As most NFL fans know, Pittsburgh had one of its worst seasons in the 2003 NFL season, going 4-12. However, it turned out to be a blessing in disguise, because, in the 2004 draft, Eli Manning infamously refused to play for the San Diego Chargers, who had the rights to Manning in the draft. So, Pittsburgh offered up their first round draft pick and WR Plaxico Burress to the Chargers in exchange for Manning. The Chargers agreed to the trade.
Now, the Chargers would use their draft pick to pick QB Ben Rothelisberger; after Rothelisberger was picked, he would be named the starting QB after Drew Brees was allowed to go to Miami in the 2005 season. Rothelisberger and Burress would lead the Chargers to Super Bowl XLII, winning against the New York Giants with Philip Rivers. Then came the disastrous 2008 season, with the derailment of both Rothelisberger's and Burress' careers (Rothelisberger would be accused of sexual assault by two women--while he would be acquitted, he was suspended by the Chargers after the allegations surfaced, and hasn't been the same player since; Burress, meanwhile, would have his career end after he shot himself in the knee).
Meanwhile, Pittsburgh would get the better end of the deal, with Eli Manning winning Super Bowls XL, XLIII, XLV, XLVII, and XLVIII (though some would argue that the latter two were due to the "Steel Defense" led by Richard Sherman, et. al.), and having more Super Bowl wins than his brother Peyton (and, indeed, Terry Bradshaw and the 1970s Steelers), not to mention beating both his brother and Tom Brady in numerous playoff appearances...
So, WI Pittsburgh had won the two games it nearly did IOTL--these were a Week 2 loss against Cincinnati and a Week 12 loss against the Cleveland Browns? If this butterflies away the Manning trade to Pittsburgh,who do the Chargers trade with, and does this butterfly away their win in Super Bowl XLII? Many think that win is the reason the Chargers are still in San Diego today...
I don't consider this a bad trade, IMO, because the Chargers got several playoff appearances and one Super Bowl out of it...
Now, the Chargers would use their draft pick to pick QB Ben Rothelisberger; after Rothelisberger was picked, he would be named the starting QB after Drew Brees was allowed to go to Miami in the 2005 season. Rothelisberger and Burress would lead the Chargers to Super Bowl XLII, winning against the New York Giants with Philip Rivers. Then came the disastrous 2008 season, with the derailment of both Rothelisberger's and Burress' careers (Rothelisberger would be accused of sexual assault by two women--while he would be acquitted, he was suspended by the Chargers after the allegations surfaced, and hasn't been the same player since; Burress, meanwhile, would have his career end after he shot himself in the knee).
Meanwhile, Pittsburgh would get the better end of the deal, with Eli Manning winning Super Bowls XL, XLIII, XLV, XLVII, and XLVIII (though some would argue that the latter two were due to the "Steel Defense" led by Richard Sherman, et. al.), and having more Super Bowl wins than his brother Peyton (and, indeed, Terry Bradshaw and the 1970s Steelers), not to mention beating both his brother and Tom Brady in numerous playoff appearances...
So, WI Pittsburgh had won the two games it nearly did IOTL--these were a Week 2 loss against Cincinnati and a Week 12 loss against the Cleveland Browns? If this butterflies away the Manning trade to Pittsburgh,who do the Chargers trade with, and does this butterfly away their win in Super Bowl XLII? Many think that win is the reason the Chargers are still in San Diego today...
I don't consider this a bad trade, IMO, because the Chargers got several playoff appearances and one Super Bowl out of it...
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