Ryan Leaf, Michael Vick, Merging, and the Tuck: Top Four NFL "What If?"s

A few buddies and I were contemplating a bunch of "what ifs" the other day, ranging from the NFL to the NBA and beyond. Because of that discussion, I decided to rank the top four "what ifs" in NFL history.

So, with that said, here it goes:

4. What if the NFL and AFL had not merged?

This may seem a bit odd since I believe that sooner or later they would have to join forces and create the mega-league we know today as the NFL.

But imagine if both leagues were still taking shots at each other. It is safe to say that pro football may not have been the No. 1 sport in America and both leagues would be fighting with each other for players, money, and fans.

The draft would not even exist, players would come out of college and a furious bidding war would ensue between teams of both leagues.

Just imagine how many scandals could happened with such a format. If players get money while in college nowadays with the system that is in place, how bad would thing be in a two league system?

 In sum, picture the NFL as we know today, but divide it in two and add some good old fashioned hatred between the two leagues and you'll have an answer.

3. What if Ryan Leaf wasn't a bust?

Before you dismiss this as a dumb "what if," consider the ripple effect that Leaf's implosion had on the league, we feel it today in the form of the best running back in the league.

Consider this. If Leaf was even somewhat successful, San Diego would not have the No. 1 pick in the 2002 draft and would not have traded with Atlanta and selected LaDanian Tomlinson with the fifth selection.

LT would end up somewhere else and possibly without the type of career he's had so far.

Marty Shottenheimer would not have come to San Diego and neither would Drew Brees, and the Chargers we know today would be completely different.

All if one guy played better.

2. What if Michael Vick wasn't so stupid?

This is tied up with the previous "what if", since Atlanta only had the first overall pick after a trade with San Diego. If Leaf played better, Atlanta might not be able to trade the pick with whoever owned the first selection meaning no Mike Vick in Atlanta.

And since Atlanta is close to Vick's home in Virginia, playing further away would maybe diminish his "contact" with the dogs.

But that's only half the solution.  Even if he was with Atlanta, he just had to think along the lines of "You know what? I'll not risk my career over some stupid and petty thing like dogfighting" and his career would continue, fans would still come and watch him every Sunday, and Atlanta wouldn't be the mess they are now.

1. What if Brady's tuck was called a fumble?

This is the BIG ONE! with capital letters, that's how big it is.

Just consider for a second if the Patriots lose that game. Everything, and I mean everything, that we know now in the NFL is thrown out the window.

If the Pats lose, Oakland goes on to the Super Bowl and if they lose, we would be talking about the Rams' dynasty.

If Jon Gruden wins that game, maybe he stays in Oakland, and the Bucs don't win the title the next year. Who would? The Rams would be a good bet.

If the Pats lose, Bill Belichick is still a good-but-not-great coach, heck, Spygate wouldn't be such a big deal, and all his assistants (Weis, Crennel, Mangini) wouldn't be so coveted for head-coaching jobs.

And then there's the would-be golden boy Tom Brady. If the Pats lose that game, Brady would be vilified as the guy who gave the game away. The next year would bring a quarterback battle in training camp between Brady and Bledsoe.

And if Brady lost that battle, who knows, he could be a journeyman QB playing for his third team in four years by 2008.

Only "if".

And if you have one that you feel is better than any of these, feel free to comment.