The 10 greatest false alarms in NFL history: an April Fools special

NEW YORK CITY - APRIL 24: Quarterback Eli Manning (Mississippi) stands next to his older brother QB Peyton Manning of the Indianapolis Colts after Eli was selected first overall by the San Diego Chargers at the 2004 NFL Draft on April 24, 2004 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Manning was later traded to the New York Giants in exchange for QB Philip Rivers (North Carolina State) and New York's third-round pick (No. 65), which they use to select Iowa K Nate Kaeding, and the Giants' first-round and fifth-round picks in the 2005 draft. (Photo by Chris Trotman/Getty Images) /

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08. Redskins back out of John Elway trade over Jim Lachey

The Washington Redskins were thinking about making a quarterback change going into the 1991 season. Not a surprise given how poorly starter Mark Rypien had performed in the playoff loss to the San Francisco 49ers the previous year. They started sending out feelers to other teams about possible trades and even sent one to the Denver Broncos regarding star John Elway. It wasn’t intended with expectations they’d get a positive response.

That’s why they were suitably stunned when Denver replied with interest in the possibility of a deal. The price they demanded was All-Pro tackle Jim Lachey. It looked like things were coming together, but when the deal was floated by Redskins owner Jack Kent Cooke, he shut it down. They were not giving up Lachey. Thus the trade died. It ended up not mattering as Washington won the Super Bowl that year with Rypien claiming MVP honors in that game.

Elway though would end up winning two titles before retiring at the end of the decade. It leaves one to wonder what Hall of Fame coach Joe Gibbs could’ve done had that trade gone through.

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