Brees and Vilma - What could have been

[tepod2001]

How many wants, cries, and/or dreams were crushed tonight by what might have been if the LIONS would have signed two vital players to the Saints Super Bowl win.

Two guys I have wanted (Vilma more than Brees admittedly at the time they were FA but wanted both)

Why LIONS Why

Oh well hopefully some year we will not be laughed at bt all the other teams/fans

[LAW]

I though Vilma was a trade.

[K-Dawg]

Originally Posted by LAW

I though Vilma was a trade.

Vilma was a trade, and the Lions were an option, but Vilma had some control, and he decided to go to NO and not Detroit.

Consider Mooch wanted a QB, if he got Brees, what, if anything, would be different? Maybe Mooch lasts longer then he did, and the Lions draft slightly differently...I can't say the Lions would be in the Saints spot right now if they grabbed Brees though.

[Canadian Fan]

Originally Posted by LAW

I though Vilma was a trade.

I don't think so. I seem to remember him visiting the facilities and him liking the staff (Marinelli) but he ultimately choose New Orleans.

[LionNation]

Detroit was never a option for Brees. It was between Miami and New Orleans and the rest is history.

[LionNation]

Originally Posted by Canadian Fan

I don't think so. I seem to remember him visiting the facilities and him liking the staff (Marinelli) but he ultimately choose New Orleans.

Vilma was a trade but the Jets let him choose where he wanted to go.

[Phalanx]

Seriously, you thought Drew Brees might come to Detroit? Matt Millen had a horrible record of signing free agents, just like everything else. Who would you rather sign with: Matt Millen or Mickey Loomis?

Gotta go with the Duck every time.

[TechLion]

Originally Posted by LionNation

Detroit was never a option for Brees. It was between Miami and New Orleans and the rest is history.

That may be true but Brees was never an option for the Lions either. The Lions were throwing around money left and right in those days to all the wrong players and they could have made Brees an offer he would have seriously considered but the Lions are so inept they didn't even consider him. This isn't the NBA where they make so much money and have little risk of injury that winning eventually becomes more important than money with many players! NFL players usually go where the money and security is!

[goldenlions]

LN is right, Brees never wanted to come here. I am sure the Lions contact the agents of many players and they show no interest and we never hear that anything happens. I am sure most teams have the same thing.

[moridin]

I'm sorry, but quit with the revisionist history.

Yes alot of us wanted Vilma, but there were huge question marks about his neck. Not to mention it was his choice to go to the Saints. Not the Lions fault.

As for Brees, there were huge questions on his shoulder and Miami and the Saints were the only two teams showing interest. Not to mention the signing was looked at as a bad move at the time.

People need to stop looking into the past cause its easy to make decisions knowing the outcome.

[LAW]

Originally Posted by moridin

Not to mention the signing was looked at as a bad move at the time.

Completely disagree...if memory serves me right it pretty much a one year guaranteed deal for $10 million. It was a great move at the time and looks like an even better deal now.

[Murtyle]

Wasn't the issue with Vilma his knee? He had a degenerative disease or Osgood Schlatters I think...

[Vic Turner]

Vilma didn't want to play here and accepted NO's offer over Detroits

[bigdogchris]

Brees was only good for like 1 year before they drafted Rivers. I never thought he was very good and only for the last 2 years did I even look at him as a serious QB.

[LionNation]

Brees was coming off a pretty serious injury when he was available. The types of injuries he had in his throwing shoulder is usually a career ender. The Lions at the time probably did the right thing in not being interested in Brees.

[K-Dawg]

Originally Posted by TechLion

That may be true but Brees was never an option for the Lions either. The Lions were throwing around money left and right in those days to all the wrong players and they could have made Brees an offer he would have seriously considered but the Lions are so inept they didn't even consider him. This isn't the NBA where they make so much money and have little risk of injury that winning eventually becomes more important than money with many players! NFL players usually go where the money and security is!

Originally Posted by LionNation

Brees was coming off a pretty serious injury when he was available. The types of injuries he had in his throwing shoulder is usually a career ender. The Lions at the time probably did the right thing in not being interested in Brees.

Both of these.

Miami docs said he was too much of an injury risk and had a high percentage to always be injured (I guess that pertains to his injury from SD) and that I heard from Mortenson on the Scott Van Pelt show.

So consider the fact that it was between Miami and the Saints as the only suitors, I gotta believe it was the injury concern. And that concern pushed 30 other teams away from Brees entirely, like the Lions.

MAYBE Mooch wanted Brees, but Millen probably thought along the same lines as the Miami docs...That and he thought Harrington could be worked with, like Al Davis and Jamarcus Russell...

[goldenlions]

There are hundreds of documented cases of could of/should of in the NFL. I don't understand the obsession of lusting over possible pass missteps. I guess it gives people some to talk about.