Undefeated - An NFL Timeline

Introduction: The Perfect Season
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    ESPN 30 for 30 Interview - Aired February 2nd, 2018 - "Undefeated"

    David Tyree: (Asked what he wished he could have done differently in Super Bowl 42) *Chuckles* I don't know. See, that's the great thing about sports. The what if factor.

    February 3rd, 2008
    University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Arizona
    1:15 left on the playclock
    3rd & 5

    Tom Coughlin glared at the field, and at his Quarterback, Eli Manning. A near interception had gotten sighs of relief from the Giants side of the field. Coughlin clenched his fist following the near-pick, as he prepared to give the play to Manning. Kevin Gilbride, the Giants' Offensive Coordinator, buzzed in his ear. Time was ticking.

    On the other side of the field, Bill Belichick, the notoriously stone-faced New England Patriots head coach, continued his ice man persona. He watched the near-pick with no expression. On the outside, Belichick's mood was setting an example for the coaches and the players: relax. We're a minute away from the perfect season. On the inside, Belichick was not as calm. The Giants had two more plays to get a touchdown, and with a minute and twenty left they had enough time. They needed a stop here that would cripple the giants, as it was obvious that they would go for it on fourth.

    Both teams lined up in formation as the play commenced. The ball was snapped, and with Manning falling back, preparing a throw. Manning knew he needed a quick throw, as the Pats Defense would be over him in seconds. He was right, as the pressure burst past the Giants' O-line. Manning could feel a Patriots defender tugging at his back. Shit. This can't be a sack. Manning escaped, barely managing to stay on his feet. Manning was stumbling though, the pressure from the Patriots assault still hitting him. He saw David Tyree open, but as he was preparing to release the ball, Patriot Linebacker Mike Vrabel hit Manning hard, and the ball came open. The Patriots scrambled for the live ball, hoping to to end the game right there, while the Giants' ran like bats out of hell, trying to keep the hope of hoisting the Lombardi Trophy alive.

    Vrabel jumped up to his feet after the Manning sack, diving on the ball, and clutching it to his chest. The Giants ran to the ball, but realized that catastrophe had happened: the Patriots had the ball. Tom Coughlin socked the air. Shit!, he screamed into his headset.

    Belichick screamed, jumping up and down. The Patriots' sideline erupted into cheers, while the Giants' stared stone cold to a sight that would be embalmed into the minds of the millions who watched the game: Eli Manning, sitting on the turf, head in his hands, his helmet off. Plaxico Burress ran to his QB, and helped him up off the field. The Patriots Offense and the Giants' defense jogged onto the field. They did battle for three more plays, with the Pats starting at the Giants 34-yard-line and whittling down tho their 1-yard-line. After New York exhausted all of their timeouts, the Patriots kneeled away the game, ending a perfect season, only the second team in NFL history to do so.
     
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    Undefeated Explained
  • Hello, what is this TL?

    Hey there, this TL is about what if the Helmet Catch that cost the then undefeated New England Patriots to lose in an upset to the wild-card New York Giants. In this TL, the catch never happens.

    Will this be a Tom Brady-Bill Belichick wank?

    No.

    Already seems like it.

    *sighs*.

    How long will it last?

    I plan on it starting at SB 42, and ending somewhere around 2020 or 2021-ish.
     
    Chapter One: Trouble at the Meadowlands
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    Giants Head Coach Tom Coughlin had the ability to upset the sports world - but just couldn't seal the deal

    From the minute Thomas Richard Coughlin stepped on the plane to fly back to New York, he knew he was in trouble.

    Coughlin was seen as a smart, safe choice for the Giants when he was hired in 2004. He had done somewhat well while coaching college, and had served under the great Bill Parcells, already making him popular with the Giants. He had served as Wide Receivers Coach for the Giants from 1988 to 1990, and during that time they had won Super Bowl 25, narrowly edging out the Buffalo Bills due to Scott Norwood's missed 47-yeard-field goal. He returned to coaching college for a short stint, and many teams desired the Parcells-mentoree to coach their team. Coughlin, always one to seek a challenge in football, waited, and he got the challenge he desired.

    It was 1995, and the NFL had granted an NFL team to Jacksonville, Florida, the largest city land-wise in the U.S, and one of the largest cities in Florida. Expansion teams never did well in their first seasons, but Wayne Weaver, the owner of the new Jacksonville Jaguars, sought to end this belief, and hired Coughlin, who had been successful at Boston College, to lead the team. His first season with the Jaguars was lackluster, giving the team a 4-12 record, and putting them at the bottom of the AFC Central Division. However, Coughlin, got to work, implementing a fast-paced, quick strike offense that had depended on Quarterback Mark Brunell and Wide Receivers Jimmy Smith and Keenan McCardell to dispatch the opposing secondary. They did just that, and while they weren't perfect, as they went 9-7, they managed to clinch a playoff seed. The Jaguars dispatched the Bills in the playoffs, marking the end of an era. Their defense suffocated John Elway and his Broncos, and reached the AFC Championship game, where Coughlin would get to face his mentor, Bill Parcells. The mentor clobbered the mentee, 20-6. Despite falling one game short to the Super Bowl, Jacksonville was excited for it's future, and saw Coughlin as the man to make the team a dynasty.

    The Jaguars would proceed to make the playoffs for the next three years in a row. They went 11-5 in both 1997 and 1998, however, fell short both years, losing to the Broncos in 1997 and the Jets in 1998.

    However, in 1999, the Jaguars were the hottest team in the NFL, finishing 14-2. Their offense was explosive, and Mark Brunell just could not be stopped. The passing game torched secondaries, and Fred Taylor made defenders sweat whenever he stepped onto the field. Defensively, the team made being on the opposing team's offense a living hell. Dom Capers, who had been specializing in defense for nearly 30 years, perfected an already fearsome Jaguars defense. In the playoffs, they thoroughly embarrassed Dan Marino, who was playing his last season. The score? 62-17. The Jaguars were on top of the world. Until they faced the Tennessee Titans, arguably their fiercest rivals.

    In what was a huge upset, the Titans ended the Jaguars' playoff hopes in the AFC Championship game, 33-14. (Some Jaguars players later alleged that D.C. Gregg Williams had stolen offensive plays, but this claim is heavily debated.)

    From 2000 to 2002, however, things began to fall apart. In 2000, crippled by severe defensive injuries, they went 7-9. In 2001, 6-10, and 2002, 6-10. Owner Wayne Weaver fired Coughlin, and a career that seemed destined for multiple titles came crashing down. He took a break for a year, wondering where it all went wrong.

    Coughlin received a chance to redeem himself, after a desperate New York Giants team came calling. in 2003, the team led them to a 4-12 record, and Coughlin had never backed a way from a challenge. Also, a desire to jump back into the sport made him want the job more. He was hired, and his first big decision was picking a Quarterback to replace Kerry Collins when the time came. He jumped at Eli Manning, the younger brother of Colts Quarterback Peyton Manning. Collins was enraged and left the team, forcing Coughlin to pick Former Super-Bowl winning St. Louis Rams player Kurt Warner for Manning to watch and learn from. After poor performances by Warner, Manning was started. Coughlin got to work, and it showed, first going 6-10 in 2004, and 11-5 in 2005. However, problems started to show again, and the giants went 8-8 in 2006. The Mara's, the family who owned the Giants, were not happy, and gave him a year year extension for the 2007 season. The message was clear: Postseason, or no more seasons for you. Coughlin widely over-performed expectations. He went 9-7, and took the team to the playoffs, upsetting every team they played in the NFC playoff race. They now had to take on the 18-0 New England Patriots, complete Offensive juggernauts, in Super Bowl 42

    The Giants fought hard, and seized on New England's weaknesses during the game. However, the just could not overcome the "3rd & 5 Meltdown", as it was now called, and have given Bill Belichick, a former colleague of Coughlin's, a fourth title with the Patriots. It was clear the Mara's wanted something different.

    ---

    On February 8th, 2008, Thomas Richard Coughlin, the 17th Head Coach of the New York Giants, met with John Mara and Steve Tisch. In a short, 15 minute meeting, Coughlin offered his resignation, effective immediately, and announced it to the world:


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    ESPN BREAKING NEWS: NEW YORK GIANTS HEAD COACH TOM COUGHLIN ANNOUNCES RESIGNATION AFTER FOUR SEASONS AT THE HELM
    This is a developing news story. Tom Coughlin has spoken to the press, and his comments are below:

    Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen, members of the press, uh, anyone watching here today. In 2004, when I was hired to be the 17th Head coach of this franchise, I made a commitment. One to restore victory and pride to this franchise. These past three or four years have been a wonderful experience, and I've been honored to be a member of this team. However, there is a standard. A standard required of coaches, coaches in this league. And while I've implemented this standard during my tenure, I've decided that it would be better if someone else, someone with different experiences and strategies than myself, lead this team. So I've decided, that effective immediately, I will be resigning as the Head Coach of the New York Giants. I'd like to thank everyone who has supported myself and this team. You make us what we are. Its truly been an honor. Thank you. No questions.
    As Tom Coughlin jumped into the Chevy Suburban leaving the Meadowlands, he looked out of the window. Yet again, he had come so close to greatness, yet was so far. He closed his eyes, leaned back, and for once, was exited to be jumping on a plane. The flight was the only certain, secure thing for Coughlin, a man who had preached sterness and certainty. He needed a break from this life, and that's what he sought from going down to Florida once again, although for a different purpose.

    ---

    The New York Giants were a rudderless ship again. Mara and Tisch were now in the same situation as before they hired Coughlin. A promising team that needed a wildly new direction. They decided that the 2008 Giants needed to be far more risky, far more aggressive than before. They decided that everything needed to be shaken up. So on February 17th, 2008, they announced General Manager Jerry Reece would not be returning for the following season. Privately, the two men had been considering letting the new Head Coach have complete control over the team, as G.M. and H.C. Speaking of the new head coach, they announced that Defensive Coordinator Steve Spagnuolo and Quarterbacks Coach Chris Palmer, along as Mara and Tisch, would be leading the search for a new Head Coach. 8 finalists had been leaked to the press by a front office source:

    Jack Del Rio (Head Coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars, 2003-)
    Rex Ryan (Defensive Coordinator, Baltimore Ravens, 2005-)
    Romeo Crennel (Head Coach of the Cleveland Browns, 2005-)
    Pete Carroll (Head Coach, USC, 2001-)
    Lane Kiffin (Head Coach of the Oakland Raiders, 2007-)
    Gregg Williams (Defensive Coordinator, Washington, Redskins, 2004-2007)
    Al Saunders (Offensive Coordinator, Washington Redskins, 2006-2007)
    Dirk Koetter (Offensive Coordinator, Jacksonville Jaguars, 2007-)

    After interviews, Ryan was noted by some as an early favorite, for his "aggressive" and "take no prisoners" form of football, that supposedly struck a cord with the team's ownership. The source was right, and on March 2nd, 2008, Rex Ashley Ryan was named as the 18th Coach of the New York Giants. He was also named as the team's General Manager/Senior V.P. in a move that showed many, as Ryan would basically have control over the New York Giants. Ryan named fellow candidates for the job Al Saunders to be his Offensive Coordinator, and Gregg Williams to be the team's Defensive Coordinator, demoting Steve Spagnuolo and Kevin Gilbride the day after he was announced to be the team's coached. Both Gilbride and Spagnuolo were enraged with Ryan, and both would be out of the organization by April of 2008. However, even his decision did not rankle fans or the Front Office. However, Rex Ryan's next move would turn heads, and was heavily debated:


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    ESPN BREAKING NEWS: GIANTS TRADE MANNING TO RAMS FOR OVERALL NUMBER TWO PICK; RAMS GET A THIRD AND FIFTH ROUND PICK IN RETURN, AS WELL AS MANNING

    March 7th, 2008; This is a developing news story

    March 7th, 2008 was a slow news day until Ryan traded Manning. The sports world was ablaze, as one sports commentator called it "The Great Trade Robbert Part Two". Tons of Giants fans were enraged, and the New York Post published a drawing of Rex Ryan, hands around Eli Manning Throat, and him stepping on the team's stadium, with bold letters proclaiming "THE BEGINNING OF THE REIGN OF KING REX THE FIRST". Ryan, who had also caught heat for hiring his brother Rob to be the Giants' Linebackers coach, didn't care about the hate he was receiving. "I honestly don't care. Either you want this team to go 13-3, or be at the bottom of the [NFC] East. I, as well as the other coaches and front office folks, know this is the right call for this organization for years to come." Despite the protests, Ryan and company continued business as usual, preparing for the 2008 NFL Draft. The dilemma? If the team was going to pick Boston College's Matt Ryan or Delaware's Joe Flacco to serve as the team's Quarterback for the upcoming year.
     
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    Chapter Two: Rex's Way
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    Rex Ryan never cared if people saw him as loud, vulgar, or eternally angry. He only cared that he was doing whatever he wanted, whenever he wanted to.

    If there was any indicator of how Rex Ryan planed to run the giants, his introductory Press conference would've been the biggest one:

    Rex Ryan Introductory Press Conference, March 2nd, 2008 - The Meadowlands, New Jersey

    Good morning, everyone, thank you for being here. January 25th, 1987. January 27th, 1991. The days the New York Giants showed the world who the premier team in this league was. In my opinion, every team has one of these days. These days are the days that define what a franchise is. As the new head coach of the New York Giants, those days are defining, as they show that this is an excellent, premier team, and should think of themselves as nothing less. To any fan out their, they may have their own day. Maybe it when we beat the 'Skins, or the 'Boys, or the Eagles. As the Head Coach of this team, I want every day, every Sunday, Monday, Thursday that we play, to be a special, cherished day for this franchise.

    It's truly an honor to be standing here, and I'm incredibly honored to become this team's head coach. I would like to thank John, Mara, any Giants fan or supporter, just for believing in me and this team. Without you, there would be team. In a way, I think as the fans of this team as my employers. And to my employers, I promise you this: a team you will continue to believe in the way you do. As coach of this team, it will be my goal to make sure this team wins games, to make sure this team wins titles, to make this team even more respected and respectable than we already are. However, we must work harder than ever before to return this team to Titletown. Excuse the pun, but we must flip up the playbook, get our players to their best ability to play the game, make the experience for the fans so that you are all happy. We must stick it to our rivals, make every defender be afraid to stop us from getting the ball into their end zone, we must make every offense fear even trying to move the pigskin. We're the Giants for a reason. We must act like the Giants of this league, we must dominate every down of football our guys play. Because that makes us this great team we are.


    To say Rex Ryan wanted to change the way things were won was an understatement. He wanted to burn Giants Stadium to the ground, and destroy everything that had been apart of the "old giants". After Ryan was hired, staff turnover at the Giants were the most of any of the 32 teams. If you didn't fit the new scheme of the team, you were out, and Ryan made clear that if one didn't, they should save themselves the time and resign ASAP. The new Giants would emphasize "bigger plays on offense, torching the secondary" and "earth-scorching defensive plays", whatever that meant. It was believed Ryan was trying to groom the team into the next 1985 Bears, completely ruthless on the field. Even thought the Giants were a 10-6, Ryan thought the team desperately needed a rebuild. For better or worse, they got it.

    Giants Off-Season Trades:
    1. Plaxico Burress: Traded to Buffalo Bills; Bills Receive Buress and a 2008 6th Round Draft and a 2010 Fourth Round Pick; Giants receive 2008 11th Overall Pick and a 2009 Second Round Pick

    2. Osi Umenyiora: Traded to Kansas City Chiefs; Chiefs receive Umenyiora and a 2009 Third Round Pick; Giants receive 2008 Fifth Overall Pick

    3. Justin Tuck: Traded to Chicago Bears; Bears receive Justin Tuck and a 2009 Fifth Round Pick; Giants receive 2008 Fourteenth Overall Pick and a 2010 Second Round Pick

    4. Eli Manning: Traded to St. Louis Rams; Rams receive Manning and 2010 Third and Fifth Round Pick; Giants receive Second Overall Pick

    New Picks for the Giants:
    2008 Second Overall Pick
    2008 Fifth Overall Pick
    2008 Eleventh Overall Pick
    2008 Fourteenth Overall Pick
    2009 Second Round Pick
    2010 Second Round Pick
    2010 Fourth Round Pick

    The NFL world was shocked. Many were dumb-founded how seemingly well Ryan and the Giants Organization had manipulated the four teams in the deal for their future, especially the Bills. Commentator and Former Dallas Cowboys Head Coach Jimmy Johnson called the Bills "The Dumbest Team in Football Today". (Who ironically organized the 1989 Herschel Walker Trade) calledThe trades were called "The Great Trade Robbery Part Three". "Ryan's Raiders" (the nickname of Ryan, his coaching staff, and his scouting staff) began to immediately scout and evaluate the 2008 draft class. In the end, the Giants chose to go with an offense in the first round:

    2008 NFL DRAFT (Picks by the Giants):
    2008 Second Overall Pick: Matt Ryan, Boston College (QB)
    2008 Fifth Overall Pick: Chris Johnson, East Carolina (RB)
    2008 Eleventh Overall Pick: Jordy Nelson, Kansas State (WR)
    2008 Fourteenth Overall Pick: Desean Jackson, California (WR)
    2008 Seventeenth Round Pick: Aqib Talib, Kansas State (CB)
    -Giants trade up to get the Seventeenth. They give up a Second and Third Round pick for this slot.
    2008 Round 2, Pick 36: Tracy Porter, Indiana (CB)
    -Giants trade up to get P2-36. They give up a Fourth and Six.

    Reaction to the Giants' trade theatrics was mixed. Some called it clever to go with an offense early, while many criticized for picking a "second-round offense" in the first. Ryan still did not let his detractors get to him, saying "We got a lotta guys who we know will perform well. We have the right trainers, and frankly, I couldn't be more prouder with the staff, and how they got this group together.

    Next Update: Postseason 2008, the reaction to the 19-0 Patriots, and more Draft Day Theatrics!


     
    Chapter Three: The Castle of Gillette
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    With 4 titles in New England, Bill Belichick could retire the day after Super Bowl XLII and be considered the greatest of all time. But at 55, Belichick was not even a quarter of the way finished.

    As the 2007 New England Patriots gathered in the steaming, sweaty locker rooms of the University of Phoenix Stadium, they no longer felt like players on a team, but living legends. They had just done what only team before them did: have the perfect season. As they Head Coach Bill Belichick walked into the room, they all started to erupt into applause and shouts of "Who's the GOAT? Bill's the GOAT!" Belichick began to laugh, and stood up on a bench to address all of his players with him. "Guys, tonight we act like champions, tomorrow we get enough sleep to make up for six months of hard work!" The room burst into laughter, and a linebacker in the back started to chant "No Days Off! No Days Off!" The room burst into laughter again, and someone popped open a Champagne bottle. They were the champions, no matter what anyone said about Spygate, or any scandal. They were elite.

    ---

    As the team bus drove back to the hotel, Bill Belichick sat in the back, headphones in, watching reruns of the Super Bowl. He watched every play, twice. While the other assistants, coaches and players were partying it up, he was at work. This was his job. He had realized long ago that all the one hit wonders of the NFL, teams that had gone 13-3 one year and won the big game, only to go 5-11 the next, were caused by pure hubris. Under him, everyday was a working day. If you want to win rings, he once told an assistant, you think about how to get to winning one whenever you can. Belichick's mind was that of a football genius, always thinking about how to perfect the art of winning the game. He could've almost been a clock: his brain always ticking about the sport. And one thought in particular had stuck with him, from 2001 to the present day: Tom Brady. and who would succeed him. For now, Brady was an elite, young enough player. He did his job. He did what was needed. But Belichick's worst fear was seeing Brady deteriorate and not detect it. His worse fear was Bray tearing his ACL at the beginning of a season, not knowing how to replace him. He knew, sooner or later, he would need to find a strong, reliable backup. One who would take over from Brady, one who would be there and ready when Brady was carried off the field on a stretcher. Belichick never told anyone of his plans, but right now one thing was his job as the Head Coach and General Manager of the New England Patriots: Find a Quarterback in the 2008 draft. Belichick had looked, quietly, stealthily, and had successfully avoided detention. And he found his guy. And after tonight, he knew he was certain. There was only one problem.

    How to stop other team's from getting to Delaware and picking Joe Flacco.

    ---

    For once, Bill Belichick was thankful for that dipshit in New York Rex Ryan. It was obvious he was drafting an offense in New York, one that could score points. He was actually somewhat surprised, Ryan being defensively minded and all. Ryan was helping Belichick, as QBs would be picked later, following Ryan's Offensive splurge. And he planned on trading up to get Flacco.

    Belichick's plan worked. He traded up with New Orleans, getting the Round One, Tenth Pick. On Draft Night, everything went according to plan. Joe Flacco was drafted, and immediately became Tom Brady's backup. Surprisingly, Brady wasn't mad with the move, and was happy to show the ropes to the rookie, who would replace him when Brady was ready to go, an idea Belichick sold to Brady. The Raiders, in desperate need of a QB after the JaMarcus Russell flop, were happy to take the experienced Cassel, giving the Patriots their 2008 Round Two Pick, and a 2009 Round One Pick.

    2008 New England Patriots Draft Picks:
    Round One, Pick 10: Joe Flacco, Delaware (QB)
    Round Two, Pick 34: Matt Forte, Tulane (RB)
    Round Two, Pick 62: Martellus Bryant, Texas A&M (TE)
    -Due to the fact that Defensive Players are picked later in the Draft due to Rex Ryan's offensive splurge Dallas decided to take advantage of this, and drafts Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, who had fallen back in the draft, as teams decided to scramble for Offensive players.
    Round Three, Pick 78: Cliff Avril, Purdue (DE)
    Round Three, Pick 94: Tyvon Branch, Connecticut (CB)
    Round Four, Pick 129: Josh Sitton, Central Florida (G)
    Round Five, Pick 153: Matthew Slater, UCLA (WR)
    Round Six, Pick 197: Bo Rudd, Nebraska (LB)
     
    Transition: 2007-2008 Offseason & 2008 Draft
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    Following the Michael Vick scandal and the incredibly disappointing 4-12, 2007 season, the Atlanta Falcons desperately needed a Quarterback. With the Patriots and Giants taking Flacco and Ryan respectively, they were left with little to no options, and in the end, picked SDSU QB Kevin O'Connell in the Fifth Round.

    (Note from the Author: Unless stated below or in the previous chapters, all picks are the
    same as IOTL):

    Baltimore: Chad Henne
    Atlanta: Kevin O'Connell
    Tampa: Antoine Cason
    Green Bay: James Hardy
    Buffalo: Donnie Avery
    St. Louis: Eddie Royal
    San Diego: Clifton Smith
    Chicago Bears: Ray Rice

    Miami Dolphins: John David Booty
    Detroit Lions: Manny Manningham
    New York Giants: Danny Amendola

    FREE AGENCY SIGNINGS:

    ARIZONA CARDINALS-Signed DE Travis LaBoy.

    ATLANTA FALCONS-Re-signed DT Tim Anderson and QBs Chris Redman and Joey Harrington. Signed K Jason Elam; RB Michael Turner. Signed DB Erik Coleman, TEs Ben Hartsock and Jason Rader, DB Von Hutchins and DT Kindal Moorehead.

    BALTIMORE RAVENS-Agreed to terms with LB Brendon Ayanbadejo and DB Frank Walker. Re-signed LB Nick Greisen

    BUFFALO BILLS-Signed TE Courtney Anderson, DT Spencer Johnson and LB Kawika Mitchell. Re-signed OT Matt Murphy and S Bryan Scott. Agreed to terms with CB William James.

    CAROLINA PANTHERS-Signed DL Tyler Brayton, CB-KR Ricardo Colclough, S Terrence Holt, RB LaBrandon Toefield, G Keydrick Vincent. Re-signed LB Donte' Curry. Agreed to terms with WR D.J. Hackett and LB Landon Johnson.

    CHICAGO BEARS-Re-signed LB Lance Briggs. Signed WRs Marty Booker and Brandon Lloyd.

    CINCINNATI BENGALS-Signed OL Stacy Andrews, LB Brandon Johnson and DE Antwan Odom. Re-signed LB Dhani Jones and P Kyle Larson. Agreed to terms with LB Darryl Blackstock and TE Ben Utecht.

    CLEVELAND BROWNS-Agreed to terms with WR Donte' Stallworth. Re-signed QB Derek Anderson, DB Gary Baxter, OL Lennie Friedman and S Nick Sorenson. Signed OL Rex Hadnot.

    DENVER BRONCOS-Signed WR Keary Colbert, LBs Boss Bailey and Niko Koutouvides, S Marlon McCree and Marquand Manuel. Re-signed DEs Ebenezer Ekuban and John Engelberger, TE Nate Jackson.

    DETROIT LIONS-Agreed to terms with DB Brian Kelly. S LB Gilbert Gardner. Re-signed RB Aveion Cason, OT George Foster and CB Keith Smith. Signed DT Chuck Darby, CB Travis Fisher, TE Michael Gaines, G Corey Hulsey and DE Corey Smith.

    GREEN BAY PACKERS-Agreed to terms with LB Brandon Chillar.

    HOUSTON TEXANS-Signed LB Kevin Bentley, RB Chris Brown, CB Jacques Reeves and LB Chaun Thompson. Re-signed TE Mark Bruener, S Will Demps, P Matt Turk, S Glenn Earl and DE N.D. Kalu.

    INDIANAPOLIS COLTS-Re-signed DE Josh Thomas.

    JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS-Signed CB Drayton Florence and DT Jimmy Kennedy. Agreed to terms with WR Jerry Porter. Re-signed OL Maurice Williams.

    KANSAS CITY CHIEFS-Signed WR Devard Darling and LB Demorrio Williams.

    MIAMI DOLPHINS-Signed S Keith Davis, DB Nathan Jones, QB Josh McCown, TE Sean Ryan, G Justin Smiley, DT Randy Starks, WR Ernest Wilford; K Dave Rayner; and LBs Charlie Andersonand Reggie Torbor. Agreed to terms with WR Tab Perry. Re-signed S Yeremiah Bell and CB Michael Lehan.

    MINNESOTA VIKINGS-Agreed to terms with WRs Bernard Berrian and Robert Ferguson, LB Dallas Sartz, FB Thomas Tapeh, S Madieu Williams and DT Ellis Wyms. Signed S Michael Boulware, RB-KR Maurice Hicks, LB Derrick Pope and CB Benny Sapp.

    NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS-Re-signed LB Tedy Bruschi, C Lonie Paxton, S Ray Ventrone, DL Mike Wright and WR Randy Moss. Signed CBs Fernando Bryant, Lewis Sanders and Jason Webster, and S Tank Williams.

    NEW ORLEANS SAINTS-Re-signed WR Devery Henderson, TEs Eric Johnson and Billy Miller, WR David Patten, LB Mark Simoneau, RB Aaron Stecker and DT Brian Young. Signed LB Dan Morgan. Agreed to terms with CB Randall Gay and DE Bobby McCray.

    NEW YORK GIANTS-Signed QB Brett Favre, LB Danny Clark and S Sammy Knight. Re-signed RB Derrick Ward.

    NEW YORK JETS-Signed RB Jesse Chatman, G Alan Faneca, TE Bubba Franks, LB Calvin Pace, FB Tony Richardson and OL Damien Woody.

    OAKLAND RAIDERS-Signed DT William Joseph and S Gibril Wilson. Agreed to terms with T Kwame Harris and WRs Drew Carter and Javon Walker. Re-signed OT Cornell Green.

    PHILADELPHIA EAGLES-Signed DE Chris Clemons, DT-FB Dan Klecko, LB Rocky Boiman, and CB Asante Samuel.

    PITTSBURGH STEELERS-Signed LB Keyaron Fox, C Justin Hartwig, and RB Mewelde Moore. Re-signed LB Andre Frazier. Agreed to terms with OL Chris Kemoeatu and OL Trai Essex.

    ST. LOUIS RAMS-Signed OL Jacob Bell and K Josh Brown. Re-signed OL Adam Goldberg. Agreed to terms with TE Anthony Becht.

    SAN DIEGO CHARGERS-Agreed to terms with QB Billy Volek.

    SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS-Signed WR Isaac Bruce, RB DeShaun Foster, WR Bryant Johnson, OT Qasim Mitchell, QB J.T. O'Sullivan, KR Allen Rossum, DE Justin Smith and LB Dontarrious Thomas.

    SEATTLE SEAHAWKS-Signed RBs T.J. Duckett and Julius Jones, and TE Jeb Putzier.

    TENNESSEE TITANS-Agreed to terms with TEs Dwayne Blakley and Alge Crumpler, DE Jevon Kearse and WR Justin McCareins. Signed OL Jake Scott. Re-signed S Donnie Nickey.

    TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS-Signed WR Antonio Bryant; S Eugene Wilson; TEs John Gilmore and Ben Troupe; C Jeff Faine; LBs Antoine Cash, Leon Joe, Tedy Lehman and Matt McCoy; and DEs Marques Douglas and Jimmy Wilkerson. Re-signed DE Kevin Carter.

    WASHINGTON REDSKINS-Re-signed OT Jason Fabini, DT Ryan Boschetti, RB-KR Rock Cartwright, QB Todd Collins and P Derrick Frost. Signed DT Matthias Askew.

    Biggest Off-Season Stories:

    Favre takes his talents to the Big Apple - Giants County Specifically

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    It was June of 2008, and Rex Ryan was in trouble.

    As practices in the Summer began, rookie QB Matt Ryan was struggling to keep up. Al Saunders and Chris Palmer were struggling to develop the Boston College First Round Draft Pick. Ryan, in a move of frustration, delegated Ryan to a 2nd String role, and had made a cal to Green Bay, Wisconsin. The reasoning? To pick up one of the greatest Quarterbacks in NFL history.

    ---

    For 38-year-old Brett Lorenzo Favre, the end of his career was here. He was a QB reaching 40, on a tea that had struggled for relevance since it's period of dominance in the late 1990s, and a successor who had been eagerly groomed, Aaron Rodgers. By the summer of 2008, it was obvious that Favre would either retire or be traded. Ted Thompson, General Manager, however, wanted the latter. He needed picks, to give new life to a Packers team that needed it. And on July 28th, 2008, news would shatter the league about a Brett Favre trade.

    REX RYAN DAILY PRESS CONFERENCE
    JULY 28TH, 2008
    COMMENTS ON POTENTIAL BRETT FAVRE TRADE

    Good Afternoon, everyone. Hope everyone is good. Other than the, a uh, bit I'm sure you've all heard sources of, it's gonna be a slow news day. I would like to confirm news of this Green Bay-Brett Favre trade. The New York Giants will be trading a 2010 Sixth Round Pick, a 2010 Fifth Round Pick, and a 2011 Fourth Round Pick for Green Bay Quarterback Brett Favre. This deal has been accepted, proposed, all the officialese. I am very proud to welcome Brett to this team, and we'll have an official Press Conference with him. I'd also like to get things clear about this Q.B. situation. Brett Favre is signing a one-year, $5 Million dollar deal with our team. He will be the Quarterback for the length of that contract. I'm gonna take 2 or 3 questions now. Are there any?

    REPORTER ONE:
    How long has this trade been in the works?

    RR:
    Not gonna comment on that one, sorry. Next?

    REPOR. 2:
    Is it true that Matt Ryan has consistently struggled with your offensive scheme, and in you practice games, have repeatedly thrown interceptions?

    RR:
    Matt has performed exceptionally for a rookie. Rookies make mistakes of course, and this franchise has full support in him. Thank you all

    (Ryan leaves, P.C. commencing.)

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    The Falcons looked to be on the up in the 2008 season. Then their top two choices for Quarterback were taken from their very eyes.

    Newly minted Atlanta Falcons Head Coach Mike Smith had high hopes for the 2008 Atlanta Falcons.

    Those hopes were crashed the night of the 2008 Draft.

    With New York going for Matt Ryan, and New England going for Joe Flacco, the Falcons' offense had been greatly gutted. Until Round Five, the front office had bitterly argued over what to do. They either had the choice of Matt Flynn or Kevin O'Connell, and after long debate, went with O'Connell. O'Connell has reportedly shown "absolutely no effort" at training camp, and one source said he's only completed 30% of attempted passes. Former Texans Q.B. and widely-considered Draft Bust David Carr has been brought in to serve as backup to O'Connell.
     
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