Atlanta Falcons Trade To Get Michael Vick

On April 21, 2001, the first day of the NFL draft was held at Madison Square Garden in New York.

The draft is most remembered for the trade that took place between the Atlanta Falcons and the San Diego Chargers.

Ladainian Tomlinson was selected fifth overall in the 2001 NFL Draft by the San Diego Chargers.

The Falcons traded their first round pick, fifth overall, along with their third round pick in 2001, a second round pick in 2002 and wide receiver Tim Dwight to the Chargers for the No.1 overall pick.
 
Atlanta used the No.1 pick to draft quarterback Michael Vick out of Virginia Tech, while San Diego took running back Ladainian Tomlinson from Texas Christian University with the fifth selection.


When this trade was first made, it was tough to tell who got the better deal, but after some time it was quite obvious who the winner was.

Michael Vick was selected No. 1 overall in the 2001 NFL Draft by the Atlanta Falcons.

Although Vick had some early success in Atlanta, his off-field problems all but killed his career, until his resurgence a few years ago in Philadelphia.

However, Tomlinson was a premier running back in the NFL for the entire decade with the Chargers and a solid tandem back with the Jets.

Vick is still currently in the NFL, now with the New York Jets, while Tomlinson is happily retired.

Tom Clancy Buys Minnesota Vikings

On Feb. 5, 1998, Author Tom Clancy confirms he signed agreement to purchase Minnesota Vikings for slightly more than $200 million, an NFL franchise record.

The 1998 season was a good one for Clancy and the Vikings.

With a spectacular offense led by quarterback Randall Cunningham (who replaced an injured Brad Johnson), running back Robert Smith, veteran wide receiver Cris Carter, and explosive rookie Randy Moss, the Vikings set a then-NFL record by scoring a total of 556 points, never scoring fewer than 24 in a game.

The Vikings finished the season 15–1, their only loss was to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 27–24 in Week 9.

In the playoffs, the Vikings rolled past the Arizona Cardinals 41–21,and came into the Metrodome heavily favored for their NFC title showdown with the Atlanta Falcons, who had gone 14–2 in the regular season.

After kicker Gary Anderson, who had just completed the first perfect regular season in NFL history (not missing a single extra point or field goal attempt the entire year), missed a 38-yard field goal attempt with less than 2 minutes remaining, the Falcon's ensuing drive tied the game. T

his led to a controversial decision by head coach Dennis Green to run out the clock and let the game go onto overtime. Though the Vikings won the coin toss, Atlanta went on to win it 30–27 in overtime on Morten Andersen's 38-yard field goal.

The Vikings became the first 15–1 team to fail to reach the Super Bowl. The Falcons lost Super Bowl XXXIII to John Elway and the Denver Broncos.

Since the team's first season in 1961, the Vikings have had one of the highest winning percentages in the NFL.

They are also one of only six NFL teams to win at least 15 games during the regular season. The Vikings have won one NFL Championship, in 1969, prior to the league's merger with the American Football League (AFL). Since the merger, they have made the playoffs 25 times, third-most in the league.

The team has played in four Super Bowls (IV, VIII, IX and XI), losing in each one. In addition, they have lost in their last five NFC Championship Game appearances since 1978.

The team currently has 12 members in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

The Vikings who currently play at the Metrodome in Minnesota, just broke ground on what will be the franchises fourth stadium, The New Vikings Stadium, which is stated to be opened for the 2016 season. However, in the 2014 and 2015 seasons the Vikings will play at the University of Minnesota, home of the Golden Gophers, at The TCF Bank Stadium.

Prime Time Plays Two Sports In One Day

On Oct. 11, 1992, Deion “Prime Time” Sanders suited up for both the Atlanta Falcons and the Atlanta Braves.  He remains the only man in history to dress for two different professional sports team in one day.

Deion Sanders’ wild weekend began on Saturday night when he played in Game 4 of the NLCS against the Pittsburg Pirates where he pinch-hit in a 6-4 Braves win.  After the game, Sanders took a flight to Florida where his Atlanta Falcons took on the Miami Dolphins on Sunday afternoon.  Deion played all but one snap on defense as well as returning both punts and kick-offs, and he even chipped in on offense with a nine-yard catch.  Following the game, Sanders traveled by limousine, helicopter, plane and limousine again to arrive back at Three Rivers Stadium just in time for Game 5.  Although he dressed for the game, Sanders did not see any playing time in the Pirates’ 7-1 victory.

When you think of two sport athletes, the name Deion Sanders, along with Bo Jackson, immediately come to mind.  What these two men accomplished on the gridiron and on the diamond is something we may never see again.

Sanders had a great career in the NFL he racked up 53 interceptions, and 22 touchdowns in his 16 years in the league. Sanders’ other accolades included being selected to the Pro-Bowl eight consecutive times from 1991-1999. Sanders also set a record for interceptions in the Pro Bowl with four, he is tied with Everson Wells and Champ Bailey. 

Sanders was also named an All-Pro eight consecutive times from 1991-1999, two-time NFC Defensive Player of the Year in 1993 and 1994. In 1994 Sanders also was named the AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year. He was the CO-NFL Alumni Special Teams Player of the Year in 1998, along with Gary Anderson. He was also part of two Super Bowl Championship teams the 1994 San Francisco 49ers and the 1995 Dallas Cowboys.

Sanders’ was elected into the NFL Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio in 2011 as well the college football Hall of Fame in South Bend, Indiana.

While Sanders was the cream of the crop in the NFL world, he was just a mediocre ball player with exceptional speed when it came to the MLB.

Sanders led the league in triples with 14 in 1992, but that was his only remarkable feat. Sanders accumulated 186 stolen bases, 39 home runs on 558 hits in his eight-year career, which spanned 12 years.

Sanders’ most memorable MLB moment came in the 1992 World Series where he hit .533 with four runs, eight hits, two of which were doubles, and one RBI while playing with a broken bone in his foot. The Braves would eventually lose to the Blue Jays in the World Series. He would never reach the World Series again.