Two What Ifs?

[rcaldw]

Two "What ifs?" from Cowboys history. I've thought about these from time to time and just curious about your thoughts.

1. What if the Packers don't make the final drive in the Ice Bowl, and the Cowboys win that game? How does that change Meredith's career and the trajectory of the Cowboys heading into the 70's?

2. In a similar way, what happens if Dallas wins the blunder bowl in 1970 with Craig Morton at the helm? We came really close to actually winning that Super Bowl against Baltimore. What does that mean for Roger's career since he was already talking about the need for a trade if Landry didn't want to play him in 1971. Landry was reluctant enough to go Roger over Craig, with the very average play by Morton and the losses. What would his attitude have been if Morton had won the Super Bowl in 1970?

History won't change, but it is fun to speculate. Any opinions?

 

[joseephuss]

2. Dallas would have gotten more in return for Morton when they traded him had the Cowboys won SBV.

 

[rcaldw]

2. Dallas would have gotten more in return for Morton when they traded him had the Cowboys won SBV.

So you think Landry would have gone to Staubach the very next year? (Which he ended up doing of course.) I'm not sure he goes to Staubach in 71 after a Super Bowl win. In which case, I wonder if Roger wouldn't have been traded out of Dallas.

Would be fun, if Landry were still here, to ask him what his thinking was at the time, and what he might have done if they had won that Super Bowl in 70.

 

[Red Dragon]

While it was awful the way Dallas lost Super Bowl V, I do think that it would have meant that Staubach would not have been the starting QB then - and therefore, it would be questionable as to whether the Cowboys would still have won Super Bowls VI and XII later on. Maybe they do, but who knows? It could have jeopardized the 1970s string of success.


As for the Ice Bowl, I think it could have cemented Meredith's legacy, but only if the Cowboys went on to defeat the Raiders.

 

[StevenOtero]

See, this is the kind of thread that's interesting. Good post!

Yeah, you do have to wonder if Roger would have been traded or not.

 

[windward]

I think Tom would have traded Staubach. We might have won Super Bowl VI, but who knows beyond that?

 

[KJJ]

Two "What ifs?" from Cowboys history. I've thought about these from time to time and just curious about your thoughts.

1. What if the Packers don't make the final drive in the Ice Bowl, and the Cowboys win that game? How does that change Meredith's career and the trajectory of the Cowboys heading into the 70's?

2. In a similar way, what happens if Dallas wins the blunder bowl in 1970 with Craig Morton at the helm? We came really close to actually winning that Super Bowl against Baltimore. What does that mean for Roger's career since he was already talking about the need for a trade if Landry didn't want to play him in 1971. Landry was reluctant enough to go Roger over Craig, with the very average play by Morton and the losses. What would his attitude have been if Morton had won the Super Bowl in 1970?

I just hope for your sake it's not something you think about often.

 

[Hostile]

Two "What ifs?" from Cowboys history. I've thought about these from time to time and just curious about your thoughts.

1. What if the Packers don't make the final drive in the Ice Bowl, and the Cowboys win that game? How does that change Meredith's career and the trajectory of the Cowboys heading into the 70's?

It would have changed it only slightly. In 1968 the Cleveland Browns was who we faced in the post season and they beat Meredith to a pulp. So he came back after the Ice Bowl for another season.

2. In a similar way, what happens if Dallas wins the blunder bowl in 1970 with Craig Morton at the helm? We came really close to actually winning that Super Bowl against Baltimore. What does that mean for Roger's career since he was already talking about the need for a trade if Landry didn't want to play him in 1971. Landry was reluctant enough to go Roger over Craig, with the very average play by Morton and the losses. What would his attitude have been if Morton had won the Super Bowl in 1970?

I'm going to discuss this slightly differently. Roger Staubach to this day believes he would have won that game. I agree with Roger.

 

[rcaldw]

It would have changed it only slightly. In 1968 the Cleveland Browns was who we faced in the post season and they beat Meredith to a pulp. So he came back after the Ice Bowl for another season.

I'm going to discuss this slightly differently. Roger Staubach to this day believes he would have won that game. I agree with Roger.

I agree with that too Hos. Have you heard Roger talk about that? I would love to read what he said.

 

[rcaldw]

I just hope for your sake it's not something you think about often.

As opposed to thinking about something else football related? At the end of the day, friend, all football thought is a diversion.

 

[Hagman]

Two "What ifs?" from Cowboys history. I've thought about these from time to time and just curious about your thoughts.

1. What if the Packers don't make the final drive in the Ice Bowl, and the Cowboys win that game? How does that change Meredith's career and the trajectory of the Cowboys heading into the 70's?

2. In a similar way, what happens if Dallas wins the blunder bowl in 1970 with Craig Morton at the helm? We came really close to actually winning that Super Bowl against Baltimore. What does that mean for Roger's career since he was already talking about the need for a trade if Landry didn't want to play him in 1971. Landry was reluctant enough to go Roger over Craig, with the very average play by Morton and the losses. What would his attitude have been if Morton had won the Super Bowl in 1970?

History won't change, but it is fun to speculate. Any opinions?

If the Cowboys win the Ice Bowl, then I'll say question 2 becomes irrelevant. The Cowboys go on to win Super Bowl II after that. Meredith, who was largely hounded out by the fans, becomes beloved and continues his career, leading the Cowboys to additional victories in Super Bowl V and VI. It wouldn't be until the 1990's when another QB would lead the Cowboys to three Landry Trophies for winning the Super Bowl. Meredith retires after the 1973 season, and the Cowboys miss the playoffs and go 8-6 in 1974, and many of their core players sign with the WFL He is inducted into Canton in his first year of eligibility.

Craig Morten is remember along with Earl Morrell as one of the greatest back-up quarterbacks in history.

Roger Staubach is traded to the Eagles for a third round draft pick. Eagles fans to this day talk about how they'll never win a Super Bowl with running quarterbacks like Staubach, Randall Cunningham, Donovan McNabb or Michael Vick.

Now quick, Spock, how do we return to our own universe?

 

[KJJ]

As opposed to thinking about something else football related? At the end of the day, friend, all football thought is a diversion.

I'm just having fun with you fans play the what if game all the time it's all part of what makes it interesting here. I've played along in many of these types of discussions. Training camp is just around the corner so whatever keeps us going until then is all good.

 

[burmafrd]

I like the way things turned out. Honestly haveing Roger makes all the rest worthwhile.

 

[rcaldw]

I'm just having fun with you fans play the what if game all the time it's all part of what makes it interesting here. I've played along in many of these types of discussions. Training camp is just around the corner so whatever keeps us going until then is all good.

Totally agree

 

[rcaldw]

I like the way things turned out. Honestly haveing Roger makes all the rest worthwhile.

Oh, I'm with you on how it turned out. Never questioned that. Worked out great. Just curious about opinions regarding the two what if scenarios. Would have been a very interesting situation in 1971 (in the Super Bowl win with Morton scenario).

In 1977 I had the privilege of attending the NFC Championship game (Dallas over Minnesota) on the way to the Super Bowl win over Denver. Even after all the success that Roger had, one of my female relatives (great aunt) still was a Morton fan

 

[Hostile]

I agree with that too Hos. Have you heard Roger talk about that? I would love to read what he said.

http://www.***BANNED-URL***/sports/...roger-staubach-the-face_of-super-bowl-xlv.ece


The Cowboys played in their first Super Bowl on Jan. 17, 1971. But backup Roger Staubach never made it off the sideline at Super Bowl V. Instead, he watched the Cowboys lose as Craig Morton played with a bad shoulder.

Staubach completed his second season with the Cowboys in 1970. He finished up at the Naval Academy in 1965 but before he could play in the NFL, there was the matter of his four-year military commitment that included a tour of duty in Vietnam.

Now, he would be 29 years old at the start of the Cowboys' 1971 season, and he was upset that his coach, Tom Landry, didn't think he could have helped win a Super Bowl game against the Baltimore Colts.

That 1970 season got off on a high note. Staubach started the first two games in place of the injured Morton. The Cowboys beat the Philadelphia Eagles and New York Giants. But they struggled early in the third game against the St. Louis Cardinals. Going into the locker room at halftime, Landry told Staubach that Morton would start the second half. That was pretty much the end of Staubach's season.

On the quiet plane ride home from Miami after the 16-13 loss to the Colts, Staubach sought an audience with Landry.

"I told him I wanted to be traded," Staubach recalls. "Craig was hurt and I still couldn't get into the game. Coach told me to be patient. I would get my chance the next season."

Almost three weeks later, Staubach spent his 29th birthday still in quarterback limbo.

But Landry proved good to his word. He alternated Morton and Staubach early in the 1971 season. However, after the seventh game, a loss to the Chicago Bears, the coach indicated to the media that Morton would play the rest of the season.

"I thought I was toast," Staubach says.

But Landry had an overnight change of heart. On the Monday after the game, assistant coach Ray Renfro whispered in Staubach's ear that Landry was going to announce the next day he had decided to go with him.
"That decision changed my life," Staubach says.

Although Renfro pleaded with the quarterback not to tell anyone about the impending announcement, Staubach could not keep the secret from one person.

"I had to tell Marianne," he says, referring to his wife whom he's known since both were in the fourth grade. "I just had to."

The Cowboys didn't lose another game all season. They marched into New Orleans and beat the Miami Dolphins, 24-3, in Super Bowl VI. Roger Staubach threw every Cowboys pass that day.

 

[SilverStarCowboy]

Two "What ifs?" from Cowboys history. I've thought about these from time to time and just curious about your thoughts.

1. What if the Packers don't make the final drive in the Ice Bowl, and the Cowboys win that game? How does that change Meredith's career and the trajectory of the Cowboys heading into the 70's?

2. In a similar way, what happens if Dallas wins the blunder bowl in 1970 with Craig Morton at the helm? We came really close to actually winning that Super Bowl against Baltimore. What does that mean for Roger's career since he was already talking about the need for a trade if Landry didn't want to play him in 1971. Landry was reluctant enough to go Roger over Craig, with the very average play by Morton and the losses. What would his attitude have been if Morton had won the Super Bowl in 1970?

History won't change, but it is fun to speculate. Any opinions?

It's not fun to speculate on this, that is my opinion, also it's counter productive.

 

[joseephuss]

It's not fun to speculate on this, that is my opinion, also it's counter productive.

Sure it is fun for some. Counter productive to what? Being on a message board is itself can be counter productive.

 

[rcaldw]

http://www.***BANNED-URL***/sports/...roger-staubach-the-face_of-super-bowl-xlv.ece


The Cowboys played in their first Super Bowl on Jan. 17, 1971. But backup Roger Staubach never made it off the sideline at Super Bowl V. Instead, he watched the Cowboys lose as Craig Morton played with a bad shoulder.

Staubach completed his second season with the Cowboys in 1970. He finished up at the Naval Academy in 1965 but before he could play in the NFL, there was the matter of his four-year military commitment that included a tour of duty in Vietnam.

Now, he would be 29 years old at the start of the Cowboys' 1971 season, and he was upset that his coach, Tom Landry, didn't think he could have helped win a Super Bowl game against the Baltimore Colts.

That 1970 season got off on a high note. Staubach started the first two games in place of the injured Morton. The Cowboys beat the Philadelphia Eagles and New York Giants. But they struggled early in the third game against the St. Louis Cardinals. Going into the locker room at halftime, Landry told Staubach that Morton would start the second half. That was pretty much the end of Staubach's season.

On the quiet plane ride home from Miami after the 16-13 loss to the Colts, Staubach sought an audience with Landry.

"I told him I wanted to be traded," Staubach recalls. "Craig was hurt and I still couldn't get into the game. Coach told me to be patient. I would get my chance the next season."

Almost three weeks later, Staubach spent his 29th birthday still in quarterback limbo.

But Landry proved good to his word. He alternated Morton and Staubach early in the 1971 season. However, after the seventh game, a loss to the Chicago Bears, the coach indicated to the media that Morton would play the rest of the season.

"I thought I was toast," Staubach says.

But Landry had an overnight change of heart. On the Monday after the game, assistant coach Ray Renfro whispered in Staubach's ear that Landry was going to announce the next day he had decided to go with him.
"That decision changed my life," Staubach says.

Although Renfro pleaded with the quarterback not to tell anyone about the impending announcement, Staubach could not keep the secret from one person.

"I had to tell Marianne," he says, referring to his wife whom he's known since both were in the fourth grade. "I just had to."

The Cowboys didn't lose another game all season. They marched into New Orleans and beat the Miami Dolphins, 24-3, in Super Bowl VI. Roger Staubach threw every Cowboys pass that day.

Great read Hos, thanks.

 

[rcaldw]

It's not fun to speculate on this, that is my opinion, also it's counter productive.

Surely you don't believe that about 98% of what is posted on this board is productive do you?