Professional Football Researchers Association Forum

Of course he'll always be remembered for You-Know-What, and his career was never at all the same afterwards. Opening day '97 vs Seattle with the Jets and Week #6 with the Bengals vs Steelers in '98 serve as two 'last breaths' that quickly come to mind. I know he had critics while in the 'Burgh but I never really was one of them. I liked Bubby while he was with the Steelers, especially in '89, but was ready for #14 to take the reins after that 4th Q rally-for-naught vs Giants MNF '91. Driving down the field in-vain final drive of infamous '94 AFCC also comes to mind, forecasting - to me, at least - an improvement in his game.

Perhaps ridiculously conservative at first, a game-manager in the truest sense not taking a chance and throwing to receivers even in mild coverage, not at least giving them a chance to try and jump up for the ball. This seemed to be the case as recently as that home Thursday night loss to Cincy in '95, dropping Steelers to 3-4. But then came the great comeback wins vs Chicago and Cincy, fueled mainly by Neil himself. He seemed to be even more past 'game-manager'-status than Phil Simms with Giants; and he was, to me, a 'Phil Simms' of that team - (more-than) good enough, with mistake-free ball, to complement a great run-game and defense to a championship while still making key pass plays down-field prolonging drives. He did, as we all know, have the lowest INT-ratio among QBs going into that infamous 'Duel in the Desert'.

Whether it was he or the 'forgotten' possible scapegoat, Corey Holliday (or simply...the Haley-led Dallas pass-rush), it seemed Neil never quite recovered. You wonder if his head was already back in Jersey (Jets) at the time for it seemed that off-season that he really didn't want to stay in the 'Burgh. Didn't actually witness it, but I remember someone telling me that at a Steelers post-game press-conference end of regular season, he actually was wearing...a Jets cap! Perhaps someone can confirm.

Overall thoughts?

Just one individual's opinion - Phil Simms (by a wide margin) was a much better quarterback than Neil O'Donnell and Neil played in the NFL for over ten years and was no slouch. The primary reason Simms was drafted in the first ten picks in the 1979 draft was that he could really throw the ball, which he was still doing in 1993 under Dan Reeves. I can't really remember why Parcells went with Glenn Foley / Vinny Testaverde in 1997-98 after O'Donnell was injured in mid-1997.

I was very impressed by O'Donnell in the 2nd half of 1995. Pittsburgh has always been a run first offense under Cowher, but Ron Erhardt opened up the offense, and I recall them using a 5 WR formation somewhat frequently, although with Kordell Stewart, they also had a quasi-RB on the field. Charles Johnson, Andre Hastings, Yancey Thigpen and Ernie Mills were the others.

A quick check of stats show that O'Donnell threw for 300 yards four times in 1995, after reaching it twice in his four prior seasons. However, he also threw for under 210 yards in four games during the Pittsburgh winning streak, all double digit wins.

O'Donnell also carved up the Bills in the playoffs. The first two drives led to scores, and the Bills were playing catchup all day. Granted, Buffalo was without Bruce Smith, and Pittsburgh focused on Defensive POY Bryce Paup.

O'Donnell did have one moment in that playoff game that foreshadowed the Super Bowl. Pittsburgh was up 20-7 and inside the Buffalo 10. O'Donnell threw a weak pass right to safety Greg Evans at the goal line. (Buffalo's secondary had been decimated by injuries.) Evans was sailing for a coast to coast touchdown and a 20-14 game when he dropped the ball at the 20. He fell on it, but two plays later Carnell Lake intercepted Jim Kelly and Pittsburgh kicked a FG.

Halas Hall wrote:Just one individual's opinion - Phil Simms (by a wide margin) was a much better quarterback than Neil O'Donnell and Neil played in the NFL for over ten years and was no slouch. The primary reason Simms was drafted in the first ten picks in the 1979 draft was that he could really throw the ball, which he was still doing in 1993 under Dan Reeves. I can't really remember why Parcells went with Glenn Foley / Vinny Testaverde in 1997-98 after O'Donnell was injured in mid-1997.

You're right. Should have worded it different. Although I feel Neil was already 'Simms-level' at that immediate time (remainder of '95 campaign leading up to SBXXX), and he could throw the long ball as well, he was only 'beginning' the journey to accomplish what Simms already accomplished his entire (body-of-work) career; and I do specifically remember Phil's work with G-men under Reeves in '93 (memories of a big game at Tampa comes to mind).

Everyone talks about how Steelers "should have" drafted Marino (yes, awesome to think about), but I always felt Phil Simms in the '80s, under Noll and beginning of Cowher Era, would have been fine enough for the 'Burgh considering their style of ball. I do remember Parcells (Erhardt, of course, his OC during his time with NYG) as a commentator voicing kudos to Cowher's Steelers being their philosophies went hand-in-hand. In a parallel life, Parcells either HC's the 'Burgh or perhaps is...Cowher's GM. How do you all think they would have worked with one another? Mutual respect between the two I'm sure wouldn't have been lacking.

Here's another O'Donnell scenario: What if he goes to the Buccaneers in 1993?

It's a forgotten fact that he signed an offer sheet that the Steelers matched. If Tampa gets O'Donnell, does he eventually lead them to the SB by 1999 (provided that everything else stays the same except their 1994 first-round pick)? He would have been an upgrade over guys like Dilfer and Shaun King.

On a side note, I can see the Steelers making a strong run at Montana, and they probably get him. He grew up in Western PA, and is a Steeler fan.

7DnBrnc53 wrote:Here's another O'Donnell scenario: What if he goes to the Buccaneers in 1993?

It's a forgotten fact that he signed an offer sheet that the Steelers matched. If Tampa gets O'Donnell, does he eventually lead them to the SB by 1999 (provided that everything else stays the same except their 1994 first-round pick)? He would have been an upgrade over guys like Dilfer and Shaun King.

On a side note, I can see the Steelers making a strong run at Montana, and they probably get him. He grew up in Western PA, and is a Steeler fan.

In that circumstance, the Steelers do likely wind up with Montana, who leads them to the AFC title in 1994 but they lose the Super Bowl to the 49ers. He is talked out of retirement to come back in 1995 and leads the Steelers to a Super Bowl victory over the Cowboys and calls it a career.

Rupert Patrick wrote:

7DnBrnc53 wrote:Here's another O'Donnell scenario: What if he goes to the Buccaneers in 1993?

It's a forgotten fact that he signed an offer sheet that the Steelers matched. If Tampa gets O'Donnell, does he eventually lead them to the SB by 1999 (provided that everything else stays the same except their 1994 first-round pick)? He would have been an upgrade over guys like Dilfer and Shaun King.

On a side note, I can see the Steelers making a strong run at Montana, and they probably get him. He grew up in Western PA, and is a Steeler fan.

In that circumstance, the Steelers do likely wind up with Montana, who leads them to the AFC title in 1994 but they lose the Super Bowl to the 49ers. He is talked out of retirement to come back in 1995 and leads the Steelers to a Super Bowl victory over the Cowboys and calls it a career.

Rupert, I always respect your opinions more than mine (like I do with everyone else on this site), but NO, Joe Cool wins BOTH hypo-SBs, lol!

When I first found out very recently that Steelers almost actually signed him, it killed me! Simply killed me (and the flood-gate of what-ifs burst)!

7DnBrnc53 wrote:Here's another O'Donnell scenario: What if he goes to the Buccaneers in 1993?

It's a forgotten fact that he signed an offer sheet that the Steelers matched. If Tampa gets O'Donnell, does he eventually lead them to the SB by 1999 (provided that everything else stays the same except their 1994 first-round pick)? He would have been an upgrade over guys like Dilfer and Shaun King.

On a side note, I can see the Steelers making a strong run at Montana, and they probably get him. He grew up in Western PA, and is a Steeler fan.

If O'Donnell had signed with Tampa Bay, I don't think you can assume everything stays the same. I would assume that the Glazers still wind up with the team, but I think O'Donnell would play too well for Sam Wyche to get fired after 1995. The Bucs were 7-9 that season despite 5 TD's and 20 INT's from their QB's. I think the Glazers' deep pockets would have eventually led to success, but not necessarily with either Wyche or Tony Dungy.

conace21 wrote:

7DnBrnc53 wrote:Here's another O'Donnell scenario: What if he goes to the Buccaneers in 1993?

It's a forgotten fact that he signed an offer sheet that the Steelers matched. If Tampa gets O'Donnell, does he eventually lead them to the SB by 1999 (provided that everything else stays the same except their 1994 first-round pick)? He would have been an upgrade over guys like Dilfer and Shaun King.

On a side note, I can see the Steelers making a strong run at Montana, and they probably get him. He grew up in Western PA, and is a Steeler fan.

If O'Donnell had signed with Tampa Bay, I don't think you can assume everything stays the same. I would assume that the Glazers still wind up with the team, but I think O'Donnell would play too well for Sam Wyche to get fired after 1995. The Bucs were 7-9 that season despite 5 TD's and 20 INT's from their QB's. I think the Glazers' deep pockets would have eventually led to success, but not necessarily with either Wyche or Tony Dungy.

Maybe they wind up with Gruden in 1998 instead of 2002, or maybe they wind up with Brian Billick in 1999. I think with the talent the Bucs were accumulating in the late 90's (Sapp, Lynch, Brooks, Keyshawn etc), they were going to be successful regardless of who the coach was, and with the new capital coming in from Glazer, they could afford to bring in some quality free agents, and they would have went after a first time coach like Dungy as opposed to bringing a journeyman who has coached elsewhere.

Rupert Patrick wrote:

7DnBrnc53 wrote:Here's another O'Donnell scenario: What if he goes to the Buccaneers in 1993?

It's a forgotten fact that he signed an offer sheet that the Steelers matched. If Tampa gets O'Donnell, does he eventually lead them to the SB by 1999 (provided that everything else stays the same except their 1994 first-round pick)? He would have been an upgrade over guys like Dilfer and Shaun King.

On a side note, I can see the Steelers making a strong run at Montana, and they probably get him. He grew up in Western PA, and is a Steeler fan.

In that circumstance, the Steelers do likely wind up with Montana, who leads them to the AFC title in 1994 but they lose the Super Bowl to the 49ers. He is talked out of retirement to come back in 1995 and leads the Steelers to a Super Bowl victory over the Cowboys and calls it a career.

I agree that the Niners beat Pittsburgh in 94, but what if they didn't? If Montana would have defeated Young in a Super Bowl, the SF sports fans would have been calling for Steve Young's head the next morning on talk radio. People would be saying things about how Joe is still the king (during the 1994 49ers America's Game episode, one fan with a Raider hat on was saying "You can't beat Joe, baby. You can't beat Joe" during the Chief win over SF in Week 2), and about how Young will never win a ring (if they don't win that year, he probably doesn't, at least not in SF).