by JimmyK on Jul 12, 2011 10:36 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
MVP runner up cmon you can do that better than that.
So that means something this year? Favre was the only guy to win it 3 in a row, how many people put back to back seasons like that? Regression to the means
Tony Romo 2011's League's Most Valuable Player
Guys we can say that Vick may not have as good a season as he did last year,
But we have NO reason to believe Kolb would come even close to Vick. Every successful game I can remember Kolb having was in a scenario he should do well. Like down a million points and that other team goes into prevent d for like three quarters or playing against a team whose secondary is “escorting” receivers into the endzone. Kolb is highly overrated, and a smart Eagles GM would sell high. I look back and think about all of those times the cowboys didn’t sell high (see marty bennett, Marion Barber).
Anyone else wondering why Romo's talking to the media about the "Secret Practices"?
by Feeling Blue & Silver on Jul 12, 2011 12:32 PM CDT up reply actions
Vick sucks JimmyK...deal with it
2010 was an aberration and you will soon find out how bad the real Vick is this season.
In Romo we Trust
Nothing about what Vick did last year should lead you to believe he "sucks".
If you are saying that you don’t think he’d be as good then we can talk, but the fact that he was even CONSIDERED for an MVP is enough to say he can’t suck.
Anyone else wondering why Romo's talking to the media about the "Secret Practices"?
by Feeling Blue & Silver on Jul 12, 2011 12:40 PM CDT up reply actions
No, it's what he did in career prior to 2010
that leads me to believe he sucks.
2010 was an aberration….Vick is the most overrated player to ever step on a football field…as a qb yes, he does indeed suck.
In Romo we Trust
I hate Vick witha passion well before he became an eagle...
He is just a bad guy i could careless that he served his time however, he does not suck as a QB. I think he is a much better fit in philly than in Atl. I am not saying he is great but to say the guy sucks is ridiculous..
I do hope you prove me wrong though ...
Its not like i would be unhappy if Vick falls on his face this year :)
Oh Terry
You make me laugh more than pretty much anyone else here. Vick is overrated, Vick can be weak, Vick will fade like always but come on man, sucks? lmao
throwing a football accurately...absolutely
and thats the number one skill a qb must possess if he doesn’t want to suck
In Romo we Trust
Also keep in mind that...
Vick is two months younger than Romo and has more playoff wins,
I'm not drunk I'm just drinking.
by no1pipelayer on Jul 12, 2011 5:08 PM CDT up reply actions
And walks a little funny
Since that stint in the pen. Just sayin….
Don't believe everything you think.
by dunkman on Jul 12, 2011 6:09 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
here we go
Eagles base success off of playoff wins. I guess thats what happens when you never tasted true victory
Tony Romo 2011's League's Most Valuable Player
Let me preempt what is coming at you from Eagles Central:
IF YOU KNEW ANYTHING ABOUT NFL HISTORY WHICH YOU OBVIOUSLY DO NOT YOU WOULD KNOW THAT THE NFL EXISTED BEFORE THE SUPER BOWL AND THE EAGLES WON NFL CHAMPIONSHIPS YOU ARE A BANDWAGON FAN LAKERSYANKEESMANCHESTERUNITEDUCONNWOMEN’SHOOPS AAAAARRRRRRGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH SCRAPPLE
mmmmm….scrapple
Lifelong Cowboys Fan from the Swamps of Jersey
My Beer Blog: http://tiltingsuds.wordpress.com/
haha women's hoops haha
You forgot the image of someones car with a cowboy sticker and yankee sticker.
Tony Romo 2011's League's Most Valuable Player
Mike Vick
At least he didn’t pull an air guitar against Dallas like another Eagles QB who was shown the same door Kevin Kolb is being kicked through this season…LOL
Donovan McNabb (Larry), Kevin Kolb (Shemp), Mike Vick (Moe) – The Three QB Stooges of Andy Reid (Curly)….and special guest Brett Favre as Joe in a pair of Wrangler Jeans.
What if Giants Kicker Matt Dodge had simply kicked the ball out of bounds against the Eagles in week 15?
Decent chance the Eagles win in OT anyway.
http://www.bleedinggreennation.com/ - Eagles
http://bloggingthebeast.com/ - NFC East
sadly agree
our heart had already been ripped from our chests.
Yes, I am a Giants fan. Now that we got that out of the way....
IMPEACH DOLAN!!!!
I will not - lose! -Jay Z-
The Eagles might be pulling off the biggest con job in quite some time
if they trade Kolb and get a 1st and 3rd in return.
I saw him throw some very nice 20-yard hard outs
The kid has the tools, but it will be all about the situation he ends up in…
"Other than that, Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play?"
Back in the day, on ABC's Monday Night Football
Howard Cosell used to throw all kinds of hypothetical what-if questions at Don Meredith. When Don had had enough, he always used his famous rejoinder.
If “ifs and buts” were candy and nuts, we’d all have a Merry Christmas.
Cowboys, Longhorns, and Spurs - all undefeated in 2011-12.
Ultimate What-If
If Jackie Smith had held onto Staubach’s pass in Super Bowl XI, 5Blings may actually already be through 7Blings by now and looking for more.
He just commented on another thread that he has already locked up 6Blings and just locked up 7Blings names. He would probably be needing more than that.
Cowboys, Longhorns, and Spurs - all undefeated in 2011-12.
Not so sure
…because if Jackie Smith had held onto that ball, then Landry would have lasted longer into the 80’s, it’s likely Jerry would have bought another team and inserted Jimmy there and then we probably wouldn’t have drafted Irvin and Emmitt.
If you change a single event in history, you create a ripple effect in the time continuum where all subsequent events are generally assumed to happen differently. Not to get too sci-fi on you, but it’s more likely that you can travel (one-way) into the future than into the past using what’s called relative velocity time dilation.
I wonder how far into the future I have to go to need my new 7Blings moniker?
"Other than that, Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play?"
No reason
You live in Pennsylvania and you can’t find a single reason to believe a beloved, long-time Head Coach with 3 or 4 blings would not be retained beyond his window of effectiveness?
(said in my best Seth Meyers voice) Really?
Terry, have you seen that Geico commercial where the guy is living under a rock and comes out to see the billboard with the gecko on it?
"Other than that, Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play?"
It didn't matter to Jerry that Landry was a legend with 2 SB wins
and it certainly wouldn’t have mattered to Jerry if he had 3.
And yes I’ve seen that commercial and it reminds me a lot of you actually after reading some of your posts and comments.
In Romo we Trust
Why would Jerry have been there?
Slow down and re-read my original comment, Terry. You’re making bush-league mistakes…
"Other than that, Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play?"
because he wanted to buy the Cowboys
your original comment was what is bush league bling…makes no sense
In Romo we Trust
No, it was more that all events would have been different subsequent to the extra bling...
"Other than that, Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play?"
Landry drafted Irvin and was going to draft Troy
Lifelong Cowboys Fan from the Swamps of Jersey
My Beer Blog: http://tiltingsuds.wordpress.com/
Landry drafted Irvin
He made it almost through the 80s anyway. Michael Irvin was Landry’s final #1 draft choice – in 1988. Jerry Jones bought the Cowboys during the winter and he and Tex Schramm got on a plane in February, 1989, to tell Tom Landry that he was no longer the coach of the Cowboys.
Jimmy Johnson’s first season was 1989.
I enjoy watching your debates with Terry, but I think, my friend, that he is probably right this time.
To restate – if Jackie Smith holds onto that pass, I believe that the Cowboys win that game. As two-time defending champions, maybe they don’t let Ferragamo hit Billy Waddy to knock them off in the next season’s NFC championship. Then, that Super Bowl, XIV, would have been the rubber match with Pittsburgh after the Cowboys lost X and “won” XIII (I misspoke earlier – Jackie Smith’s drop was in Super Bowl XIII. I should have gotten that right – I went to Super Bowl X – the only Super Bowl I have ever attended in person).
However, I don’t think that would have changed anything in the 80s. Danny White still quarterbacks three straight appearance in tne NFC Championship – all road losses.
Terry didn’t believe that Landry would have lasted longer in this “what-if”. I agree. By February, 1989, he had been in the NFL for forty years as a player, player-coach, and coach. He was a few months short of turning 65, and the Cowboys were growing worse each season. It had been a decade since the last Super Bowl championship.
Cowboys, Longhorns, and Spurs - all undefeated in 2011-12.
I also have to agree. I don't think that one more SB victory would have stopped Jones from buying the Cowboys and firing Landry.
- Formerly fan since '65.
This has all been documented
Bum Bright, the owner who sold to Jones couldn’t stand Landry. He felt the Man in the Hat was aloof, arrogant towards him at the same time his teams were struggling and the game was passing him by. But Tex Schramm knew he could not fire him, a situation well-known with Cowboy circles as ‘The Landry problem.’
I’m not saying Bright made dismissing Landry a requirement of the new buyer, but that’s precisely waht happened. Dots – connect away.
I’m also not one to give Jerry much of a pass these days, but the grief he took over TL’s firing was largely undeserved
I drink to make other people more interesting
It's true about Bright and his general disdain for Landry and Jerry takes too much guff over it
However, I can and do fault Jerry for the WAY he handled it. He had no firsthand experience with the “Landry problem” and Landry should never have had to find out about his demise the way he did.
A simple invite to Jerry’s office and a professional parting of the ways would have made the whole thing better than what we now see as a black mark on Jerry’s resume.
"Other than that, Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play?"
True, but
If memory serves correctly, Landry was in Austin and basically refused to leave. Jones wound up travelling down there to terminate him.
The whole ‘Jerry and Jimmy dining at Landry’s favorite restaurant’ was spectacularly unlucky, basically a News of the World moment for the DMN.
I drink to make other people more interesting
This...
However, I don’t think that would have changed anything in the 80s. Danny White still quarterbacks three straight appearance in tne NFC Championship – all road losses.
defies the Law of Special Relativity.
Don’t take this the worng way, but it is most assured that EVERYTHING about what you know today would be different if Smith caught that ball.
"Other than that, Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play?"
except its not a law its a theory..
No one knows what would happen during time travel, you can believe in parallel universes, butterfly effect or whatever. That is what this What If scenario is talking about. Who knows maybe you can go back and make a change without it causing a massive ripple effect into everything. No one knows either way.
Tony Romo 2011's League's Most Valuable Player
The biggest "what if" of them all
What if Jerry never fired Jimmy…..our dynasty would have been the undisputed greatest of all time for sure
In Romo we Trust
by Terry on Jul 12, 2011 12:41 PM CDT reply actions 1 recs
of all the what ifs, that one stocks in my craw the most.
Three Super Bowls in a row without questions, and I’d say damn near a lock for four in a row
Lifelong Cowboys Fan from the Swamps of Jersey
My Beer Blog: http://tiltingsuds.wordpress.com/
Yup and depending how long he stayed
he could of created a decade long dynasty with maybe a few more appearances.
Tony Romo 2011's League's Most Valuable Player
This
is my favorite thing you have ever said! Without a doubt the dumbest thing Jerah has ever done (and that’s saying something)
Not last year, but...
What if Romo hadn’t dropped that FG snap against the Seahawks; or better yet had been able to run it into the end zone?
What if Patrick Crayton had caught either of those passes late in the NFC Championship loss to the Giants?
In the first scenario, some people in the Cowboys organization later said that they had been pretty confident they could handle the Bears the following week. And in the second scenario, a catch would have put the Cowboys in the Super Bowl, later won by those Giants. Probably, if both of those situations had played out, the talking heads at ESPN and NFL Network would be unanimous in their praise of Romo as the third Great Cowboys Quarterback in history.
And even the fickle fans of the Cowboys wouldn’t hate him quite as much.
I wish but it wasn't the NFC Champ go but the Divisional Round against the Giants
Tony Romo 2011's League's Most Valuable Player
My "What If?"
What if…
Danny White escapes the grasp of Lawrence Pillers and proceeds to throw a strike downfield to Butch Johnson to quickly erase the memory of the “the catch” and Dallas went on to beat Cincy in the ensuing Super Bowl?
"Other than that, Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play?"
Or...
What if Montana had thrown that pass two inches higher, and The Catch had never happened in the first place?
All that Dummy White had to do...
was get another 10 yards or so for a Septien field goal. That’s what made his lack of awareness more egregious. The great ones don’t do what Danny always seemed to do in big games for the most part (exception was vs the Falcons…same playoffs)
What if...
The Cowboys don’t fall asleep at the wheel for the first quarter of the 1994 NFC Championship? No reason to think they wouldn’t have obliterated the Chargers in the Super Bowl to make it three in a row, eventually four after 1995.
That's a good one
4 in a row would be a pretty diffciult record to eclipse in the new landscape.
"Other than that, Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play?"
You can thank Barry for that loss.
If Jimmy had stayed, there’s no way he would have allowed that to happen.
Add that one and the Jackie Smith drop against the Steelers and well
you do the math, Pittsburgh minus one, Cowboys plus two. Man they both still really sting!
What if Barry had packed his gun
And couldn’t get on the plane for that SF game? This is fun
I drink to make other people more interesting
Amen...
The game was really lost earlier in the year when we blew the game at Candlestick with Zampese’s lack of adjustments and Campo’s stupid defensive calls of not rolling coverage on Rice and leaving Larry Brown 1-on-1 with him mostly. If they win that game (which they could have), they get home field advantage and it’s possibly a different story.
But “if would’ve, could’ve…” Barry didn’t have those guys focused and prepared for either of those games.
If you really wanted to you could probably also ask, “What if free agency and the salary cap hadn’t been implemented?” Those 90’s teams were so damn loaded that even if Jimmy and Jerry still have their falling out, the streak could conceivably have been extended into the latter half of the decade.
Both.
But FA had an undeniable effect in leeching off talent, especially in the early days when they restrictions the number of free agents the most successful teams could sign. They weren’t just losing scrub backups and vets about to go on the downslide, they were losing guys in their playing prime.
by TheBlueBaron on Jul 12, 2011 2:00 PM CDT up reply actions
I think Jimmy was looking for an Exit Door anyway
The JJ stuff(Prince Bandahar on the sideline?) had built up, he was getting a little crispy and I think he just wanted to get back to S FLA. If the incident at the bar doesn’t happen, any number would have in the coming months.
I drink to make other people more interesting
what if Arizona never left the NFC East?
Each one of our teams (besides perhaps Washington) would’ve had two extra victories per season.
Get Better, Not Bitter.
by BigBlueIntervention on Jul 12, 2011 2:42 PM CDT reply actions
I could see the Cowboys, Giants, and Eagles making the playoffs every year in some fashion.
I’m assuming that would mean the realignment never happened, so that’s three Wild Card teams. Two extra wins padding the record makes it much easier to win those slots even if you lose the division crown.
by TheBlueBaron on Jul 12, 2011 3:08 PM CDT up reply actions
exactly
wouldn’t that be awesome? Playing the Skins and Cards. 4 winnable games. 4! Giants, Iggs, and ‘Boys split with each other. Each of the big 3 go 7-2. That’s great haha
Get Better, Not Bitter.
by BigBlueIntervention on Jul 12, 2011 3:43 PM CDT up reply actions
showing your age BBI!
btw, that’s somewhat untrue, since they were good enough with Warner a few years ago to make it to the Super Bowl. Warner, Fitz, and Boldin(a true NFC BEast wideout) twice a year? be careful what you wished for.
btw, to add to your what if thread, if the Cards were still in the BEast, we’d(one of our teams) would prolly hate Rolle for all the big hits and big plays he had as a Card. we might be cursing him under our breath every time he blew a coverage. that is to say, more so than we are now!
Yes, I am a Giants fan. Now that we got that out of the way....
IMPEACH DOLAN!!!!
I will not - lose! -Jay Z-
What? Arizona won the West division at 9-7, in 2008.
They went 6-0 against the West. They happened to play the NFC East that year and went 1-3! The only win was against us when they broke Romo’s finger. Hell, the foreskins beat them for Pete’s sake.
That is exactly BBI’s point. Arizona never would have made the playoffs that year if they were still in the NFC East. There is no way they would go 8-0 in the East (5 teams = 8 games a year).
AND New Orleans and Atlanta were in the West back then. Atlanta was 11-5 in 2008, so instead of being 4-0 against the West they only would have been 3-1.
They would have had to go 4-4 in the East to stay at 9-7. You think they could have done that? Giants: 0-2, Philthy: 0-2, Boys: 1-1, Skins: 1-1, equals 2-6 in the East. Give them one more win between the Boys and Skins and they are still only 3-5 in the East. Overall record: 8-8, and no playoffs.
- Formerly fan since '65.
What if
the original Texans had stayed in town and the Cowboys had left Dallas?
If at first you don't succeed - blame someone else.
Which Texans are you refering to?
Dallas Texans (Cowboys weren’t around, this team is the chiefs now)
Houston Oilers (owner moved, new stadium)
or am I missing one?
Neither case involves a true what if. Its not like the Texas, one team has to leave and they flipped acoin or something
Tony Romo 2011's League's Most Valuable Player
Bud Adams was always going the place the Oilers in Houston.
There was the team from the 50’s that played for about half a season before folding. They eventually resurfaced as the Baltimore Colts. Pretty sure Piney is referring to the new-Chiefs, though. In which case…this city and this state would probably still be mainly about college football (the Chiefs won the last AFL-NFL Super Bowl and not much else since), and the Mavs would have much greater prominence.
by TheBlueBaron on Jul 12, 2011 4:00 PM CDT up reply actions
Yup.
Was referring to the team now known as the Chiefs. Back then, there was a controversy about which team would stay in Dallas. Wasn’t a sure thing. I was just reaching for the ultimate what if, that the Cowboys were not in Dallas, and we had to root for entrierly different teams.
If at first you don't succeed - blame someone else.
oh okay
nvm did a little research I was way off. I thought the chiefs moved out of town and then came the cowboys my bad I did not know they shared the city for 3 years. oops
Its pre 1967 anyway who cares haha
Tony Romo 2011's League's Most Valuable Player
What if
Dallas had rejected having a professional football team back in 1960…
Poor guitarist seeking love....
Likes: Long walks on the beach, Candlelit dinners - Ear Melting Metal and Def Rhymes.... Preferably all at once.
What is best in life?
"To Crush your enemies, See them driven before you and to hear the lamentation of their women!"
My Cover of Metallica's Classic "Master of Puppets"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8aDckMo6-Q
And here's my Tribute to Fade to Black
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=keGjkAdbKqM
What if JJ was just the owner
Do you guys wonder why the Giants and Eagles usually do better than us since 2000.
What if JJ was just the owner and had a qualified GM to run the show.
Eventually our shortcomings would disappear.
We can only hope JG sticks around for quite some time and can basically be that guy like Reid does for Philly.
You need that GM in today’s NFL.
I'd rather him be more like bill belicheat
without the cheating of course. and without the four year playoff losing streak. But i get what you meant/.
Poor guitarist seeking love....
Likes: Long walks on the beach, Candlelit dinners - Ear Melting Metal and Def Rhymes.... Preferably all at once.
What is best in life?
"To Crush your enemies, See them driven before you and to hear the lamentation of their women!"
My Cover of Metallica's Classic "Master of Puppets"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8aDckMo6-Q
And here's my Tribute to Fade to Black
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=keGjkAdbKqM
by Nick Castillo on Jul 12, 2011 4:54 PM CDT up reply actions
What if
NFL teams put stars on the logo for each championship like soccer, instead of no indication like now? Our star could have little championship stars on each of the points it would be amazing.
I've got one!!!!
What if:
in the 2005 draft Jerry relents and Parcell takes Spears over Ware?
Here’s a theoretical play from last year: Snap. Tony takes 7 step drop. Tony looks left at Miles, who is doubled, and looks right to where Roy Williams should be…but instead sees Colombo on his back and a Defensive End foaming at the mouth jumping over Marc’s carcass. Tony proceeds to run like hell and look for Witten
-by CotySaxman on Jul 11, 2011 7:50 AM PDT
by I am Ironman!!! on Jul 12, 2011 6:13 PM CDT reply actions
I understand the point of this exercise, I do. However,
It’s a bummer that Matt Dodge gets so much blame for that play. Maybe he absolutely and totally screwed up by not kicking it out of bounds, but didn’t the Giants blow something like a 21 point lead, relatively late in the game. Sport can turn on an instance, and I think you illustrate that well OCC, with the Barron, (or even Tashard Choice/Tony Romo) play, but I hated, absolutely HATED the way the ignorant Coughlin came onto the field to berate Dodge on national television, when in reality he was probably displacing his own anger and embarrassment at himself for “coaching” his team out of a big late lead and losing the game. Let’s not even get into all the players that whiffed on the Jackson tackle. Instead, Dodge gets berated on TV. All the fans who make the comparisons between NFL players and the fans’ own jobs, to make points like, “I don’t get to work just 9 months a year,” or “They get paid millions to play a game while I work hard all day,” I would like to hear how they would deal with being humiliated by their coaches on national television, with their friends and family watching. I’m sure they’ll say that they would be okay with it if they had that salary, but research has actually demonstrated that these things are contextual, and the influence of money would eventually not be enough to counter real, normal, human emotions and needs.
(Sorry, I went off. I really hated Coughlin for that Dodge reaction).
Dodge was
the least of all the Giants who played that day to be blamed. it was a total team failure, and should have never ended up on the foot of a rook.
Yes, I am a Giants fan. Now that we got that out of the way....
IMPEACH DOLAN!!!!
I will not - lose! -Jay Z-
good article OCC
were you a fan of the old “What If…?” Marvel comics? that’s what this reminds me of.
Yes, I am a Giants fan. Now that we got that out of the way....
IMPEACH DOLAN!!!!
I will not - lose! -Jay Z-
No, I had never heard of those comics until I started writing this piece and googled “what if”, only to find a wikipedia link to the comics.
by One.Cool.Customer on Jul 13, 2011 12:53 AM CDT up reply actions
equally as brilliant
as this piece. i guess you’d be akin to “The Watchers”, the alien race who could only watch, but not interfere, and saw alternate realities where these storylines took place, and who the comic was based on. sort of like how the Crypt Keeper narrated Tales from the Crypt. i’m slipping into nerd dom, so i’ll end it there.
Yes, I am a Giants fan. Now that we got that out of the way....
IMPEACH DOLAN!!!!
I will not - lose! -Jay Z-
Turning this around a little
What if we get 2 decent Safeties in FA?
I drink to make other people more interesting
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