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inkfreq
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This is almost painful to think about....
http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/10327498/peyton-manning-no-1-draft-pick-ryan-leaf-spurned-jim-mora
According to this article, Leaf's agent concocted a plan to piss off Colt's GM Jim Irsay to ensure Ryan Leaf would not be drafted by the Colts. He even had the Chargers GM in on it, saying if the Chargers didn't agree to still draft Leaf #2, Ryan would not have pissed off Irsay, and would still be drafted #1 by the Colts.
So let's consider this twist in history for a moment.....
Looking back at the 98 draft, Peyton Manning (like his brother) told the Chargers he would not play for them if they drafted him. Eli said the same thing, and was in fact drafted by San Diego, who traded him for Phillip Rivers and picks.
So, if Ryan Leaf did in fact go to the Colts, we can safely assume a similar move by the Chargers, drafting Manning, and then trading him away.
But who had the picks and needed a QB to pull of the move?
A team with two 2nd round picks that year to package with a first maybe? How about the only team to draft a QB in the 2nd round.... Charlie Batch to the Lions?
It was rumored the Lions tried to trade away both second rounder and their first to land Peyton Manning, but the Colts said no. Is it because they suddenly didn't want Leaf? Would the Chargers, who had no chance of signing Peyton, have felt the same way? Unlikely.
So, let's just say Leaf goes #1, Peyton goes #2, and is then traded to the only team willing to give up the picks.... Detroit.
Now, does Barry Sanders retire a year later because he feels the organization isn't committed to winning?
So many what if's that it's really not worth intelligent thought. But emotionally, that shit just sucks.
Anyway... just came to mind when I read the article. Oh to have the power to go back in time and made Lead take a meeting with the Colts at the Combine, just to see what would happen from there.
http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/10327498/peyton-manning-no-1-draft-pick-ryan-leaf-spurned-jim-mora
According to this article, Leaf's agent concocted a plan to piss off Colt's GM Jim Irsay to ensure Ryan Leaf would not be drafted by the Colts. He even had the Chargers GM in on it, saying if the Chargers didn't agree to still draft Leaf #2, Ryan would not have pissed off Irsay, and would still be drafted #1 by the Colts.
So let's consider this twist in history for a moment.....
Looking back at the 98 draft, Peyton Manning (like his brother) told the Chargers he would not play for them if they drafted him. Eli said the same thing, and was in fact drafted by San Diego, who traded him for Phillip Rivers and picks.
So, if Ryan Leaf did in fact go to the Colts, we can safely assume a similar move by the Chargers, drafting Manning, and then trading him away.
But who had the picks and needed a QB to pull of the move?
A team with two 2nd round picks that year to package with a first maybe? How about the only team to draft a QB in the 2nd round.... Charlie Batch to the Lions?
It was rumored the Lions tried to trade away both second rounder and their first to land Peyton Manning, but the Colts said no. Is it because they suddenly didn't want Leaf? Would the Chargers, who had no chance of signing Peyton, have felt the same way? Unlikely.
So, let's just say Leaf goes #1, Peyton goes #2, and is then traded to the only team willing to give up the picks.... Detroit.
Now, does Barry Sanders retire a year later because he feels the organization isn't committed to winning?
So many what if's that it's really not worth intelligent thought. But emotionally, that shit just sucks.
Anyway... just came to mind when I read the article. Oh to have the power to go back in time and made Lead take a meeting with the Colts at the Combine, just to see what would happen from there.
