THE DRAFT THAT ALREADY WANTED TO CHANGE EVERYTHING
The Baltimore Colts did not select John Elway because they believed he wanted to be there. They selected him because general manager Ernie Accorsi believed he was too talented to pass up. By April 1983, everyone knew the problem. Elway had made it clear that he did not want to play for the Colts, and he had leverage most No. 1 picks could only dream about. The New York Yankees owned his baseball rights, and Elway had already hit .318 in their Class A system. His objection was not simply Baltimore. Elway later made clear that his concern centered on the Colts organization. Robert Irsay’s ownership had become unstable, the team had finished 0-8-1 in the strike-shortened 1982 season, and Elway and his father were uneasy with head coach Frank Kush and the direction of the franchise. Accorsi drafted him anyway. If Elway was the best player in the country, Accorsi believed Baltimore should take him and force the issue. The rest of the league knew the Colts were listening to offers. Washington, Atlanta, New England and the Raiders all had varying levels of interest. But San Diego had the cleanest path because the Chargers controlled the fifth, twentieth and twenty-second selections in the first round. In reality, San Diego would not give up all three, especially No. 5. That helped push Elway toward Denver, which eventually sent Baltimore Chris Hinton, Mark Herrmann and a 1984 first-round pick. In this timeline, San Diego makes one different decision. The Chargers say yes.
THE CALL
The Colts have already turned in the card. John Elway, quarterback, Stanford. The selection is official. The problem remains. Elway still has no intention of signing, the Yankees remain available, and the Colts know the standoff could last well beyond draft day. Then San Diego calls again. This time the Chargers stop negotiating around the edges. They offer exactly what Baltimore has wanted: No. 5, No. 20 and No. 22. Three first-round selections for John Elway. Robert Irsay asks Accorsi whether three premium picks are worth surrendering the best quarterback prospect in years. Accorsi knows what Elway might become, but he also knows what Baltimore’s roster looks like after an 0-8-1 season. The Colts accept. John Elway becomes a San Diego Charger. Baltimore is back on the clock at No. 5. Dan Marino is still there.
DAN MARINO DOES NOT MAKE IT TO MIAMIPREMIUM
Continue this timeline
This section is available to Sports Rewritten members. Checking your membership access…
View MembershipTHREE PICKS, THREE FOUNDATIONSPREMIUM
Member-only section.
ONE LAST SEASON IN BALTIMOREPREMIUM
Member-only section.
JIMMY JOHNSON ARRIVES EARLYPREMIUM
Member-only section.
SAN DIEGO’S VERY EXPENSIVE BACKUPPREMIUM
Member-only section.
DAN FOUTS BECOMES A CHIEFPREMIUM
Member-only section.
FOUR BAD SUNDAYSPREMIUM
Member-only section.
JERRY RICE NEVER REACHES SAN FRANCISCOPREMIUM
Member-only section.
JIMMY JOHNSON KEEPS DRAFTING SPEEDPREMIUM
Member-only section.
1990: INDIANAPOLIS BREAKS THROUGHPREMIUM
Member-only section.
SUPER BOWL XXVPREMIUM
Member-only section.
1991: BETTER THAN THE CHAMPIONSHIP TEAMPREMIUM
Member-only section.
1992: THREE MVPs, NO THREE-PEATPREMIUM
Member-only section.
DALLAS WITHOUT JIMMY JOHNSONPREMIUM
Member-only section.
MINNESOTA KEEPS ITS FUTUREPREMIUM
Member-only section.
PITTSBURGH BUILDS A DIFFERENT POWERPREMIUM
Member-only section.
ELWAY GETS HIS FIRSTPREMIUM
Member-only section.
1997: MINNESOTA FINISHES THE JOBPREMIUM
Member-only section.
SAN FRANCISCO WITHOUT JERRY RICEPREMIUM
Member-only section.
1998: MARINO’S BODY DECIDESPREMIUM
Member-only section.
ELWAY IS STILL PLAYINGPREMIUM
Member-only section.
WHAT HAPPENED TO THE REST OF THE NFL?PREMIUM
Member-only section.
WHO WON THE TRADE?PREMIUM
Member-only section.
HISTORICAL ANCHORS AND SIMULATION NOTESPREMIUM
Member-only section.
THE DISCUSSION
Comments
No approved comments yet. Start the conversation.