The Trade: Ricky Williams to the Saints

[@austinemms9772]

This needs to be done a lot more often. This has potential to become a great series.

[@jclips2098]

I think the james shields for tatis trade would be a good one. Especially since it’s kinda been shitty for both sides, with tatis popping and all.

[@fortynights1513]

Mariners fan here, and the 96 trade we made (Dave Hollins for a prospect David Ortiz) should be in this series.

[@qshot9848]

Archer Trade or countless Rays Trades should be a great one. Especially the Archer Trade with how it set back the team at least 3 years

[@guitarheromorello]

Rangers trade Mark Texiera to the Braves to get two AL Pennants and launch the careers of various players.

[@raineob4996]

The Gretzky trade would be a gem.

[@LordLowe]

You’re probably wondering why the Deadskins didn’t become a dynasty or at least Super Bowl Contenders because of this Trade Two words Dan Snyder

[@gamera5160]

That was exactly my feeling. I was like "this seems like a suspiciously good deal for a Snyder-run team" and then I connected the dots on the date and realized that '99 was the year Snyder bought the team. What a miserable two-and-a-half decades it's been for Washington football...

[@MazeDaGr8]

Exactly, Even if you have a bunch of picks you have to know what to do with them

[@karenwang313]

Washington? Bro y'all's have had it pretty good considering how good the Seahawks have been for the last decade.

[@dkth3inkmachine698]

​@@karenwang313 3 words. Legion. Of. Boom.

[@crazyluigi6664]

@@MazeDaGr8 Even the idea of knowing what to do isn't enough. Ask the Phoenix Suns during the 2010's on that... specifically in 2016 & 2017.

[@hymmz360]

As someone who’s only been paying attention to the NFL for a few years, this is a really cool series to help get new people educated about past NFL history.

[@chazztreat8317]

Are you shitting me!!! WE COULD"VE HAD MCNABB?!!?!

[@HaydenU]

@@chazztreat8317 "The Browns is the Browns" -- Juju

[@themachine9290]

Same here. Almost all of my nfl history knowledge is from tree and clickbait

[@pokehybridtrainer]

Exactly this.

[@crowtservo]

@@themachine9290 You’re probably more knowledgeable than anyone who watches ESPN Classic.

[@jacobvanveldhuizen4365]

Cincinnatti rejecting that offer AND THEN drafting Akili Smith might be the worst day of decisions for any GM in any sport in world history.

[@jharp08]

You know Mike Brown wasn't trying to spend money

[@kevintrice2444]

Seriously, how do you reject that offer?

[@traviscummings9178]

The Saints offer you the keys to their draft vault on a silver platter, and you say no? The Bungles really did earn their name

[@robj362]

But then again same situation with Joe burrow they turned down HAULS for the #1 pick worked out for them that time

[@GlobalNomadPete]

I met Ricky Williams in a hostel in Melbourne, Australia. Never knew who the guy was. Just an absolute unit of a human that mostly kept to himself. Later found out and see why he left the hostel the moment 2 young Americans arrived.

[@sherwood750]

I swear he’s starting this series so he can talk about the Deshaun Watson and Russell Wilson trades next year.

[@Mr___f]

Such awful trades for the Broncos and Browns. It is going to be interesting to see which one ends up being worse this year.

[@sawyertuide7636]

I think the Watson and Wilson trades should wait until 2030 because we don’t know the full extent of what those picks really resulted in when it comes to team success It won’t be known if the Texans mismanaged the deal or if the Seahawks built a dynasty by next year

[@ronnickels5193]

​@@sawyertuide7636 gonna have to agree with this, at least for Wilson. We still don't know if Geno has really developed and we haven't seen the result of the pick.

[@nicominckler3030]

​@@sawyertuide7636 MN m- n

[@kurtpunchesthings2411]

@@Mr___f oh dude the Seahawks must have been laughing so hard when the Broncos took that Trade it will not surprise me if the Seahawks win their second ring by the end of the 20s

[@patrickb33339]

I’d love to see a video about the Jared Goff-Matt Stafford trade in a few years.

[@tleoipl37]

As rams fan I agree. He should do the rg3 rams too

[@bmac4]

Honestly though? It's so far worked out. Goff looks better than he's ever been, Stafford won a ring.

[@canoncoriell9105]

It’s actually a good trade, it worked out for both teams thus far

[@daverobb8311]

​@@tleoipl37 Commanders fans don't acknowledge THAT Redskins trade. 😂😂

[@Ravens_Den]

It’s been pretty good for both teams so far.

[@goldensteeltv8546]

You should do the Jerome Bettis trade. Like the Herschel Walker trade, the Bettis trade is one of the most lopsided in NFL history. The Steelers had their best running back since Franco Harris, whereas Bettis’ replacement was Lawrence Phillips, whose draft bust story is sad and tragic. At least the Rams made up for it by trading for Marshall Faulk, so at least they got their happy ending.

[@UrinatingTree]

And the sad part is that the Steelers would've never traded for Jerome Bettis if Bam Morris was never arrested for drugs.

[@AEMoreira81]

@@UrinatingTree - Dude was a true trafficker, eventually losing his NFL career completely to prison.

[@aroperdope]

I had no idea that happened to Bam...

[@Fireyninjadog]

Barry foster

[@M_11_m41n]

Edgerrin James would end up becoming a key piece to the Colts being Super Bowl contenders with Peyton Manning, was rewarded for his efforts by receiving a Super Bowl 41 ring, was a key leader in the Cardinals' 2008-09 Super Bowl run, and a Hall of Famer.

[@fortynights1513]

Edge technically was traded before 2006, but he was given a ring by the team.

[@justinlast2lastharder749]

Edge was also picked 4rd Overall, right before Ricky. If you saw Ricky at Texas...you'd know why Ditka did this....so they never had the chance for Edge.

[@M_11_m41n]

@@fortynights1513 I forgot about that. Thanks.

[@High5748]

The Edge was definitely a key piece in Manning development just it does make an interesting what if scenario had they taken the trade. That Superbowl mostly had to do with the Booger McFarland trade, Adam Viniteri and Bob Sanders healthy playoff run. Gotta remember the Colts had a historically bad run defense in that Super bowl season. The Colts could have had more Super Bowls if they had a better defense which is why I think that trade is an interesting what if.

[@PADRII]

​@@fortynights1513 Left in FA, not traded.

[@BlackFlagsMatter]

Washington had the bigger L. How you have all those picks and not win a championship?

[@tecnolog2000]

Two words Dan Snyder

[@fortynights1513]

Imagine if this many picks were given to a team in the 1983 draft and a team hit on those picks. Could have set up a perennial contender.

[@nengehtardzer2839]

It's Washington

[@vaulthuntershawn260]

As a Washington fan, I ask myself the same thing

[@andrewgrove1691]

@@tecnolog2000 yup

[@RatedRMario21]

In Ricky's defense, he smoked pot in India in 2004 because Dave "As Good As Anyone" Wannstedt literally ran him into the ground to the tune of 872 combined touches (775 carries) in 2002 and 2003

[@hitek9too255]

Yea he took a pounding on the Dolphins.

[@lisgod3]

I'm loving this mini series on big trades.

[@hailmendoza6106]

Makes me so blessed to have lived through the Payton-Brees era.

[@fortynights1513]

New Orleans was pretty darn good for a decade and change. The best stretch before that was probably Dome Patrol in the late 80’s and early 90’s. Other than that, most of the rest of their history before then, the Saints sucked. In particular in their first 11 seasons from 1967-1977, they had a .253 winning percentage (imagine how bad they could’ve been if they had a bad quarterback, and the supporting cast they surrounded Archie Manning with).

[@warlordofbritannia]

@@fortynights1513 Going 4-12 for a decade does not sound like fun

[@fortynights1513]

@@warlordofbritannia The best seasons they had were 5-9 in that stretch, then they were 7-9 and 8-8 in 1978 and 79, the latter saw them have five pro bowlers in a very watered down season for the NFC.

[@LNReallyLikeThat]

As someone who started watching football this year, I never knew what this was like

[@kurtpunchesthings2411]

yea i know the Saints only got 1 Ring with Brees but they had an insane period of consistency in 15 seasons they won 7 Division Titles 1 Superbowl and made the playoffs 9 times

[@OscarNunezFilms]

I could see this being VERY nostalgic to older Football fans, but as someone born in 97, this is vastly educational towards a period before my time. Super interesting! Thanks Tree!

[@MarquisdeSuave]

I always felt bad for Williams. On top of being overburdened by expectations he also signed what was one of the absolute WORST rookie contracts of all-time. EVERYTHING was incentive based but the incentives were nearly impossible for Williams to achieve. Hr would almost have to surpass Eric Dickerson's rushing numbers in his first 2 years (1808 and 2105yds) to make 1/2 of what was offered on his contract.

[@aroperdope]

I still remember him in the Miami Dolphins Wildcat packages...

[@roboninja3194]

That's what happens when you hire Master P as your agent 🤣

[@Gungho73]

Reminded me of D'Brickashaw Fergusons contract where he'd have to set an all time record in field goal blocks as one of his major incentives.

[@tehbeernerd]

You should do a video on the Taylor Hall trade. Not the one you’re thinking of, but the one that sent him to Arizona for Kevin Bahl, a pick that became Dawson Mercer, and a pick that became a trade for Jonas Siegenthaler.

[@josephnajarian2038]

Yeah, New Jersey literally maximized his value. Got him for absolutely nothing, got an MVP season and a playoff appearance from him, and traded him for draft picks used on integral players to their current success.

[@FelipeYoshioCordeirodeSouza]

Wish he had a ring

[@BondandBourne]

@@FelipeYoshioCordeirodeSouza very good chance taylor hall can get his ring during this nhl playoffs

[@dfp_01]

@@BondandBourne Two words. Well, one and a number. Lightning 2019

[@UrinatingTree]

And the funny part was that I felt it was a bulk return for Hall at the time. Guess that's what happens when you replace GM's and steer a failing rebuild in the right direction.

[@charlesbarkley223]

The style of your story telling combined with highlights and the graphics to elaborate really brings the football history to life

[@RobdaVegasMailman]

I lived in New Orleans at the time. I'll never forget laughing hysterically while listening to the Saints' radio network during the draft. "We just got our feature back for the next 10 years and he's gonna make it worthwhile." In retrospect, I think that I know where Rickey used to get his stash in New Orleans...

[@edgaroni_vi1117]

Just as the "legacy of failure" and lolcow videos were (and still are) extremely entertaining to watch, I have a feeling this is gonna be another favorite chapter for me in the course of this underrated channel. Keep up the great work, man!

[@AlanNadeauIII]

I did a trade tree video on this deal a while back. Obviously it's pretty big considering how many picks NOLA gave up, but what makes it more insane is some the players that pop up in it, both on the side of the picks traded and on Ricky's side of the tree when NOLA moved him later on

[@daverobb8311]

Was it Chris Samuels or LaVar Arrington who Washington took with that #2 pick in 2000. I remember they both got drafted to Washington in back to back picks but I don't remember who was drafted first the LB or LT (who should be in the HOF).

[@justinlast2lastharder749]

LaVar was that pick...but he got injured constantly. Was great on the field but injuries Destroyed his career. Chris Samuels had nothing to do with the Trade. LaVar and Desmond Clark are the only picks that panned out.

[@daverobb8311]

@@justinlast2lastharder749 yeah I know Washington got the 3rd overall pick in a different trade. I think with San Francisco but I really don't remember. I just remember Washington took Arrington and Samuels back to back in the first 3 picks. And Courtney Brown went 1st overall to the Browns

[@AlanNadeauIII]

@@justinlast2lastharder749 Buddy, I'd suggest watching the video I mentioned. I promise, you'd be surprised who you find in it

[@AlanNadeauIII]

@@daverobb8311 Arrington was the 2000 1st rounder

[@jonsmith1956]

If you do one on the RG3 trade, I just want to make a note on something: Yes the Rams failed the 2014 #2 pick they got on giant bust Greg Robinson BUT if it weren't for having that pick, Rams never would've gotten Aaron Donald and would've drafted OL at #13 instead.

[@FelipeYoshioCordeirodeSouza]

Pitt sends its regards

[@dougmhd2006]

The most frustrating thing about studying history? Watching others forget or ignore history and screwing things up beyond all recognition by repeating the mistakes of the past. Over and over again. I look forward to upcoming sports-ball history vids. Keep up the excellent work.

[@FIFODavid]

I would love to see a feature of the '99-present Browns drafting QB's. Trading down for teams to draft QB's all while failing to draft successful QB's themselves.

[@leetphelps2516]

The first football team I was a fan of was the longhorns. Ricky was basically my first favorite football player. I basically became a fan of the Saints because he was drafted there and am still a fan of the team to this day.

[@Younima4]

You need to cover the Roy Williams trade. It's massively underlooked compared to the Hershel Walker and Ricky Williams trades.

[@DIO-ey4nx]

Another trade that nobody benefited from lol

[@justinlast2lastharder749]

He fell off a Cliff once he went to a team that didn't exclusively play in Garbage Time.

[@SyndicateSuperman]

Roy Williams and a 7th from DET for a 1st, 3rd and 6th via DAL was bad but that was a nut kick for only one season. Nowhere close to how much the Vikes got bent over and forced to like it.

[@KatarHero72]

I can't wait for your review of the 2018 draft tree! Always a highlight when i see that content!

[@austinreed5805]

An idea of another The Trade video is one about Ted Stepien. A man who’s deals permanently changed the NBA.

[@Jame5man]

You could do one on the Lindros trade to Philly. Or the Gretzky trade

[@justinlast2lastharder749]

Dangle has already done those to Death. Hockey Trade Trees are all Steve Dangle has, why would you try to take that from him? Seriously though, leave the NHL ones to Dangle, Tree can do every other Sport.

[@FelipeYoshioCordeirodeSouza]

...Alex Rodriguez?

[@ReeceHope90]

Legit, this needs to be made into a series. You have such a mastery with knowledge and that dry humour. I feel it would be a big hit for your channel

[@thegreatestever11]

I'll always remember McNabb getting booed by a group of fans who were there to boo whoever the Eagles took 2nd if it wasn't Ricky because a local sports radio guy made a big stink about it and encouraged them to do so. The fact that McNabb would be accused of having a persecution complex whenever he referenced this incident offhand was ridiculous, but I can't say it surprised me.

[@saj8]

That's the type of disrespect that Donovan gets on a daily basis.

[@satiricalzero]

Those idiots on WIP are never happy. I'm glad Angelo finally retired, that dude was a cancer.

[@Chimidway88]

Please make this a series Tree!!! These videos are amazing!!!! Keep up the great work! 😀

[@joelnelson4770]

I hope that this becomes a regular series! I think a great idea for a potential future episode would be the Pirates trading with the Rays for Chris Archer in exchange for Glasnow, Meadows and Baz

[@dfp_01]

The other one for the Bucs is Gerrit Cole

[@FelipeYoshioCordeirodeSouza]

IF either wins a World Series, definitely

[@FelipeYoshioCordeirodeSouza]

​@@dfp_01oh, that one is brilliant

[@mtosc9845]

I’m loving this “The Trade” series. Keep them coming.

[@neugey]

My irrational loyalty to this channel has paid off in getting new content regarding my Saints!

[@BadMovieRealm]

It's been almost 25 years and as a Bengals fan, I'm still salty that Mike Brown turned down that pile of pics when the Bengals desparately needed help at damn near every position (outside of running back, ironically. Corey DIllon was the only thing worth watching on those teams for several years) to draft Akili Smith. AKILI...F'N...SMITH!? For those who aren't fully aware, here's Aklii's career stats: 3 Wins 14, Losses, 5 TDS, 13 INTS, 2212 yds. Take it from someone who suffered through every single game, he was even worse than those stats would indicate. The poor guy looked absolutely lost without a clue out there. You know it's bad when you're a fan thinking, "Please, for the love of football, put Scott Mitchell in the game!" The only high point I can remember was a comeback win (in which he threw 2 of his 5 career TDs, and threw for 10% of his career total passing yards) against fellow rookie Tim Couch and the Browns. And honestly, Corey DIllon won that game with 168 rushing yards, but to Akili's credit, he didn't screw it up and did throw the winning TD in the final seconds. In the end, that's what they turned down all those picks for. A one-point win against Tim Couch and the expansion Browns...a quarter of a century later and it still hurts my head.

[@Ravens_Den]

Agreed on that, still boggles my mind after all these years and I became a fan when Carson came here afterwards.

[@carlosux]

dude i remember this being one of the first times that i payed attention to the off season. all of this is a nostalgia bomb. i remember that heisman season. damn love these throwbacks. great job tree

[@EspiIsHere]

I’d love to see The Trade episode about Eli Manning, that whole situation was a mess

[@lostinthegrave7462]

That'd be a good one. Maybe a rare example where it worked out for all teams involved.

[@baxatakbaxatak2014]

How the hell did it work out for the Chargers? Zero rings to show for it!

[@eastmidwest11700]

Yes! He has to

[@iamhungey12345]

I remember the expectations and the hate he got at the same time. How the Giants had to make the most of their few remaining picks in the following year should be mentioned as well, it doesn't look like they'd have a good draft at first. I had fun looking up on some initial draft grades because of this, lol.

[@FelipeYoshioCordeirodeSouza]

Then do a double with John Elway

[@jessepaiz6356]

You should do the Eli for Rivers trade, because of how bizarrely it played it for both teams. The Chargers got the better qb, an elite LB, and a 3 year starting olineman, and would have probably been better off not making the trade. In hindsight the move was to reach on Fitgerald. The trade is the definitive sign that the Chargers are cursed.

[@kurtpunchesthings2411]

i mean that season they had the Number 1 Offense Number 1 Defense but their Special Teams was so Historically bad to the point that somehow they still missed the post season they truly are cursed Jesse

[@dipribriggs2920]

Ya I agree you put Phillip rivers on those giants team they going off. With that defense etc.

[@aceassn716]

@Kurt Punches Things Wanna say that was the 2010 season for the Chargers

[@iamhungey12345]

@@dipribriggs2920 Not really, the Chargers had more talents than the Giants during those times.

[@DefendYoungstown]

🎶SMOKE WEED EVERYDAY🎶 I'm surprised there's a whole video centered around Ricky and that music drop wasn't in it once.

[@daveatkins3796]

Off topic, I was at the game when the Saints won their very first playoff game in 2000. They were up 31-7, and the Rams sidelines looked like they’d given up. But I said, fasten your seat belts, this is far from over and in a blink of an eye, they were only up by 3. Then Az-Zahir Hakim muffed the punt. I felt bad for him and I wish it didn’t come down to that, but the feeling in that stadium was electric. Same goes for the entire city. It was incredible.

[@Maggot-ml3vz]

I think it’s worse we didn’t build a dynasty off that Ricky Williams trade. Thanks Dan.

[@craigwheeler4760]

Urinating Tree: Surely no other team would make a trade as bad as the Herschell Walker Deal 1999 Saints: Hold my beer! AlSO: 6:40 -- This is why Cincinnati can't have nice things ME: -- That's why they "BURROW" under ground to get nice things, they cannot get them above ground like the other teams!

[@roshango125ab]

I know Tree doesn't do many basketball videos but the Peirce Garrett to the Nets trade was made for this series

[@UrinatingTree]

I mentioned that deal in passing in the Nets vid I did a while ago, but good lord was that a bad one.

[@ethantinklenberg6607]

The entire 1999 draft?????? Cincy why did you turn this down my lord

[@Jedibob5]

It blows my mind that not only did New Orleans trade their entire draft and then some for a single player, they also had not just one, but *two* teams TURN THEM DOWN first. Like, I get that draft strategies and analytics might not have been as well-developed at the time, but Dallas had just won THREE Super Bowls earlier in the decade on the back of the Herschel Walker trade. I seriously cannot fathom what was running through the minds of Cincy's and Indy's GMs when they declined the Saints' offer. Did they think it was some kind of trick? Were they trying to goad the Saints into offering even more? Or did they genuinely believe that Akili Smith and Edgerrin James were each more valuable than an entire draft class? For Indy it's especially mind-boggling - everyone on the planet knew the Saints wanted Williams, so if the Colts had wanted Edgerrin that badly, why not just use a portion of the picks they would've got to move back up and get him anyway?

[@chrisuncleahmad789]

As bad as the Saints offenses were under Ditka in 1997/1998, it's honestly a miracle they managed to win 6 games twice.

[@FelipeYoshioCordeirodeSouza]

Remember that the Bears offense wasn't much better, but they had a generational defense, NOLA didn't have it yet

[@fortynights1513]

@@FelipeYoshioCordeirodeSouza Aside from 85 when they were actually second in the league, that's pretty accurate.

[@SpiralIntoAVoid]

Not sure if this will be a new series but I’m loving it either way

[@nightmare348]

I'd say Washington won solely because they used some of the picks to trade up with Chicago to get Champ Bailey, a HoF Cornerback. Other than that, not much really happened on either side with this trade.

[@king_rich0088]

That ederian james selection ended up becoming absolutely perfection for the colts. A duel threat RB who can run and catch passes

[@PhoenixLance13]

The only good thing the Ditka years in NO brought us was that one wacky weekend where the Panthers/Saints and Packers/Cardinals engaged in the most insane 4 hours of football ever to determine the point differential tiebreaker for the NFC playoffs. Ditka was going for 2 and demanding onside kicks down 30+ points just to send Carolina home lol.

[@thepolarphantasm2319]

As a saints fan, I'd like to throw a shout-out to rookie Ricky Williams, who was legit shell shocked by going from being a stoner in college to face of an NFL franchise being pumped full of anti depressants because Mike ditka was insane

[@TheDragonsPit]

Yeah something this video doesn't highlight enough is how Ricky was just mishandled entirely by not just Ditka but the entire Saints Org and even the NFL entirely resulting in his career being absolutely ruined despite finding his onfield stride with Miami.

[@bobbyhathorn8847]

On top of this, the OC, Abramowicz, Ditka's former special-teams coach in Chicago, was totally in over his head. Out of all Ditka's coaches, special teams coach Bobby April and Zaven Yaralian were perhaps the two who were good at their job.

[@MacBreezyy]

I met Mike Ditka in HS, I’m from Louisiana and he apologized to all of us for this move. That’s how bad this trade was.

[@KillerKlown318]

I remember that trade. There were people coming to speak at my high school and one of them tried to hype us up about Ricky Williams. That was the first time I ever predicted The Saints to go to the Super Bowl.

[@roshango125ab]

The D-Hop trade would be a good one, not just for the bad trade but the mutiny that followed in the Texans locker room

[@jasonriehl8742]

The river city relay and the subsequent failure immediately afterward embody the saints during the pre-Brees era. The "NOooOo!" is legendary.

[@michaelhession2105]

Here's an idea Tree: The Trade: Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and Jason Terry to the Nets

[@cmonman7664]

The Dome Patrol poster was dope for any kid back in the day

[@crowtservo]

That same year, the Rams traded a 2nd and 5th round pick to the Colts for Marshall Faulk. Faulk was demanding a new extension and the Colts were interested in Edgerrin James. James rushed for 1500+ yards and helped turned the Colts from a 3-13 team in 1998 to a 13-3 playoff team in 1999. The Rams with the help of Marshall Faulk and his 1300 yards rushing were able to turn it around too going from 4-12 to 13-3 and won the Super Bowl. Meanwhile the Saints got the biggest name in this draft and went from going 6-10 to 3-13. I was 19 in 1999 and I was shocked at how far Ricky Williams fell in that draft but by seasons end I had learned that no matter how big of a name a guy is and no matter how much everyone loves a player, there’s no guarantee that he will do anything big in the NFL or will turn around a team by himself. It’s what made me laugh at Skip Bayless demanding that Johnny Manziel go first overall in 2014. Some people never learn that big names in college might not mean shit in the NFL.

[@FelipeYoshioCordeirodeSouza]

And Jerry himself almost drafted Manziel, but the FO stopped him, so the Browns Browned again

[@TheRoseBoy11]

That Ricky Williams wedding photo will forever be the most cursed image in NFL history

[@epicchk4319]

New York Giants Boat Picture

[@MasterDrawer101]

Ricky Williams was a beast. What was his rushing avg? 5.8 yards per carry. Crazy. He just had personality difficulties.

[@lmswentzeljr]

Mike Ditka never adopted to the modern NFL he was stuck in the 1960s, the NFL was becoming a passing league and Ditka still wanted to run sweeps on 3rd and 10

[@Letterman0412]

Ricky’s numbers are just outside Hall of Fame territory in my opinion, pretty similar to Edgerrin James’ numbers, and that’s after missing multiple seasons of his prime due to the NFL’s hardline policy against marijuana. He’d easily be in the Hall of Fame if those seasons hadn’t been taken away from him. That said, there’s something special about Ricky barely playing over a 4 year stretch and coming back and barely missing a step. Even his last year at 34 as a backup on the Ravens he was still very effective. He probably could have played a few more years. He’s easily the most talented RB I’ve ever watch suit up for the Dolphins and is probably the biggest reason I fell in love with the game.

[@franzraber273]

New Orleans was the picture of ineptitude for years on end. Payton and Brees pulled them out of the abyss and for that I'm grateful. When the Saints won the Super Bowl, the NFL dream of parity had been achieved.

[@SuperSaiyanGuyver]

This whole draft just kicks off my inner historian's "What if" sense. Those drafts could've built a solid team around Couch or even Smith, the Colts could've swindled Ditka and still gotten Edge, then been even more overpowered, the list goes on...

[@jok3r906]

Looking back some of the insane trades from NFL history... More please 🥺

[@bersl2]

The despair from hiring Ditka is what caused my father to drop the day-one season tickets he inherited from my grandfather. He could handle bad Saints football, but clownshow football was just too much of an ask.

[@ljessecusterl]

As a Saints fan since the late '80s, all I have to say is that trade was *painful* to watch unfold.

[@andrejg4136]

Yeah like even as a kid that didn't make sense. "Why would you trade the whole draft for one dude?"

[@justinlast2lastharder749]

To be Fair. Ricky did have a Better Career than everybody that got drafted with those Picks COMBINED. LaVar Arrington was an Absolute Beast, but got injured if he even looked at the Field Wrong. Desmond Clark is the next most successful. The problem is that the Saints bungled keeping him, and Ricky couldn't stop smoking Weed. I don't consider Champ Bailey part of this trade. He wasn't picked with one of the Saints Picks. That was a Bears Pick the Redskins got. Almost all the Saints Picks turned out Worthless outside of Arrington and Clark. Even got the Bust Cade McNown.

[@Pensfan5919]

The only reason the Tim Couch Browns beat this laughingstock. Williams had 3 fumbles, including one that set up the Hail Mary by Couch at the end of the trade. It seems morbid, but let's see the Ron Francis to Pittsburgh deal. The ripples from Ulf Samuelsson going to Pittsburgh lead to all 5 Cups from the Penguins. Not even joking.

[@stevesherman1743]

Jim Mora’s We Sucked rant was as a Saint but Playoffs? rant was as a Colt.

[@bbbabrock]

Another unmentioned factor infĺuencing us hiring Ditka at that point was Ditka's support from Buddy D. Buddy D had been the leading voice for all Saints news in N.O. in print , person and on radio and tv for over a decade at that point. Ditka was either a long time friend of Buddy or he got good looking daughters to blow Buddy, because Buddy was was campaigning for Ditka to get the head coaching job like the lives of his entire family depended on it, and that hiring Ditka was almost a guarantee that he would bring success. And from my ignorant perspective att, us getting ex super bowl winner Ditka seemed like a dream too good to come true for us. So we had put incredibly high expectations on him that he must have felt for some time att. Also in conclusion, Idt Williams was half the running back Duece McAllister was.

[@xeldronx]

As a Saints fan, I remember that day, I was so mad at Ditka. I was hoping he'd have quit just like Mora did.

[@hornetguy9063]

1999 was a different time. A time when general managers thought it would be a good idea to trade an entire draft, as well as a 1st and 3rd the next season, to go from 12 to 5 in order to select a running back. Good times. I’m sure New Orleans would’ve had no use for LaVar Arrington.

[@gigaj2368]

This is a pretty good series that could work for the other leagues as well. Would love to see a future vid on the Miguel Cabrera trade, or even the trade of Chris Paul to the Lakers that got killed by the Commish

[@AEMoreira81]

Also, the Lakers’ trade for Pau Gasol. In terms of where both teams got equal value in a major trade…what about the Phil Esposito-Brad Park trade?

[@FelipeYoshioCordeirodeSouza]

Or do the one that send him to the other LA team

[@FelipeYoshioCordeirodeSouza]

​@@AEMoreira81involving his brother?

[@thenextrung]

As a Bears fan, I’ve always found it interesting that Ricky Williams played for both Mike Ditka and Dave Wanstead without ever playing for the Bears😆

[@fionandunne248]

As an Australian, loving these 'great' historical trades

[@rjhaney2614]

If you're gonna make this into a series (I would be all for it) maybe the Doug Gilmour trade would be a good direction to go next.

[@Ibelikemj]

Ron Francis to Pittsburgh would be a good one too, that trade killed the Whalers

[@musyarofah1]

Or the Eric Lindros trade

[@rjhaney2614]

@@musyarofah1 Dangle is gonna have a monopoly on that one for a while though.

[@FelipeYoshioCordeirodeSouza]

​@@Ibelikemjto think he then became a GM

[@uranium54321]

Waiting a couple years for the eventual video like this you make on the Tanner Jeannot trade to the Lightning lmao

[@johnliberty3647]

Redskins got Bailey and Arrington, and Jansen was not a bad selection either who was dominate before that foot injury. Snyder chased away Bailey and Arrington was a great talent that did not fit in Greg Williams defense years later. But it was an overall positive deal for the Redskins.

[@chrisuncleahmad789]

Fun fact- in 1997, when the Saints were looking for a HC, New Orleans' second choice after Ditka....... Don Matthews of the CFL who actually came close to getting that job. On one hand, that could have been Trestman 2.0 OTOH, would the offense have REALLY been that much worse?

[@ntgr87]

just wanna say, Tagliabue announced the 4th pick all wrong. You know Rozelle would've gone "...running back" [8 second pause] "Edgerrin James..."

[@DaGenius99]

The Deadskins roast at the end to top off another quality video from UrinatingTree 😂🤟🏽.

[@NOT_Brian]

Great series so far Tree! I can't believe some of these trades you highlighted.. has there ever been a huge trade like this or the walker trade that actually worked out?

[@Skinnyd4]

Well done! I'm liking this series.

[@ayushmanghosh3328]

Tree I am yearning for NFL free agency content. Although props man these trade vids are gas!

[@Rockhound6165]

The ironic thing is Washington ended up trading up to #7 and drafted future hall of famer Champ Bailey.

[@FelipeYoshioCordeirodeSouza]

For the record, the first overall pick in 2000 was ALSO with the Browns

[@FlyingDolphin118]

The saints trade is not even the worst draft move that night. Cincinnati declining them was because Ricky was at least better than Akili Smith.

[@fortynights1513]

If the expansion Browns had made this trade, and asked for everything Washington did and then some, then Ricky Williams could have been the last running back taken first overall instead of Ki-Jana Carter. This may have been the last time a running back could have genuinely gone first, and this may have been a good trade for the expansion Browns instead of just taking Tim Couch. Maybe they could have built a line for a quarterback in a future draft (and there were a couple good quarterbacks in the early 2000’s drafts).

[@frankgonzalez7432]

Hopefully we might see Hockey or other Sports? Kinda want to know more about the Brendan Shannahan trades when he was a player.

[@Mistertbones]

Ricky Williams in a wedding dress is such a cursed image.

[@moopert86]

Still amazed Cincy passed on the king's ransom offered by the Saints. Granted the team would have completely pissed away those picks. But passing on 3 first round picks to draft Akili Smith? Truly the low point of Mike Brown's running the team.

[@thek3289]

Request: The 1999 Falcons-Ravens draft-day trade. One of the most lopsided trades no one ever talks about.

[@fortynights1513]

What was traded?

[@michaelhession2105]

@@fortynights1513 Jamal Lewis, Chris McAlister, and Edwin Mulitalo

[@thek3289]

@@fortynights1513 The Falcons traded their 2000 1st rounder for the Ravens 1999 2nd round pick. The Falcons drafted a blocking tight end and finished 4-12. The Ravens got the 5th overall pick the next year and drafted Jamal Lewis. They won the Super Bowl that season and Jamal Lewis rushed for 2000 yards a few years later.

[@janellemaynait]

Also during the Ditka tenure they've never used Jake Delhomme

[@jlh4jc]

Ricky was actually a fullback in his Freshman and Sophomore years. He blocked for Priest Holmes, who ended up with a solid career in Baltimore and KC. If Ricky had ended up in Indy getting handoffs from Manning, his career might have been better.

[@Tyrunner0097]

Ricky wasn't a fit for Indy's offense at the time. They needed more of a pass catcher out of the backfield, and Ricky wasn't made for that.

[@Swaggernaut_X]

Saints' first ever playoff win was in 2000? They went thier whole history without a playoff win until then?? Goddamn.

[@snow_blind_08]

Love this new series. I would like to see ones that were less lopsided too. Or At least ones that were win-win.

[@Tyrunner0097]

Give Indy credit too for not jumping ahead of themselves and staying with Ed James as their RB of choice. They needed a better downfield pass-catching RB for their offense with Peyton, and James fit it to a T.

[@slimypickle19]

The fact that the Bengals refused the trade is more insane than Ditka wanting to do the trade itself.

[@FelipeYoshioCordeirodeSouza]

And picking a bust as it used to happen