Professional Football Researchers Association Forum

In 1989, it almost happened

https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/ ... ea78b67fe/

There’s a story that Bruce told Buffalo not to match the offer sheet and take the pair of first round picks

The Bills matched and Smith played 11 more seasons in Buffalo, 9 more seasons with at least 10 sacks

But what if Buffalo listened to Bruce?

Smith would have joined a Bronco defense that did allow the fewest points in 1989 and also played well in 1991.

Conversely, it’s hard to imagine those early 90s Bills without #78, even with the no huddle

Would have been stupid for Buffalo. They weren't going to get the value back with 2 #1 picks. Especially if Denver forecasted to be good.

CSKreager wrote:In 1989, it almost happened

remember that, it was in Sports Illustrated ... Denver willing to give up 2#1s
(what did they care?)

Thanks for the article CS ...

Teams and players were getting extremely frustrated with the Rozelle Rule. In the article, you could smell lawsuits and free agency coming just around the corner. Buffalo gambled right because at that time, he was just scratching the surface on his potential and had Buffalo dealt him, they could have gotten Derrick Thomas, Broderick Thomas, Trace Armstrong or Deion Sanders in the draft.

The Redskins gambled right on Wilbur Marshall that also hurt the Bears. I dont think they win another championship for Gibbs without him.

I remember that. I was really hopeful it would work out.

They would have had to give up their next two #1 picks. Their 89 first-rounder was used on Steve Atwater (it would have sucked to lose him) and their 1990 first-rounder ended up being used in the 1989 Supplemental Draft on Bobby Humphrey (who was good his first two years before holding out).

They probably don't make the SB in 89 without Atwater and Humphrey, but they may have been better off in the long run with Smith.