We had long debates on that pre draft, I kept stating I wanted Leftwich, but was convinced we would not take him because mac was in his last year and wasn't going to play a rookie QB. A lot of people told me I'm nuts, but I'm a big believer in Bill Bidwill saying what he means, and meaning what he says.
He told Joe Bugel you have to win 8 games to keep your job, Bugel went 7-9, team appeared to be headed the right direction, Bugel was fired. Supposedly he told Mac he needed to make major improvements (remember all the talk that Olson was part of a directed coaching purge.. that Mac HAD to do it to keep his job), the team didn't, Mac was gone. My belief is if Bidwill says you have one more year, he gives you one more year, and that probably included the right to have a LOT of say in who we picked.
Had Andre Johnson been there, we would have taken him, we clearly needed WR help, when he was gone, I think they went to plan B which was get a WR, AND a DE by moving down. I have no doubt Graves was involved in that decision, but I also have no doubt that taking Leftwich was never an option because Mac wouldn't consider it. Let's be honest, if we start slowly, as we did, last year, how many games before we're all calling for Leftwich to start?
Mac is no idiot, he knew if he took him, the pressure to play him would be enormous, and as talented as Byron is, they lost most of the games he started last year in Jacksonville, with a better defense and a better RB than we had.
I really believe the Johnson and Pace picks were a direct result of Bidwill's honest intent to give Mac one last year to prove himself.
