There’s a program on Spike TV called “Alternative History” that projects what might have been with a different outcome of historical events. It’s an exercise that sports fans often take part in when discussing what might have happened if a trade had not been made, such as the Baltimore Orioles trading Curt Schilling, Pete Harnisch and Steve Finley for Glenn Davis.
But that was seen as a reasonable decision at the time, and only the benefit of hindsight drives fans crazy.
There are events where what might have been wasn’t a dream at the time, but a reality, where there was no debate over the benefits of the decision, but instead of the cost.
Former Redskins coach Richie Petitbon will always wonder about one such decision — passing on the chance to have Reggie White, the greatest pass-rusher in NFL history, in a Washington uniform.
Petitbon, appearing on “The Sports Fix” on ESPN 980 on Thursday, suggested that his tenure as the Redskins coach might have lasted longer than just one season if owner Jack Kent Cooke and general manager Charley Casserly had been willing to outbid the Green Bay Packers for the services of White, who was the top target in the first year of NFL free agency following the 1992 season.
While there were other issues with that aging 1993 team that went 4-12, Petitbon is right to wonder if signing White would have changed the history of the Redskins since the Green Bay Packers went on to win Super Bowl XXXI three years later, led by White and Brett Favre.
It is remarkable that Cooke — who was willing to pay the heavy price in surrendering top draft picks as compensation for signing John Riggins and Wilber Marshall — would be so unwilling to spend the money for such a valuable player in the first real year of free agency, with no other compensation at stake except money.
Washington — a franchise with a strong winning tradition at that time, and a city not far from where he lived in North Carolina — reportedly offered White a four-year, $14 million deal. He signed with Green Bay for a four-year, $17 million contract, $9 million of which was paid in the first year.
The future of the Washington Redskins — and the NFL — may have been decided by Cooke. He had the reputation of opening his checkbook but this time refused for a $3 million difference.
That was an alternative outcome that may have affected the history of this franchise to this day.
Examiner columnist Thom Loverro is the co-host of “The Sports Fix” from noon to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday on ESPN980 and espn980.com. Contact him at [email protected].
