alternatehistory.com
2004 Off-season/Draft
A little down time at the office gave me some time to write - don't tell my boss 
A few massive changes, especially with the quarterbacks at the top of the 2004 Draft.
As always, thanks for reading/liking/commenting!
2004 Off-Season/Draft
Lovie Smith’s promotion from defensive coordinator to head coach was long overdue. He probably should have been hired an off-season or two ago. But better late than never right? New Orleans tabbed Smith to be their head man, hoping that his defensive acumen combined with the still-effective Drew Bledsoe would help march the Saints back into the playoffs. Armed with a top five pick in the upcoming draft the arrow was pointing up for New Orleans.
There were rumblings out of Chicago that the Bears were looking to fire Dick Jauron and hire Smith themselves, but they couldn’t fire a coach who led his team to the playoffs for the second time in three seasons, no matter how they got there. Jauron’s job was safe for 2004 but to say his position was shaky going into the upcoming season was an understatement.
Saint Louis had two years left on Kurt Warner’s contract, but instead of trading him like New England did Drew Bledsoe a few years ago and handing the car keys to Marc Bulger, they decided to keep Warner as a backup.
I’m glad we decided to keep Kurt. Him being on the roster makes me a better player and a better person too – plus our wives like each other and anything that keeps the wife happy keeps me happy! Marc Bulger to St. Louis radio station KMOX, May 2004
After the Steve Spurrier experiment failed and the coach went back to the college ranks (he landed at Alabama), the Redskins were also in the market for a new coach. They tried to get retired legend Joe Gibbs back on the sideline but he begged off, citing responsibilities with his NASCAR team and how happy he was in retirement. Washington settled on former Jaguars head coach Tom Coughlin, who had been the target of their division rivals in New York. The Giants hired Norv Turner.
The draft was projected to be quarterback heavy at the top. Several of the players picked at the top went on to have very successful careers. New Orleans had the first overall pick and ran to the podium to choose Eli Manning – son of Saints legend Archie Manning. It wasn’t just a nostalgia pick either – Eli was the consensus top quarterback and incumbent Drew Bledsoe only had one year remaining on his contract. The plan was for Eli to sit and learn and take over from 2005 going forward.
New York paired NC State quarterback Philip Rivers with their offensively-minded new head coach. Washington took Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona took Sean Taylor, and Oakland drafted Kellen Winslow to pair with promising second-year player Charles Rogers in the passing game. The Cowboys made a trade on draft day when a bad combine performance caused Ben Roethlisberger to slide down the draft board. He was sitting there at #19 when Dallas traded next year’s first rounder (either theirs or Oakland’s, depending on the swap from when Gruden was traded to Dallas) and two future second round picks for the Miami of Ohio standout.
I couldn’t believe a player of his caliber was still sitting there. Who cares if he had a bad combine – we’re not asking him to bench press or run a 40, we’re asking him to win football games. This guy knows how to win! Jon Gruden, head coach of the Cowboys, to ESPN at the draft.
Later in the draft, Philly took defensive end Will Smith, Chicago took halfback Steven Jackson, Minnesota nabbed Vince Wilfork, and New England took Jonathan Vilma. The stage was set for the 2004 season.
A few massive changes, especially with the quarterbacks at the top of the 2004 Draft. As always, thanks for reading/liking/commenting!
2004 Off-Season/Draft
Lovie Smith’s promotion from defensive coordinator to head coach was long overdue. He probably should have been hired an off-season or two ago. But better late than never right? New Orleans tabbed Smith to be their head man, hoping that his defensive acumen combined with the still-effective Drew Bledsoe would help march the Saints back into the playoffs. Armed with a top five pick in the upcoming draft the arrow was pointing up for New Orleans.
There were rumblings out of Chicago that the Bears were looking to fire Dick Jauron and hire Smith themselves, but they couldn’t fire a coach who led his team to the playoffs for the second time in three seasons, no matter how they got there. Jauron’s job was safe for 2004 but to say his position was shaky going into the upcoming season was an understatement.
Saint Louis had two years left on Kurt Warner’s contract, but instead of trading him like New England did Drew Bledsoe a few years ago and handing the car keys to Marc Bulger, they decided to keep Warner as a backup.
I’m glad we decided to keep Kurt. Him being on the roster makes me a better player and a better person too – plus our wives like each other and anything that keeps the wife happy keeps me happy! Marc Bulger to St. Louis radio station KMOX, May 2004
After the Steve Spurrier experiment failed and the coach went back to the college ranks (he landed at Alabama), the Redskins were also in the market for a new coach. They tried to get retired legend Joe Gibbs back on the sideline but he begged off, citing responsibilities with his NASCAR team and how happy he was in retirement. Washington settled on former Jaguars head coach Tom Coughlin, who had been the target of their division rivals in New York. The Giants hired Norv Turner.
The draft was projected to be quarterback heavy at the top. Several of the players picked at the top went on to have very successful careers. New Orleans had the first overall pick and ran to the podium to choose Eli Manning – son of Saints legend Archie Manning. It wasn’t just a nostalgia pick either – Eli was the consensus top quarterback and incumbent Drew Bledsoe only had one year remaining on his contract. The plan was for Eli to sit and learn and take over from 2005 going forward.
New York paired NC State quarterback Philip Rivers with their offensively-minded new head coach. Washington took Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona took Sean Taylor, and Oakland drafted Kellen Winslow to pair with promising second-year player Charles Rogers in the passing game. The Cowboys made a trade on draft day when a bad combine performance caused Ben Roethlisberger to slide down the draft board. He was sitting there at #19 when Dallas traded next year’s first rounder (either theirs or Oakland’s, depending on the swap from when Gruden was traded to Dallas) and two future second round picks for the Miami of Ohio standout.
I couldn’t believe a player of his caliber was still sitting there. Who cares if he had a bad combine – we’re not asking him to bench press or run a 40, we’re asking him to win football games. This guy knows how to win! Jon Gruden, head coach of the Cowboys, to ESPN at the draft.
Later in the draft, Philly took defensive end Will Smith, Chicago took halfback Steven Jackson, Minnesota nabbed Vince Wilfork, and New England took Jonathan Vilma. The stage was set for the 2004 season.
- Curtain Jerker
- Word Count: 650