Examples of Butterfly Effect in football?

[Apparition]

2 hours ago, 7DnBrnc53 said:

He was coming off his first full year as a starter. Maybe the loss in the NFC Title Game caused some doubt, and the 49ers organization seemed to be in love with Mirer. That wasn't the only trade discussed, though. Another scenario had SF's whole draft going to NE for the chance to get Mirer.

I mean, that was a hell of a first year. He led the league in TD passes, completion %, passer rating, INT % and Yards/attempt that year. If they'd parted ways with him after that season, the Bay would've burned to the ground. 

[7DnBrnc53]

10 hours ago, Starless said:

I mean, that was a hell of a first year. He led the league in TD passes, completion %, passer rating, INT % and Yards/attempt that year. If they'd parted ways with him after that season, the Bay would've burned to the ground. 

You are right, and that would put SF in a tough place if they traded Young. The only thing I can say is that they would keep Montana for the next few years (he was still #1 in the fan's hearts at the time, anyway) while Mirer develops.

[OkeyDoke21]

On 6/27/2021 at 4:01 AM, thrILL! said:

Jerry Rice fumbled near the end of the 1999 NFC Wildcard game.  Refs suck and there was no instant replay at the time (🤦🏻‍♂️) so the SF drive continued. T.O. makes a great catch for the “winning” score.  But the game should’ve already been over with GB moving on and likely looking at a rematch with Denver in the SB.  Instant replay was available the following season but too little, too late for GB and their fans.  

That's a bit of a jump.  They would've had to go on the road and beat a 14-2 Atlanta squad, and then beat a 15-1 Minnesota Squad, that had already handled them twice.  They would've been steep underdogs in both of those games.  GB moving on more likely changes nothing, or even puts that Minnesota team in the Superbowl for a pretty iconic mathup with Denver, if GB upsets Atlanta.  

[Mr Bad Example]

On 6/25/2021 at 6:45 AM, biggie. said:

 

This is a good example of a butterfly effect. A franchise QB getting seriously injured isn't a seemingly insignifocant event.

 

Fair, but my butterfly effect was Don Majkowski wrecking his right shoulder in week 11 of 1990. He had held out of TC and the first two games, and was starting to round into his near-MVP 1989 form. Now, I don't live in a world where Majkowski was going to be HoF QB, but he was pretty good and capable of carrying a team. With a healthy Majkowski, GB doesn't finish out 90 and 91 on a 4-17 streak....they MIGHT have made the playoffs in 1990 (Saints were the 6 seed at 8-8; of GB's last 5 opponents, Phi was 10-6, Sea was 9-7, the others were 10-loss teams), and would probably have been more of a 8-8/7-9 team in 91. Lindy Infante and Tom Braatz probably hold onto their jobs....maybe not Braatz, but then again, GB having a 10-6 season, a playoff season, and a competitive season 3 straight years was rare air in those days. That would mean no hiring of Ron Wolf, no hiring of Mike Holmgren, no trade for Brett Favre, who most likely drinks his way out of Atlanta and is a never-was. Reggie White ends up in SF.

[Mr Bad Example]

1 hour ago, OkeyDoke21 said:

That's a bit of a jump.  They would've had to go on the road and beat a 14-2 Atlanta squad, and then beat a 15-1 Minnesota Squad, that had already handled them twice.  They would've been steep underdogs in both of those games.  GB moving on more likely changes nothing, or even puts that Minnesota team in the Superbowl for a pretty iconic mathup with Denver, if GB upsets Atlanta.  

Want a different jump? Gabe Wilkins was a 4th year player who'd nicely slotted in opposite Reggie White at DE when Sean Jones retired. He injured his knee early in SB XXXII, and because he was due to make bank, sat out the rest of the game and was replaced by Darius Holland. Now, I'm not going to sit here and say the the GB defense shuts down Terrell Davis with Wilkins in, but having re-watched the game a time or two, Denver was running RIGHT AT Holland most of the game and the only time he didn't get blown off the ball, he yanked on TD's facemask for 15 yds.

 

And given that game was a white-knuckler, TD being somewhat less effective might've given GB the win. 

[101Raider]

Can’t believe no one has mentioned the 2001 tuck-rule.

if that play goes the Raiders way, Oakland goes on to win the game. Tom Brady doesn’t win his first SB and franchise QB Bledsoe begins 2002 as the Patriots QB.

This one play altered both Raider’s and Patriot’s futures. What would have happened to Brady in this alternate universe?

[Apparition]

8 minutes ago, 101Raider said:

Can’t believe no one has mentioned the 2001 tuck-rule.

if that play goes the Raiders way, Oakland goes on to win the game. Tom Brady doesn’t win his first SB and franchise QB Bledsoe begins 2002 as the Patriots QB.

This one play altered both Raider’s and Patriot’s futures. What would have happened to Brady in this alternate universe?

Bolded is 100% wrong.

[INbengalfan]

In 1990, the Bengals were still a very good team, one year removed from the Super Bowl.  The league announced that year's schedule, which had the Bengals in Los Angeles and Seattle in back to back weeks.  Fearing severe jet lg for his team in Seattle, team owner Paul Brown decides to keep the team in Settle that week. At some point, one Bengals defender picks up a woman (Victoria Crytzer) in the hotel bar and they go upstairs.  According to her, several teammates joined in.  According to the players, it was consensual.  Long story short.  The team paid her off before the trial ever got going.  Paul Brown, never shy about over-reacting without the facts (or maybe he knew more than was ever released) literally cut every player linked, regardless of guilt or not.  The defense was gutted, a few stars on offense were gone too.  Without trading them, they had nothing to rebuild the team, and free agency was still in infancy (Plan B was in effect, I believe).  

 

Meanwhile, Paul contracted pneumonia on one trip back out there for hearings.  He later died from complications.  Mike Brown took over, hired Dave Shula and ran the team into the ground because he was too focused on fighting the IRS over estate taxes when daddy died (Paul left the team to him in the year prior),.  The lack of financial access prevented the team from using free agency for years, and the team spiraled into oblivion until Marvin Lewis was hired in 2003.

Edited June 29, 2021 by INbengalfan

[Apparition]

1 hour ago, INbengalfan said:

In 1990, the Bengals were still a very good team, one year removed from the Super Bowl.  The league announced that year's schedule, which had the Bengals in Los Angeles and Seattle in back to back weeks.  Fearing severe jet lg for his team in Seattle, team owner Paul Brown decides to keep the team in Settle that week. At some point, one Bengals defender picks up a woman (Victoria Crytzer) in the hotel bar and they go upstairs.  According to her, several teammates joined in.  According to the players, it was consensual.  Long story short.  The team paid her off before the trial ever got going.  Paul Brown, never shy about over-reacting without the facts (or maybe he knew more than was ever released) literally cut every player linked, regardless of guilt or not.  The defense was gutted, a few stars on offense were gone too.  Without trading them, they had nothing to rebuild the team, and free agency was still in infancy (Plan B was in effect, I believe).  

 

Meanwhile, Paul contracted pneumonia on one trip back out there for hearings.  He later died from complications.  Mike Brown took over, hired Dave Shula and ran the team into the ground because he was too focused on fighting the IRS over state taxes when daddy died (Paul left the team to him in the year prior),.  The lack of financial access prevented the team from using free agency for years, and the team spiraled into oblivion until Marvin Lewis was hired in 2003.

That's just the universe reshaping the team in the image of the region it represents tbh. 

[7DnBrnc53]

4 hours ago, INbengalfan said:

In 1990, the Bengals were still a very good team, one year removed from the Super Bowl.  The league announced that year's schedule, which had the Bengals in Los Angeles and Seattle in back to back weeks.  Fearing severe jet lg for his team in Seattle, team owner Paul Brown decides to keep the team in Settle that week. At some point, one Bengals defender picks up a woman (Victoria Crytzer) in the hotel bar and they go upstairs.  According to her, several teammates joined in.  According to the players, it was consensual.  Long story short.  The team paid her off before the trial ever got going.  Paul Brown, never shy about over-reacting without the facts (or maybe he knew more than was ever released) literally cut every player linked, regardless of guilt or not.  The defense was gutted, a few stars on offense were gone too.  Without trading them, they had nothing to rebuild the team, and free agency was still in infancy (Plan B was in effect, I believe).  

 

Meanwhile, Paul contracted pneumonia on one trip back out there for hearings.  He later died from complications.  Mike Brown took over, hired Dave Shula and ran the team into the ground because he was too focused on fighting the IRS over state taxes when daddy died (Paul left the team to him in the year prior),.  The lack of financial access prevented the team from using free agency for years, and the team spiraled into oblivion until Marvin Lewis was hired in 2003.

This is spot-on. Nice job.

You mentioned the fact about Paul Brown getting rid of players over this. I also have a hunch that Wyche would have been fired in 1990 if they don't win the season finale against the Browns (and that his firing in 91 was related to this).

Edited June 29, 2021 by 7DnBrnc53

[SteelKing728]

If Percy Harvins touchdown stands against GB (which i believe the NFL stated they were wrong on calling it back), Minnesota beats GB and GB doesn't advance to the playoffs that year, ultimately winning the Superbowl.

[INbengalfan]

19 hours ago, Starless said:

That's just the universe reshaping the team in the image of the region it represents tbh. 

Nah, but thanks for playing

[August4th]

22 hours ago, INbengalfan said:

In 1990, the Bengals were still a very good team, one year removed from the Super Bowl.  The league announced that year's schedule, which had the Bengals in Los Angeles and Seattle in back to back weeks.  Fearing severe jet lg for his team in Seattle, team owner Paul Brown decides to keep the team in Settle that week. At some point, one Bengals defender picks up a woman (Victoria Crytzer) in the hotel bar and they go upstairs.  According to her, several teammates joined in.  According to the players, it was consensual.  Long story short.  The team paid her off before the trial ever got going.  Paul Brown, never shy about over-reacting without the facts (or maybe he knew more than was ever released) literally cut every player linked, regardless of guilt or not.  The defense was gutted, a few stars on offense were gone too.  Without trading them, they had nothing to rebuild the team, and free agency was still in infancy (Plan B was in effect, I believe).  

 

Meanwhile, Paul contracted pneumonia on one trip back out there for hearings.  He later died from complications.  Mike Brown took over, hired Dave Shula and ran the team into the ground because he was too focused on fighting the IRS over estate taxes when daddy died (Paul left the team to him in the year prior),.  The lack of financial access prevented the team from using free agency for years, and the team spiraled into oblivion until Marvin Lewis was hired in 2003.

this is wild. never heard about this before. sounds like it could make for a good 30/30

[SkippyX]

My favorite butterfly effect is Bob Bender, The Rolling Stones, and Jack Lambert.

[7DnBrnc53]

In 1990, Jimmy Johnson wanted Baylor OLB James Francis:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2uc40xZ5Go

They were seconds away from trading up with the Chiefs to get him, but the Bengals took him right before the trade was to be completed.

If the Bengals draft someone else, Emmitt doesn't end up in Dallas (maybe he ends up falling to the 49ers at the end of the first round, which is a scary thought).