Sports Then and Now

NFL trades are a high-stakes gamble. Teams risk future draft picks, established players, or hefty financial commitments, all in pursuit of a championship or a franchise-defining player. While some trades flop spectacularly, others deliver results that far exceed expectations.

Here are five trades that seemed risky at the time but proved to be transformative for the teams involved.

1.    Raiders’ Trade for Davante Adams in 2022

The Raiders made headlines in 2022 when they traded two premium draft picks for wide receiver Davante Adams. At the time, critics questioned whether investing so heavily in one player was wise, especially given the team’s other roster needs. Though undeniably talented, Adams joined a team that wasn’t viewed as an immediate contender.

Expectations surrounding the team’s potential immediately shifted, and discussions about their playoff chances dominated the conversation.

Even the NFL Vegas line reflected the growing optimism, with odds adjusting to account for the game-changing impact Adams was expected to bring.

Adams wasted no time proving his value. He finished his debut season with some of the best numbers of his career, leading the league in receiving touchdowns and setting multiple franchise records. His presence also elevated the entire offense, creating opportunities for other players and forcing defenses to adapt their game plans.

In the NFL there are certain uniform numbers that have special meaning and status. Thanks to Jim Brown, O.J. Simpson, Franco Harris and others, number 32 was synonymous with great running backs for many years. The number 88 has a place of honor in the wide receiver room of the Dallas Cowboys and even outside of Dallas has been worn by many all-time greats. But the number that is probably most associated with a position and greatness is the number 12. There are currently six Hall of Fame quarterbacks who wore the number 12 during their playing days. That number will certainly grow once Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers take their rightful spots in the Hall of Fame in the next few years.

In honor of December 12 (12/12), we have ranked the top 12 quarterbacks who have worn the number 12 during their career.

1. Tom Brady

Widely regarded as the greatest quarterback in NFL history, Tom Brady redefined excellence with his longevity, success, and leadership. Over 23 seasons with the New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Brady captured seven Super Bowl titles, more than any other player or franchise. He holds numerous records, including career passing yards, touchdowns, and playoff wins. Brady’s ability to excel in clutch situations and adapt to different systems made him the gold standard for quarterback play.

2. Roger Staubach

“Captain America” Roger Staubach was a cornerstone of the Dallas Cowboys during the 1970s, leading the team to two Super Bowl titles and six NFC Championship appearances. Known for his scrambling ability and poise under pressure, Staubach was a model of consistency and competitiveness. A Hall of Famer, he remains one of the most beloved players in Cowboys history.

The Sports Then and Now Vintage Athlete of the Month is one of the most underappreciated wide receivers in NFL history, despite boasting a career that spanned 16 seasons and saw him excel as one of the league’s premier deep threats. Known for his speed, route-running, and ability to make plays downfield, Harold Jackson left an indelible mark on the game during an era that was not yet pass-heavy. Standing at 5’10” and weighing 175 pounds, he defied expectations of size to become a dominant force on the field. Over the course of his illustrious career (1968–1983), Jackson totaled 10,372 receiving yards and 76 touchdowns, placing him among the top receivers of his time.

Professional football has a long and storied history as part of our American Thanksgiving tradition. Many of the greatest players and best teams in NFL history have made their mark on this holiday and thus become part of families across the country during this time of fellowship and giving thanks.

While many of the players who have shined on Thanksgiving Day were familiar faces and established stars of the game, there also have been a number of players whose one shining moment as a professional football player occurred on the big stage of Turkey Day.

One such player was former Dallas Cowboys backup quarterback Jason Garrett. Before serving as head coach of the Cowboys between 2010 and 2019, he was likely best remembered by most football fans for his nearly flawless performance in place of starting quarterback Troy Aikman on Thanksgiving Day in 1994.

In only his second career start, Garrett passed for 311 yards and two touchdowns to help Dallas defeat the Green Bay Packers 42-31.

However, while Garrett’s performance was impressive, it was arguably not the best or most memorable performance by a Dallas backup quarterback on Thanksgiving Day.

That honor would belong to a rookie quarterback from Abilene Christian who two decades before Garrett’s Thanksgiving performance made a lasting impression on the football world with a memorable Thanksgiving Day show of his own.

In the mid-1970s, the rivalry between the Dallas Cowboys and Washington Redskins was emerging as one of the most interesting in all of professional sports.

Thanks to the contrast between Washington’s spirited head coach George Allen and the stoic leader of the Cowboys Tom Landry, the rivalry had gained steam and by 1974 was among the most anticipated battles on the NFL calendar.

When the two squads squared off on Thanksgiving Day in 1974 it provided a perfect venue for the renewal of this special rivalry. Playing on national television in an era before video games and cable television provided people with other entertainment options, the late afternoon battle between the Cowboys and Redskins was truly America’s afternoon dessert following the traditional Thanksgiving meal.

After a record eight straight playoff appearances, the Dallas Cowboys had struggled during the 1974 campaign. They opened the season with a 1-4 record and entered Thanksgiving Day with a 6-5 mark and clinging to very slim playoff hopes. With games remaining against Cleveland and Oakland, they were potentially looking at their first losing season since 1964.

A game between the Dallas Cowboys and San Francisco 49ers is usually mammoth with both teams battling for supremacy in the National Football Confence if not the entire NFL. This storied rivalry has stood the test of time and is etched in football lore. There have been iconic games with signature moments like, “The Catch” in the 1981 NFC Championship Game at Candlestick Park. Joe Montana’s game-winning touchdown pass to Dwight Clark inside of the final minute gave the 49ers a 28-27 win and launched them as the team of the 1980’s. How about Troy Aikman’s clutch slant pass to Alvin Harper with a little more than four minutes left to play in the 1992 NFC Championship Game at Candlestick Park. Harper turned it into a 71-yard catch-and-run which silenced the home crowd and took back the momentum after San Francisco had seized it with a touchdown to pull within 24-20. Dallas turned Harper’s big play into a touchdown to seal a 30-20 victory that sent them onto win their first of back-to-back Super Bowls in the 1990’s. Then there was a frantic end of game fury in the 2001 NFC Wild Card game where Dak Prescott and the offense had to hurry down the field to try and get one last play off only to have the clock expire in a 49ers 23-17 victory. The two franchises have played several big regular season games as well but these postseason theatrics over decades has made this rivalry what it has been and still is today.

The two franchises have met in six NFC Championship games with the Cowboys winning four of them. Each winner from those matchups went on to win that season’s Super Bowl except for the 1970 Dallas team which lost to Baltimore 16-13 in Super Bowl V. They have met nine times in the playoffs overall with the Cowboys holding a 5-4 edge. The all time series is nearly a draw with San Francisco holding a narrow 20-19-1 advantage.

Names like Dick Nolan, John Brodie, Gene Washington, Bruce Taylor, and Rosevelt Taylor were key to the 49ers in the 1970’s. The franchises met three straight years in the playoffs in the 1970’s including a pair of NFC Championship games, both won by Dallas. Names like Roger Staubach, Duane Thomas, Tony Dorsett, Drew Pearson, Tony Hill, Bob Lilly, Jethro Pugh, Lee Roy Jordan, Cliff Harris, Charlie Waters, Randy White, Harvey Martin, and Ed “Too Tall” Jones were the core of the Cowboys in the 1970’s when they became known as “America’s Team”. As the 1980’s came along, Joe Montana, Roger Craig, Dwight Clark, Jerry Rice, John Taylor, Tom Rathman, Ronnie Lott, Eric Wright, Dwaine Board, Jack Reynolds, Randy Cross, and Keith Fahnhorst were mainstays for San Francisco which won four Super Bowls in the 1980’s.

As the 1990’s started, a young cast of players emerged for Dallas led by Troy Aikman, Michael Irvin, and Emmitt Smith who were collectively known as “The Triplets.” Complemeting them were speedy and talented players like Darren Woodson, Mark Stepnoski, Jay Novacek, Kelvin Martin, Eric Williams, Kevin Smith, Charles Haley, Thomas Everrett, Ken Norton Jr., Russell Maryland, Larry Brown, Dixon Edwards, Darrin Smith, Robert Jones, Tony Tolbert, and Daryl “Moose” Johnston. The 49ers carried much of their success of the 80’s into the 90’s as players like Montana, Rice, Lott, Wright, and Cross remained to go along with Steve Young, Ricky Watters, Lee Woodall, and Bryant Young.

While the two franchises went through a dry spell of no playoff encounters between the 1995 and 2020 seasons, they have met in two of the last three postseasons. San Francisco won in the NFC Wild Card game in 2021 and again in the NFC Divisional playoffs in 2022. The 49ers have won the last three meetings overall including a dominant 42-10 victory on Sunday Night Football a year ago on Oct. 8. The Cowboys last beat San Francisco 41-33 at home on Dec. 20, 2020.

Yet for all this history, the two current teams find themselves searching for who they really are as they get ready to play in primtime on NBC’s Sunday Night Football this Sunday, Oct. 27. They will enter Sunday night’s tilt with a 6-7 combined record with Dallas 3-3 and the 49ers 3-4, not exactly playoff worthy at this point in the season. Both teams are coming off losses at home and are trying to regain their footing. There is no Brodie, Montana, Young, Clark, Rice, or Lott to be seen in San Francisco. Likewise, there is no Staubach, Pearson, Dorsett, Lilly, White, Aikman, Irvin, Smith, or Haley suiting up for the Cowboys. There is no Dick Nolan, Bill Walsh, Tom Landry, or Jimmy Johnson strolling the sidelines as the head coach.

The 2024 recruiting class for South Carolina football is shaping up to be one of the most promising in recent memory. Packed with talented players, including several 5-star and 4-star recruits, this group has Gamecock fans eager to see what the future holds. Head coach Shane Beamer and his staff are confident that some of these freshmen will immediately impact the field.

Let’s look at five top recruits ready to enter the spotlight and help elevate the Gamecocks in the upcoming season.

Mazeo Bennett – Wide Receiver Already Making Waves

Mazeo Bennett, a wide receiver from Greenville High School, has been one of the most exciting players to watch in the early 2024 season. His talent was clear from the start, and Bennett wasted no time showing what he could do. In just four games, he has already established himself as a critical weapon in South Carolina’s offense.

Bennett’s performance against Akron was awe-inspiring. He recorded five catches for 71 yards and scored a touchdown, setting new career highs in both receptions and yardage. According to Pro Football Focus, his ability to make big plays has drawn attention nationwide, earning him the distinction of being the highest-rated freshman wide receiver.

His consistency and ability to step up in crucial moments set Bennett apart. Leading the team in receiving yardage, he is also second in yards from scrimmage, making him a standout in South Carolina’s offense. Given Bennett’s impressive start, the South Carolina Gamecocks Odds of success this season continue to improve.

He looks poised to join the ranks of legendary Gamecock first-year students who recorded 600 or more receiving yards. As the season progresses, Bennett’s role is only expected to grow.