The Dallas Cowboys are attempting another reclamation project, having signed Aldon Smith. The defensive end last played in 2015 with the Oakland Raiders. A look at what has transpired in the NFL since he last took the field
The Raiders moved to Las Vegas
When Smith last played for the Raiders, they called Oakland home. That is changing with the 2020 season as the Silver and Black will move to Sin City, Las Vegas. Oh, and they also brought back Jon Gruden as their coach.
The Niners turned things around
From 2016-18, the San Francisco 49ers, Smith’s first team, won a grand total of 12 games. That changed drastically in 2019 when Kyle Shanahan led SF to a 13-win season that culminated in a trip to the Super Bowl.
Patrick Mahomes went from college to MVP
The Kansas City Chiefs didn’t have Patrick Mahomes at quarterback when Smith last played. He was at Texas Tech. However, the Chiefs made the brilliant decision to draft Mahomes 10th overall in 2017 and he has gone on to become a league and Super Bowl MVP.
Jason Garrett is no longer Cowboys coach
It seemed like it would never happen, but Jerry Jones finally cut ties with Jason Garrett, who had taken the job in 2010 and held it through the 2019 season. The person who is replacing Garrett is Mike McCarthy, who was coach of the Green Bay Packers when Smith last suited up.
Pass interference calls are reviewed
Coaches had the abilities to challenge plays when Smith was in the league. However, thanks to a non-call in the Rams-Saints NFC Championship after the 2018 regular season, the league opened its rules to allow pass interference or non-pass interference calls to be questioned.
Tom Brady won 2 of 3 Super Bowls …
The New England Patriots made it to three consecutive Super Bowls in Aldon Smith’s absence from the NFL. Tom Brady quarterbacked the Pats to victories over the Atlanta Falcons and Los Angeles Rams, sandwiching a loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.
… Tom Brady signed with the Tampa Bay Bucs
The G.O.A.T.’s run in New England is over. Shortly before the Dallas Cowboys signed Aldon Smith, the Tampa Bay Bucs made a huge move by signing Tom Brady as a free agent. Unfortunately, the Bucs don’t play the Cowboys in 2020.
Jason Witten retired and returned
Jason Witten was an All-Pro TE for the Dallas Cowboys when Smith was in the league. He decided to retire and step into the Monday Night Football booth. After an unsuccessful run with MNF, Witten returned to the Cowboys for one season. He signed with the Raiders in 2020 via free agency.
The PAT permanently changed
The league permanently move the line of scrimmage for extra-point kick attempts after touchdowns to the defensive team’s 15-yard line, and permanently allow the defense to return any missed attempt. The owners approved this rule change in 2015 as a one-year trial and voted this year to adopt it permanently.
The Browns won 1 game over 2 seasons
Cleveland could have used a healthy and sober Aldon Smith in 2016 and ’17. He might not have changed the Browns’ record dramatically but anything would have helped as they went 1-31 under Hue Jackson in those two seasons.
Brandin Cooks had 1,000-yard seasons for 3 teams
Brandin Cooks played for the New Orleans Saints in 2016 and had 1,173 receiving yards. In 2017, the wideout played with Tom Brady and the Patriots and had 1,082 yards. In 2018, as a Ram, Cooks caught passes for 1,204 yards.
