Professional Football Researchers Association Forum

What happens if both leagues agree with the '70 merger, but NFL and AFL champs still won't play against each other '66 thru '69? Green Bay's legacy obviously stays the same, but a different story the following two years. '68 Colts are assumed to be not only the best in pro football, but best-of-all-time. I'm sure Shula ends up staying in Baltimore into the '70s, winning himself at least another title two years later in what would he SBI instead of V. So much for a dynasty in Miami as well as Namath making it to Canton. Bud Grant wins-it-all in '69; and maybe '73 being that the Dolphins wouldn't be in the way. Yes, it would likely be Oakland meeting them there instead but being the Vikes already experienced winning-it-all, they'd likely go into the game with more swagger. Like the Jets the year before, the '69 Chiefs end up with just a mere AFL title to their credit, taking some luster off Stram, Dawson, and that D of theirs. Thoughts?

74_75_78_79_ wrote: Like the Jets the year before, the '69 Chiefs end up with just a mere AFL title to their credit, taking some luster off Stram, Dawson, and that D of theirs. Thoughts?

I don't really like "what-ifs" so I don't usually comment on them ... but the '69 Chiefs probably wouldn't have played for the AFL Championship if there was no Super Bowl (AFL wouldn't have needed to expand its playoffs) ...

Which would have been Raiders v. Jets for the '69 AFL title.

Yeah, I know what-ifs aren't too popular here, but couldn't resist this one. It is a bit intriguing. Legacy-wise, both Jets and Chiefs would have missed out on great opportunities. Don't think anyone at all but AFL people would have said that they would have won vs Colts and Vikes respectively. As already said, Shula stays in Baltimore into the '70s but for actually how long? Once Thomas would have come along, things would have gotten real testy between the two.

74_75_78_79_ wrote:Yeah, I know what-ifs aren't too popular here, but couldn't resist this one. It is a bit intriguing. Legacy-wise, both Jets and Chiefs would have missed out on great opportunities. Don't think anyone at all but AFL people would have said that they would have won vs Colts and Vikes respectively. As already said, Shula stays in Baltimore into the '70s but for actually how long? Once Thomas would have come along, things would have gotten real testy between the two.

Given how volatile Rosenbloom was, he probably would have started grumbling about Shula slumping to 8-5-1 in '69, including getting destroyed by the Vikings. Shula actually joined the Dolphins and worked with Thomas for two years, and Thomas was re-hired by the Dolphins after his SF debacle, lasting there until his 1983 death.

Although it was huge clash of egos, Shula and Thomas seemed to be able to work together, although Thomas' comment about how Shula walked into a good situation that had been set up by him, with Shula getting the credit no doubt bugged the hell out Shula.

My guess is that Irsay would have driven Shula out after the 1972 season.

74_75_78_79_ wrote:. Bud Grant wins-it-all in '69; and maybe '73 being that the Dolphins wouldn't be in the way. Yes, it would likely be Oakland meeting them there instead but being the Vikes already experienced winning-it-all, they'd likely go into the game with more swagger.

If the Vikes are 1969 NFL Champs without their Tulane Stadium debacle, what does that mean for Joe Kapp? Does he have a better chance of coming back and leading Minnesota to the first SB?

Shula stays in Baltimore into the '70s but for actually how long? Once Thomas would have come along, things would have gotten real testy between the two.

If Baltimore wins the 68 NFL Title without their SB III heartbreak, do they have the season that they did in 69? That 8-5-1 season had to be the result of a hangover (similar to what happened to the 2001 Rams the next year). If they have a good year, Shula probably stays for the next several years, butterflying away the Joe Thomas era in Baltimore.

7DnBrnc53 wrote:

74_75_78_79_ wrote:. Bud Grant wins-it-all in '69; and maybe '73 being that the Dolphins wouldn't be in the way. Yes, it would likely be Oakland meeting them there instead but being the Vikes already experienced winning-it-all, they'd likely go into the game with more swagger.

If the Vikes are 1969 NFL Champs without their Tulane Stadium debacle, what does that mean for Joe Kapp? Does he have a better chance of coming back and leading Minnesota to the first SB?

Shula stays in Baltimore into the '70s but for actually how long? Once Thomas would have come along, things would have gotten real testy between the two.

If Baltimore wins the 68 NFL Title without their SB III heartbreak, do they have the season that they did in 69? That 8-5-1 season had to be the result of a hangover (similar to what happened to the 2001 Rams the next year). If they have a good year, Shula probably stays for the next several years, butterflying away the Joe Thomas era in Baltimore.

How long do you think Shula would have put up with Irsay trying to tell him who to play at quarterback--during a game--like he did with Schnellenberger?

How long do you think Shula would have put up with Irsay trying to tell him who to play at quarterback--during a game--like he did with Schnellenberger?

I thought that was Joe Thomas doing that stuff.

74_75_78_79_ wrote:What happens if both leagues agree with the '70 merger, but NFL and AFL champs still won't play against each other '66 thru '69?

In that case, 50 years later, in a parallel universe on a parallel PFRA Forum-- someone would have asked "How badly do you think the 1968 Colts have defeated the 1968 Jets?"

Mark L. Ford wrote:

74_75_78_79_ wrote:What happens if both leagues agree with the '70 merger, but NFL and AFL champs still won't play against each other '66 thru '69?

In that case, 50 years later, in a parallel universe on a parallel PFRA Forum-- someone would have asked "How badly do you think the 1968 Colts have defeated the 1968 Jets?"

There's been plenty of speculation about the '63 Chargers defeating the Bears.

7DnBrnc53 wrote:

How long do you think Shula would have put up with Irsay trying to tell him who to play at quarterback--during a game--like he did with Schnellenberger?

I thought that was Joe Thomas doing that stuff.

Thomas took over as head coach after Schnellenberger was fired after the game--in the locker room.