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Phins4life

What Might Have Been...

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I know each of us has that one cursed sequence of events in our team's history that stands out among the rest.  Just curious to know what yours are.  

For me, it's way too easy.  The day Miami waived Drew Brees due to "medical concerns".  The doctor who oversaw the shoulder surgery and the recovery confirmed he was 100% healed, even going so far as to say it was no more at risk of re-injury than before the labrum tear.  Obviously, medicine is an imperfect science, but if a specialist gives that kind of vote of 100% confidence...come on.  Over a decade later, Brees and the Saints continue to crush my soul with every great season and record surpassed, while we continue to hunt for the next Marino and at least a halfway decent year that doesn't rely on gimmicks like the Wildcat.  Miami's QB scouting department is mediocre at best, so my hopes are slim.  Amplifying the frustration is that Brees preferred Miami by a large margin.     

Even months later, when it was obvious Saban had messed up, he doubled down, insisting it felt like the best call at the time.  And yet...we went with a guy who had completely shredded his knee the season before.  Medical concerns?  Spare me.  Any number of excuses would have sounded more plausible than the one he chose to hide behind. 

We went into 2006 with a defense led by Jason Taylor, Zach Thomas, Vonnie Holliday and Yeremiah Bell.  Mostly aging, but still solid.  The offensive skill positions boasted Ronnie Brown (who very well could have won ROTY had it not been for Carnell and Ricky) and Chris Chambers (coming off a career season), along with Marty Booker and Randy McMichael...far from elite, but more than capable of being productive if Brees had had a chance to throw them the ball.  I know there's no way to know for sure he would have succeeded in South Florida...between personnel changes, O-line play, offensive emphasis and passing schemes, a number of things could have stunted his development.  But maybe they wouldn't have.  One thing is for damn sure...Culpepper was the wrong direction and we've felt it ever since. 

TL;DR: Saban is a great NCAA coach, but an NFL idiot.  

Okay...whew.  Glad to get that one out. /rant

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Not necessarily a cursed moment, but I would've preferred that Byron Leftwich hadn't broken his ankle in 05 against the Cards. Maybe it wouldn't have mattered since he was sorta injury prone anyway, but I figure maybe things would've ended up a little different, considering that team was sorta entering its prime.

So Leftwich gets hurt, but we only lose one more game the rest of the season to go 12-4, but he ends up starting the playoff game against the Pats and we get blown out.  Ankle never healed properly and he reinjures it early on in the 06 season, Garrard comes in plays meh, ends up winning some games before melting down at the end of the season. Then Leftwich gets cut before the start of the '07 season.

I dunno what happens differently if Byron never gets hurt, maybe nothing. But at least on paper having a healthy qb paired with a very good, young defense should count for something.  Would've made the seasons that followed more enjoyable at the very least.

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If only Phins4Life had never taken a leave of absence from TGP. All of the awesome debates and conversations we could have had. Instead I was stuck with the rest of you dingbats in the meantime. 

What might have been. 

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Oh and about the actual football aspect of the question. Uhhh.... If only we hadn't passed at 2nd & goal on the 1. 

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Andy Reid's entire tenure felt cursed. He's a phenomenal coach in so many ways but he just always gets outcoached in big games. If Andy had done something like Parcells wanted to do with Belichchick with Doug Pederson...man the Chiefs might be unstoppable. I think Reid would be great as a GM.

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What if we never benched Jake Plummer for Jay Cutler?

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