Professional Football Researchers Association Forum

Gale Sayers what-ifs:
What if he had signed with the Kansas City Chiefs in 1965?
(How does it effect the AFL in '65 and/or SB I in '66?)

The Bears had the third and fourth draft picks in round one and drafted Dick Butkus (3) and Sayers (4) with those picks.
The Giants drafted first and took Tucker Frederickson. The Niners went second and drafted Ken Willard.

Why? Is it because both Frederickson and Willard were white (it was 1965)?
What would the NFL have been like if either NY or SF had drafted Sayers instead?

JuggernautJ wrote:Gale Sayers what-ifs:
What if he had signed with the Kansas City Chiefs in 1965?
(How does it effect the AFL in '65 and/or SB I in '66?)

The Bears had the third and fourth draft picks in round one and drafted Dick Butkus (3) and Sayers (4) with those picks.
The Giants drafted first and took Tucker Frederickson. The Niners went second and drafted Ken Willard.

Why? Is it because both Frederickson and Willard were white (it was 1965)?
What would the NFL have been like if either NY or SF had drafted Sayers instead?

In 1965 teams wanted the big back,ala Brown and also Taylor.

The previous year the Giants drafted Matt Snell who is not white. Snell signed with the Jets.

SixtiesFan wrote:

JuggernautJ wrote:Gale Sayers what-ifs:
What if he had signed with the Kansas City Chiefs in 1965?
(How does it effect the AFL in '65 and/or SB I in '66?)

The Bears had the third and fourth draft picks in round one and drafted Dick Butkus (3) and Sayers (4) with those picks.
The Giants drafted first and took Tucker Frederickson. The Niners went second and drafted Ken Willard.

Why? Is it because both Frederickson and Willard were white (it was 1965)?
What would the NFL have been like if either NY or SF had drafted Sayers instead?

In 1965 teams wanted the big back,ala Brown and also Taylor.

The previous year the Giants drafted Matt Snell who is not white. Snell signed with the Jets.

According to the 1964 episode of NFL Network's Caught in the Draft, that was a pivotal signing for the AFL that led to the league getting a contract with NBC (and Joe Namath).

What if the Raiders had traded Randy Moss to the Packers for Aaron Rodgers? Does the Pats 16-0 season happen? Is Rodgers still a legend in woebegone Oakland? Do the Pack find another great QB to sling Moss the ball?

JameisLoseston wrote:What if the Raiders had traded Randy Moss to the Packers for Aaron Rodgers? Does the Pats 16-0 season happen? Is Rodgers still a legend in woebegone Oakland? Do the Pack find another great QB to sling Moss the ball?

I don't see Rodgers lasting for long in Oakland. He wouldn't put up with that dysfunction and force his way out

sheajets wrote:

JameisLoseston wrote:What if the Raiders had traded Randy Moss to the Packers for Aaron Rodgers? Does the Pats 16-0 season happen? Is Rodgers still a legend in woebegone Oakland? Do the Pack find another great QB to sling Moss the ball?

I don't see Rodgers lasting for long in Oakland. He wouldn't put up with that dysfunction and force his way out

Have to remember he was in no position to negotiate any such maneuver at the time. This was before 2007 season and we're talking about Aaron "Brett Favre's bust backup" Rodgers, not Aaron Rodgers, the baaaaaaad man that he is.

JameisLoseston wrote:What if the Raiders had traded Randy Moss to the Packers for Aaron Rodgers? Does the Pats 16-0 season happen? Is Rodgers still a legend in woebegone Oakland? Do the Pack find another great QB to sling Moss the ball?

The 2007 Raiders went 4-12 with Josh McCown, JaBustus, and a declining Daunte Culpepper at QB. They lost six games by seven points or less. Justin Fargas was their leading rusher with 1,009 yards, but their leading WR (Ronald Curry) only had 55 catches.

In this different timeline, they would have A-Rod at QB with Calvin Johnson (more than likely) as their #1 WR, which would probably lead to four more wins (they only had the 26th rated scoring D that was last in rushing). That puts them down to 18th in the first round, and they probably end up drafting CJ2K since Al likes the speed element. I can also see them winning 9-10 games and taking the West by default (before getting beaten by Indy in the WC game).

Then, in 09, if they can still get Seymour for NE, and draft Clay Matthews, Jr with their lower draft position (a 10-win season would have put them around the 21st position in the 09 first round), they can contend for the next few years with those guys, A-Rod, Calvin, and CJ2K.

7DnBrnc53 wrote:

JameisLoseston wrote:What if the Raiders had traded Randy Moss to the Packers for Aaron Rodgers? Does the Pats 16-0 season happen? Is Rodgers still a legend in woebegone Oakland? Do the Pack find another great QB to sling Moss the ball?

The 2007 Raiders went 4-12 with Josh McCown, JaBustus, and a declining Daunte Culpepper at QB. They lost six games by seven points or less. Justin Fargas was their leading rusher with 1,009 yards, but their leading WR (Ronald Curry) only had 55 catches.

In this different timeline, they would have A-Rod at QB with Calvin Johnson (more than likely) as their #1 WR, which would probably lead to four more wins (they only had the 26th rated scoring D that was last in rushing). That puts them down to 18th in the first round, and they probably end up drafting CJ2K since Al likes the speed element. I can also see them winning 9-10 games and taking the West by default (before getting beaten by Indy in the WC game).

Then, in 09, if they can still get Seymour for NE, and draft Clay Matthews, Jr with their lower draft position (a 10-win season would have put them around the 21st position in the 09 first round), they can contend for the next few years with those guys, A-Rod, Calvin, and CJ2K.

Rodgers, Megatron and CJ2K... dear God. That team could have been a dynasty for a few years in the late 2000s-early 2010s. Just Win Baby

What would the NFL have been like if either NY or SF had drafted Sayers instead?

I don't know about the Giants, but if those early-70's 49er teams had a guy like Sayers (provided he stays healthy), you have to assume that they get by the Cowboys in either 1970 and/or 71 and win a ring.

What if George Allen stays with the Rams? 1971 and '72 would have been better but once Knox got their in 1973 I dont see how Allen improves over that.
However the Redskins more than likely would have continued being a garbage team. Harland Svare maybe moves up from DC to HC. And no Cowboy-Redskin rivalry.