Injuries that changed the course of a franchise

[GameBeforeTheMoney]

Simply speaking in terms of if Staubach didn't have the concussion issues -- and I'm also a huge fan of Roger -- I'm not so sure they would have beaten Philadelphia in 1980. I do think had a great chance to defeat San Francisco with Roger...same with Washington in the strike year but eventually his age would have had to start showing....

[racepug]

Another thing to remember was that the Redskins always seemed to have Randall’s number.

If you look back at the '80s Los Gigantes generally got the better of the 'skins, the 'skins generally got the better of the "Iggles," and the "Iggles" generally got the better of Los Gigantes, at least in terms of head-to-head competition. The Cardinals were rarely a factor (at least as far as I remember) and the N.F.C. entry based in Texas - even though it was clearly in decline during that decade - still, somehow, managed to spring a few upset victories over its division rivals (for instance, that team's only win in 1989 came against. . .Washington, which was smack-dab in-between its last two S.B. championships).

[Hail Casares]

A healthy Jim McMahon in 1986 through 1988 maybe gets the Bears another SuperBowl victory.

Always hate this narrative as a Bears fan. McMahon was terrible in 1986 and even when he came back in subsequent seasons he was terrible in the playoffs.

[racepug]

A healthy Jim McMahon in 1986 through 1988 maybe gets the Bears another SuperBowl victory.

Always hate this narrative as a Bears fan. McMahon was terrible in 1986 and even when he came back in subsequent seasons he was terrible in the playoffs.

My guess is that Buddy Ryan's departure had more to do with the Bears not being able to win any more S.B.s during that time. What do Bears fans think?

[Brian wolf]

Getting thrown on his shoulder by Charles Martin didnt exactly help MadMac in 1986 and having a 14-0 lead disappear against the Redskins in the 1987/88 playoffs might have been his last chance at a championship.
Even a good game by McMahon wouldnt have beaten a red hot combo of Montana-to-Rice in the 1988/89 NFC Championship game.

[IrishJimmy]

Agree on Jones. The Colts drafts got worse after Thomas was fired as GM.

[ShinobiMusashi]

Willie Roaf in 2001 had a huge impact on the Houston Texans franchise. He was put up on the expansion draft by the Saints, then some kind of funny business with the NFL or the Saints or both but they had to pull him due to that injury in 2001. Maybe he failed a physical or something but Houston went with Tony Boselli instead. Boselli never plays a down for the team and we have offensive line issues for the first 8-9 years of the team's existence, including our rookie franchise QB they attempted to build around getting sacked an NFL record amount of times in 2 different seasons. Roaf goes on to play at very high pro bowl level still from 2002 to 2005, the most critical years for the Texans where he would have been an anchor for our line and helped develop linemen around him. That would have changed the entire trajectory of the team.

[SeahawkFever]

Willie Roaf in 2001 had a huge impact on the Houston Texans franchise. He was put up on the expansion draft by the Saints, then some kind of funny business with the NFL or the Saints or both but they had to pull him due to that injury in 2001. Maybe he failed a physical or something but Houston went with Tony Boselli instead. Boselli never plays a down for the team and we have offensive line issues for the first 8-9 years of the team's existence, including our rookie franchise QB they attempted to build around getting sacked an NFL record amount of times in 2 different seasons. Roaf goes on to play at very high pro bowl level still from 2002 to 2005, the most critical years for the Texans where he would have been an anchor for our line and helped develop linemen around him. That would have changed the entire trajectory of the team.

How was the running game next to Carr?

[ShinobiMusashi]

Willie Roaf in 2001 had a huge impact on the Houston Texans franchise. He was put up on the expansion draft by the Saints, then some kind of funny business with the NFL or the Saints or both but they had to pull him due to that injury in 2001. Maybe he failed a physical or something but Houston went with Tony Boselli instead. Boselli never plays a down for the team and we have offensive line issues for the first 8-9 years of the team's existence, including our rookie franchise QB they attempted to build around getting sacked an NFL record amount of times in 2 different seasons. Roaf goes on to play at very high pro bowl level still from 2002 to 2005, the most critical years for the Texans where he would have been an anchor for our line and helped develop linemen around him. That would have changed the entire trajectory of the team.

How was the running game next to Carr?

They had a rookie running back the first year 2002, so rookies at all skill positions on the offense is wild to start an expansion team. Then they had no veteran QB to mentor Carr either to go along with that, any type of veteran presence on that offense would have benefit him a lot. Of course they were banking on Boselli being that guy and this is where it all went bad from day 1. The Saints are able to trade Roaf to KC and he anchors one of the best o-lines in football those years 2002 to 2005.

Houston had a rookie I forget his name but he came into the blockbuster I worked at that fall, something Allen. He was pedestrian as it gets in 2002. In 2003 though along came Dominick Davis, who was really awesome forgotten player. Davis was excellent in the tail end of 2003, 2004, and the first half or so of 2005 before he got injured and was out of football all together, so having Roaf on his o-line most likely would have extended his career. Something was up with Roaf's 2001 injury that had the NFL pull him and make him ineligible for that 2002 Texans Expansion Draft. They take Boselli who was toast and never even plays a down. Cruel twist of irony from the football gods that cursed this team to a decade of losing football to start out.

[SeahawkFever]

Willie Roaf in 2001 had a huge impact on the Houston Texans franchise. He was put up on the expansion draft by the Saints, then some kind of funny business with the NFL or the Saints or both but they had to pull him due to that injury in 2001. Maybe he failed a physical or something but Houston went with Tony Boselli instead. Boselli never plays a down for the team and we have offensive line issues for the first 8-9 years of the team's existence, including our rookie franchise QB they attempted to build around getting sacked an NFL record amount of times in 2 different seasons. Roaf goes on to play at very high pro bowl level still from 2002 to 2005, the most critical years for the Texans where he would have been an anchor for our line and helped develop linemen around him. That would have changed the entire trajectory of the team.

How was the running game next to Carr?

They had a rookie running back the first year 2002, so rookies at all skill positions on the offense is wild to start an expansion team. Then they had no veteran QB to mentor Carr either to go along with that, any type of veteran presence on that offense would have benefit him a lot. Of course they were banking on Boselli being that guy and this is where it all went bad from day 1. The Saints are able to trade Roaf to KC and he anchors one of the best o-lines in football those years 2002 to 2005.

Houston had a rookie I forget his name but he came into the blockbuster I worked at that fall, something Allen. He was pedestrian as it gets in 2002. In 2003 though along came Dominick Davis, who was really awesome forgotten player. Davis was excellent in the tail end of 2003, 2004, and the first half or so of 2005 before he got injured and was out of football all together, so having Roaf on his o-line most likely would have extended his career. Something was up with Roaf's 2001 injury that had the NFL pull him and make him ineligible for that 2002 Texans Expansion Draft. They take Boselli who was toast and never even plays a down. Cruel twist of irony from the football gods that cursed this team to a decade of losing football to start out.

Roaf definitely would have helped. So would Boselli had he come back from injury.

Also that first running back was James Allen who ran for 521 yards on 3.3 yards per carry, and led the team in yards from scrimmage with 821.

Looking at the offense of the 2002 Texans, I see a rookie quarterback in Carr, a rookie running back in Allen, rookies at fullback, left tackle and right guard, and two of the three receivers were also rookies.

In fact only four starters out of 11 on the offense of the 2002 Texans had played in the NFL for multiple seasons before 2002:

Wide receiver Corey Bradford, left guard DeMingo Graham, center Steve McKinney, and right tackle Ryan Young.

By contrast on defense, only one starter hadn’t started for multiple seasons (defensive end Jerry DeLoach), and nine of the starters had been around for at least four seasons prior, including pro bowlers Gary Walker and Aaron Glenn.