ARLINGTON, Texas — In retrospect it really is amazing just how swiftly a franchise’s fortunes can flip. In this case, in the ballroom of New York’s Sheraton Hotel, it took less than a minute. Literally.
New Orleans had the first pick of that 1981 draft, by virtue of having gone 1-15 during the 1980 season, inspiring the classic nickname “Aints,” driving their fans to wear paper bags over their heads at the Superdome. Not incidentally, their lone win of the year had come in Shea Stadium, Week 15, 21-20 over the Jets.