Deal or no deal
Back in February, when the outside world was chatting up the idea of Terrell Owens in a Denver Broncos uniform, Pro Football Hall of Famer John Elway was slamming on the brakes.
Owens wasn't the final piece to a Super Bowl title, Elway reasoned. His baggage was too vast. A few weeks later, Broncos owner Pat Bowlen had already started to back away from the prospect. Though he had once suggested the Broncos would be interested in taking a look at the troubled Eagles wideout, the more real the prospect became, the less certain Bowlen sounded. And by the time Owens was released in March, practically the entire franchise had dug in its heels in hesitation.
Seven months later, it might have been the best thing to happen to the Broncos this season.
Playing master surgeons, dissecting all the moves that have shaped the postseason landscape, has become fans' and the media's favorite midseason habit in the NFL. But rarely does anyone consider that sometimes building a Super Bowl team is about avoiding the wrong moves. And as evidenced by Denver's "Say No to T.O." campaign this offseason – which kept the door open for the acquisition of Javon Walker – preventing bad acquisitions can be the difference between pacing your division and struggling to keep the franchise together.
You have to believe Bowlen, coach Mike Shanahan and even quarterback Jake Plummer wiped their brows this season, as they watched Owens' latest mini-series unfold in Dallas. Whether it was the dropped balls, the lingering hamstring injury, the "was-it-or-wasn't-it-a-suicide-attempt" drama, the oversleeping or typical melodramatic complaining during games, Owens turned out to be everything the offseason warning label advertised. In contrast, Walker has done little more than soldier on despite Plummer's struggles, averaging 17.8 yards per catch and putting up Pro Bowl numbers.
With Denver (7-2) tied for the AFC West lead, and the offense still working out kinks, not bringing Owens aboard was the No. 1 move not made this offseason.
Here's a look at nine other decisions that could have shaped NFL teams, but ultimately never happened:
2. The Baltimore Ravens firing coach Brian Billick
After missing the playoffs three out of four seasons and seeing Baltimore's offense consistently struggle over the last few years, few would have batted an eye if Ravens owner Steve Biscotti had let Billick go. Instead, an ultimatum was thrown down: get it done this season, or else. The response? Billick didn't waste any time trying to work out a trade for quarterback Steve McNair in the offseason, finally ditching his insistence on sticking with pet project Kyle Boller. But it wasn't until last month that Billick showed he could make the toughest decision of all – parting ways with longtime friend and offensive coordinator Jim Fassel when the Ravens were struggling to score points and the coaching staff appeared on the verge of fracturing. Since then, the Ravens have gone 3-0 and averaged a respectable 22.3 points per game on offense. Running back Jamal Lewis has showed signs of life since having a fullback put in front of him, and wide receivers Mark Clayton and Derrick Mason have played pivotal roles at critical moments.
3. The San Diego Chargers firing coach Marty Schottenheimer
Had he not received a vote of confidence from the Spanos family, it's likely Schottenheimer would have been sent packing last offseason. Particularly after the acrimony that developed in his relationship with general manager A.J. Smith. But the Chargers stuck with Schottenheimer for one more season, even after letting quarterback Drew Brees go and strapping him with what – at the time – looked like the equivalent of a rookie quarterback in Philip Rivers. Thus, the team didn’t have to learn a new system or deal with the uncertainty that a new head coach typically brings. In turn, Schottenheimer has kept the team focused despite some swirling issues (the arrest of safety Terrence Kiel, the shooting of linebacker Steve Foley and the suspension of linebacker Shawne Merriman). And even though there have been times where "Martyball" has surfaced (the loss to Baltimore early in the season), Schottenheimer has also attempted to stay away from conservative play calling that lets games slip away (he called seven pass plays late in Sunday's win over Cincinnati when San Diego was clinging to a 42-41 lead).
4. The New York Jets cutting quarterback Chad Pennington
It appeared certain last February that the Jets would cut Pennington rather than eat $9 million in salary for a player who appeared to be one shoulder injury from calling it a career. But the Jets worked with Pennington and agent Tom Condon to find a mutually beneficial deal which reduced Pennington's salary to $3 million, while giving Pennington a chance to earn back some of his money via incentives. What's even better for Pennington, some of the pressure points in the deal could push both sides back to the bargaining table before the 2007 season. Whether that happens remains to be seen, but the Jets aren't regretting the decision to bring Pennington back right now. Aside from two bad games (in losses to Jacksonville and Cleveland), Pennington has been efficient and productive all season long. And he's done so while playing behind an offensive line that is still growing and a running game that has been largely mediocre. At the very least, the Jets have bought themselves a year of staying in the thick of the playoff race and some valuable learning time on the sidelines for rookie quarterback Kellen Clemens.
5. The Chicago Bears outbidding Washington for wide receiver Antwaan Randle El
In March, it looked like Randle El was set to return to his hometown of Chicago after the Bears offered him a six-year, $18 million deal, along with an $8 million signing bonus. But the Redskins came with something even more ludicrous – six years, $31 million and a $10 million bonus. The Bears weren't interested in touching those figures and Randle El landed in Washington, where he's been little more than another Redskins free agent bust. However, Chicago's fortune was less about staying away from a player who was getting overpaid and more about leaving room for some growth from players already on the roster. Had Randle El come aboard, it's highly unlikely Bernard Berrian would have gotten the looks he did in the preseason, and even more unlikely he would have developed into Rex Grossman's favorite big-play target when healthy. While Randle El has been catching passes at a meager 9.3 yards per reception, Berrian has been averaging 18.3 and looking like the Bears' long-term No. 1.
6. Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre retiring
For a long time, it looked as if Favre was ready to pack it in this offseason, particularly after his admission that he didn't know if he wanted the football in pressure situations. But that mindset couldn't seem further from reality now. While his decision to return to the NFL looked like a nightmare after a 1-4 start, Favre has lit a fire under the Packers over the last month (in which Green Bay has gone 3-1). Most impressive during that span, Favre has thrown six touchdowns and only two interceptions, despite an uncertain backfield, an injury-depleted wide receiving corps and an offensive line that is still finding its way. Yes, he's on pace for his lowest completion percentage since 1999, but there's talk from head coach Mike McCarthy that he'd like to have Favre back in 2007. And while some think it's merely lip-service being paid to an aging legend, it's not inconceivable that Favre could stick around a little bit longer. Particularly if he's having fun, which appears to be the case.
7. The San Diego Chargers re-signing Drew Brees
Sound crazy? Yes, it's hard to believe that we can look back and call the decision to let Brees walk a good one. But it was considering all the factors. First, people who look at Brees and say he got away for nothing are incorrect. In fact, the Chargers are expecting to get a third-round pick from the league in compensation for Brees' departure in free agency. That’s only slightly less than what Minnesota got for Daunte Culpepper in trade (second round, 51st overall). But beyond the compensation aspect, Chargers general manager A.J. Smith was right to be confident in what he had in young backup Philip Rivers. Rivers has not only stepped in and put up a 100.3 passer rating through nine games, but he has made a seamless transition into a leadership role. Would the Chargers still be one of the AFC's Super Bowl favorites with Brees still on board? Yes. But by making the decision to let him go, the Chargers have jumpstarted the inevitable transition to Rivers, and finally moved on from the awkward debate that hung over the franchise all of 2005.
8. The Jacksonville Jaguars trading quarterback David Garrard
OK, so this is a default pick. Jacksonville was never highly motivated to deal Garrard in the offseason. But make no mistake, the franchise was prepared to listen to offers. Had it not been for head coach Jack Del Rio coming out last February and making it known that Garrard would command a healthy trade ransom, he likely would have drawn more interest. But in the end, Jacksonville's decision to keep Garrard off the block proved to be the best one. Over the past three games as a starter, his mobility has given Jacksonville's offense a wrinkle that it lacked with cement-footed Byron Leftwich. And had it not been for the massive failings of his wideouts on Sunday against Houston (Matt Jones bungling two catches that turned into interceptions, and Reggie Williams dropping a touchdown), Garrard would be 3-0 since taking over for Leftwich. Sitting at 3-3 and in a rut with Leftwich, Garrard has given the Jaguars a spark. How long it lasts is anyone's guess.
9. The St. Louis Rams re-signing Adam Archuleta
There was a time last February when defensive coordinator Jim Haslett and new coach Scott Linehan made a point of complimenting Archuleta, leading most to believe the Rams would push to re-sign him. But the Redskins and their $10 million in guaranteed money made that a pipedream. Considering Archuleta's shortcomings in coverage, it was a deal that made most in the league wince. And now we know why. Not only has the coverage improved in the Rams' secondary, Archuleta has been a washout with the Redskins. Whether it's because he can't pick up the defensive complexities of Washington's system, or simply due to his own limitations, Archuleta has been a huge liability in pass coverage. So much so, the Redskins went out and signed an aging Troy Vincent to replace him. Only a few months after signing the richest deal for a safety in the history of the NFL, Archuleta has become one of the highest-priced special teams players in history.
10. The Bears drafting a tight end
After back-to-back mediocre seasons, it looked like Desmond Clark's days as a Pro Bowl tight end had come and gone. And when the NFL draft rolled around, it appeared to be a sure bet that Chicago would take a stab at a tight end in what was a relatively strong class of prospects at the position. Even Clark seemed to be resigned to the idea, diplomatically calling such a move a "logical" decision a few weeks before the draft. But Chicago didn't make the move, instead giving Clark a de facto vote of confidence at the position. That decision turned out to be the best move possible. Clark took that gesture of faith and used a healthy offseason to get himself into the best shape of his playing career. In turn, he looked faster and quicker in training camp and surfaced as one of quarterback Grossman's favorite – and reliable – early targets. Nine games into the season, Clark is on pace for the best numbers of his career (he's got 431 receiving yards and four touchdowns), and looks like an eventual shoo-in for the Pro Bowl.
