Let me take you back to 2004 and the NFL Draft. The San Diego Chargers had the first pick overall, with everybody and their dog saying Eli Manning was the best quarterback in the Draft and was a sure fire number one pick. The only problem was that Eli didn’t want to play in San Diego.
Throughout the entire draft process, the Manning camp made it clear that they did not want Eli to play for the Chargers, saying he would play anywhere but there.
At the time, that seemed fair. The Chargers had a top five pick for what seemed like every Draft before this one. Yes they had a young Drew Brees and Ladainian Tomlinson but they really didn’t look like they were going anywhere as a franchise.
Now, this wasn’t something new to the NFL. There’s other examples of players not wanting to go to a certain franchise throughout the history of the NFL. The most notable one of course was John Elway not wanting to play for the Colts. So what’d the Colts do? Drafted Elway anyways (before eventually trading him to Denver).
The same thing would happen here in 2004. The Chargers were not going to be pushed around by some spoiled kid from Ole Miss. So, the Bolts drafted Eli with the first overall pick. The pictures of him holding that Chargers jersey are hilarious, he even refused to put on the hat.
With Eli now in San Diego, it looked like the Giants would take their number two quarterback, Ben Roethlisberger. But, that’s when things started to turn.
At the seven minute mark of the Giants pick, then Chargers GM AJ Smith called the Giants up to discuss the trade, saying they’d make the trade for Eli if they selected Philip Rivers. So, that’s exactly what the Giants did.
Why did the Chargers value Rivers over Roethlisberger you may be asking? Well, in 2004, the San Diego Chargers and the Cincinnati Bengals were the coaching staffs for the Senior Bowl, with the Chargers taking over the South team. The quarterback for the South was none other than Philip Rivers.
The Chargers worked with the then NC State quarterback that entire process and grew to really like the kid. Rivers would go on to win the Senior Bowl MVP that year, leading the South to a 28-10 victory.
Fast forward to 2020, the Cincinnati Bengals are now on the clock. It has been documented over the past few weeks that the Miami Dolphins really want LSU’s Joe Burrow. It has also been well documented that Joe Burrow has mixed feelings about playing for the Bengals. Enter, the Logan Blackman Show conspiracy theory.
During the 2020 Senior Bowl, the Cincinnati Bengals coached the South team, quarterbacked by Oregon quarterback Justin Herbert. Much like Rivers in ’04, Herbert would go on to take home the Senior Bowl MVP, though in a losing effort.
The Bengals worked out with Herbert that entire week, and even dating back to last year, have expressed admiration for the Oregon quarterback.
With Burrow possibly not wanting to play for the Bengals could make this dream scenario happen.
With the first overall pick, the Bengals take Joe Burrow. The Dolphins eventually come on the clock, either at number three or five, and select Justin Herbert from Oregon. After that, the Dolphins send their bounty to Cincy and the deal is done.
This is shaping up to be just like the 2004 Draft. The obvious number one overall pick may not want to play for said team. Another team has made it clear they really want that player. Team with number one overall pick selects player anyways. Other team selects player the no.1 team wants and the trade is done.
Eli didn’t want to play in San Diego, it doesn’t seem Burrow wants to play in Cincinnati. The Giants coveted Eli Manning, the Dolphins appear to really want Joe Burrow. The Bengals worked out and coached Justin Herbert. All of this mirrors the 2004 Draft.
When the 2020 season starts, don’t be surprised if Burrow is in a Dolphins uniform and Herbert is in a Bengals uniform.
This may not happen, but in the meantime, stay woke…
(if this happens I’ll will remind everyone of this for years to come)
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