By Scott
In an experimental new segment for the blog, we're going to investigate the 'What ifs?' of sports and the ramifications that would ensue certain events. We'll try to break it down year by year and follow the players, coaches, and cultures affected.
For the inaugural 'What If?' I'll look into the career of Tom Brady, the Cinderella quarterback everyone forgot about until the Patriots swooped him up in with the 199th pick of the 2000 NFL Draft. 10 years and 3 Super Bowl Rings later, the teams who held those first 198 picks wish they could have another chance to draft Mr. Bundchen. Now, we'll see what would have happened if another organization had decided to pick Tom Brady before the Patriots could, and the chain of events that would follow.
So, bear with me, as the reaction gets extremely complex. Here we go.....
It's the 2000 NFL Draft. New England Patriot's new head coach, Bill Belichick, sits in the Patriot's war room amongst a crowd of chatting scouts and executives. Belichick is discretely keeping his eye on the draft status of former Michigan Quarterback Tom Brady. Brady stands at an eye-catching 6'4", but is otherwise lanky and shapeless. And after running the slowest 40-yard dash at the 2000 NFL Scouting Combine, Brady isn't on the radar of many NFL teams. Belichick cracks a rare smirk as he sees countless, clueless franchises pass on the kid he believes will be the next Joe Montana. Now assured that Brady will fall to his team with the 199th pick of the draft, Belichick exchanges a nod to Scott Pioli, the Patriot's V.P. of Player Personnel, who is thinking the exact same thing. As a Patriot's executive dials Brady's phone number to inform him that he has been selected by the New England Patriots, Belichick's face turns from reserved enthusiasm to pure shock. The message rolls across the television screen: 'Pick 196: Jacksonville Jaguars: Tom Brady, QB, Michigan' .
2001 NFL Season
Brady remains shoved to the side of the Jaguar's roster as Brunell's job is still no danger. Hoping to rebound from a disappointing 2000 season, the Jags center training camp around their starters. While Brady shows mild progress, Jacksonville's coaching staff is nowhere near as competent as Belichick's, and the Jags leave Brady as a backup and label him a project.
The Patriot's roster has seen solid overall improvement since 2000. Although the additions of RB Antowain Smith and WR David Patten fly under the radar, they fit perfectly into the Patriot's offensive scheme. And after giving franchise quarterback Drew Bledsoe a record $103 million contract, the pieces were in place for the Patriots to make a run. However, disaster strikes the team in their Week 2 matchup against the New York Jets. Drew Bledsoe takes a vicious hit to the ribs in an attempt to scramble out of bounds, causing internal bleeding. As Bledsoe is rushed to the hospital, a blindsided Belichick is forced to put 3rd year backup Michael Bishop in the game. Bishop, re-signed by the Patriots during the offseason, earned his way into the 2nd string quarterback role, but is not prepared to take over as a starter. The team's morale and hopes are crushed, as are their hopes of a championship.
With the Patriots absent from the playoffs, the Seattle Seahawks (then in the AFC West), take the last wildcard spot. Posing little threat, the Seahawks are eliminated in the first round, anyway. Then, instead of the infamous "Tuck Rule Game", the Oakland Raiders cruise by the Miami Dolphins and meet up with the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC Championship Game. Though the Steelers boast arguably the best run-stuffing defense in the league, the Raiders' pass-happy offense convert on their limited opportunities to score on Pittsburgh. Oakland's defense, led by Charles Woodson, contain Jerome Bettis and Plaxico Burress as Oakland upsets the home-favored Steelers.
Super Bowl 36: Raiders vs. Rams: The Rams enter Super Bowl XXXVI as heavy favorites over the outmatched Raiders. The 'Greatest Show on Turf' torches the Raiders secondary, as Kurt Warner eclipses 500 yards passing and is named the game's MVP, breaking virtually every Super Bowl passing record in the process. The Raiders aren't fast enough to play with St. Louis' young secondary or keep up with their high octane offense, and the Rams annihilate the Raiders, 48-13.
2002 NFL Season
After another disappointing season, the Jaguars are on regressing rapidly. With Brunell's numbers steadily declining, what may be Brady's only chance to capture the starting job is now. However, with the team transitioning into a run-first offense with emerging start Fred Taylor, Coughlin drafts LSU QB David Garrard who plays a accurate, protect the ball at all costs type of game. Garrard's natural fit for the offense puts him ahead of Brady on the depth chart. With Brady's contract expiring in 2003, he is at his nerves' end with Coughlin and the organization.
With Bledsoe back in control of the Patriot's offense, the team comes into '02 as a sleeper. However, New England runs away with the AFC East and knock off a young Indianapolis Colts team to advance to the divisional round. But, under Bledsoe, the Patriot's offense lacks a spark and rely on their defense to hold teams to low scores. New England is blown out by Oakland and with a championship caliber team around him, Bledsoe starts to feel some heat from the fan base and media.
After beating up the Pats, the Raiders still meet up the Tennessee Titans in AFC Championship
Oakland cruises by and make their second straight Super Bowl appearance.
In a rematch of the 1999 NFC Championship, the defending champion St. Louis Rams take on the Tampa Bay Bucs. (Remember, the Rams actually fell apart in 2002 after losing to the Patriots in SB 36; however, with a victory in SB 36, St. Louis comes out cocky and rolls through the 2002 season to the NFC Championship) St. Louis doesn't take Tampa seriously, believing they will easily outscore the defensive-minded Bucs. Playing the no respect card, Tampa Bay comes out of the gate and crush the Rams with their fiery defense. Brad Johnson plays his best game of the season, exposing a mediocre Rams secondary, and the Bucs advance to the first Super Bowl in franchise history.
Super Bowl 37: Oakland's aging offense realizes this is their last chance at a ring, and after suffering through a national embarrassment in Super Bowl 37, the Raiders come into the game with a chip on their shoulder. Add on the fact that coach Jon Gruden left the team for the Bucs this season, and the Raiders have some serious motivation. However, Tampa Bay showcases one of the best defenses in NFL history and they lock down the Raider's aerial attack. The Buc's offense struggles to put points on the board, but they sneak away with a 21-16 win and a Super Bowl ring. The Raiders fall apart, and the career of many of their stars including Rich Gannon and Tim Brown fall into oblivion.
2003 NFL Season
With a coaching change about to take place in Jacksonville, Brady opts not to re-sign with the Jaguars
and instead signs with the New York Giants. But, Brady has more than football on his mind with this decision. In Jacksonville's 2002 week 9 game in the Meadowlands, Brady is spotted by a modeling mogul from the crowd. He approaches Brady after the game and tells him he should drop football for an entertainment career. Of course, Tom can't give up his true love, so he finds the best of both worlds and signs a 1-year deal with the Giants, which allows him to be in New York and pursue a modeling career.
Somehow, this happened even though Brady was drafted by the Patriots..
Part 2 (and the rest of 2003) coming over the weekend.
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