quote:
Trading every pick to move up and draft Ricky Williams in 1999 Is there an easier choice on this entire list? The Saints' decision to trade all of their 1999 draft picks and their first- and third-round picks in 2000 to move from No. 12 to No. 5 for Williams remains one of the most infamous draft moments in NFL history. Coach Mike Ditka was so all-in on the move that he showed up wearing Williams' signature dreadlocks at a fan fest the next day and posed as the groom next to Williams in a wedding dress on an unforgettable ESPN The Magazine cover. The move didn't quite work out, since Williams battled injuries as a rookie and Ditka wound up getting fired after a 3-13 season. But Williams did go on to have two 1,000-yard seasons with the Saints before being traded to the Dolphins for two first-round picks. And he finished his eventful 12-year career with more than 10,000 rushing yards.

I was only 7 at the time of this. Can anyone inform me what actually went down with the trade?

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Posted by sicboy

Because Awesome

Member since Nov 2010

77621 posts

Posted on 4/11/18 at 12:41 pm to XCLSU

quote:
Can anyone inform me what actually went down with the trade?

Ditka took the franchise, bent it over the table, lubed it up, and invited the Redskins to look for our missing keys.

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Posted by Athis

Member since Aug 2016

11633 posts

Posted on 4/11/18 at 1:17 pm to XCLSU

Not sure what you mean by "went down"? Like what was said Ditka just screwed the Saints for years down the road.
I was a photographer and was working out on the street listening to the draft. As I pulled up to work the trade happened and I heard the pick. I was thrilled to hear we got Ricky Williams. I had to finish up work and didn't know what we gave up until later. I just thought Ditka was a complete idiot and didn't know what he was doing.

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Posted by sicboy

Because Awesome

Member since Nov 2010

77621 posts

Posted on 4/11/18 at 1:18 pm to Athis

quote:
I had to finish up work and didn't know what we gave up until later. I just thought Ditka was a complete idiot and didn't know what he was doing.

That's because back then the first round took two weeks to finish.

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Posted by NOSHAU

Member since Feb 2012

11923 posts

Posted on 4/11/18 at 1:39 pm to Athis

quote:
Not sure what you mean by "went down"? Like what was said Ditka just screwed the Saints for years down the road.
I was a photographer and was working out on the street listening to the draft. As I pulled up to work the trade happened and I heard the pick. I was thrilled to hear we got Ricky Williams. I had to finish up work and didn't know what we gave up until later. I just thought Ditka was a complete idiot and didn't know what he was doing.

Really did not end up that bad. We ended up getting back 2 1st rounders when we traded him to Miami. Also, Ditka planned on drafting Cade McNown with the original 1st rounder.

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Posted by XCLSU

Member since Nov 2016

251 posts

Posted on 4/11/18 at 2:15 pm to NOSHAU

quote:
Ditka planned on drafting Cade McNown with the original 1st rounder.

Oooof, definitely dodged a bullet there.

This is what I was trying to obtain from the post. Who the Saints has interest in other than Williams, since they passed on some good players to take him (Torry Holt, Champ Bailey, Chris McAlister, etc)

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Posted by jorconalx

alexandria

Member since Aug 2011

8612 posts

Posted on 4/11/18 at 2:29 pm to XCLSU

Ditka has gone full blown celebrity by the time the Saints hired him. That a-hole had no interest in coaching