it was a bad break to draw them. Our '84 team would indeed have beaten many, many SB winners. 14-2 and we rolled through the playoffs w ease. Problem was the Niners were 15-1 - their only loss that year was an OT game w the AFC runner up Steelers. They came an over time FG from going unbeaten - which is closer than the '85 bears got - but no one talks about this 49er team in the same light - I'm not sure why that is.
and everybody always talks about the Offense, with Montana, Craig, etc, but their defense was absolutely amazing, with one of if not the best secondary of all time. they are a team that is usually underrated (maybe part of the reason is the amazing season dan and the dolphins offense had,that kind of overshadowed the 49ers) but they were dominant as they came. I don't see how that kind of team could have been so much worse with Dan
In today NFL, wHere QBs are untouchables and where they can play till they are 38-39 years old without any major injury, where you can always throw the ball away (the intentional grounding rule's change, IMO, is one of the biggest factor in the No defense NFL of our days....) when someone is covered, instead of risking a pass and getting beaten to a pulp by the d.line like the old great ones, when the WR are running free of contact... well, I think he would be just illegal, with his magic feet, the quickest release of all time, the freaking amazing field vision, the clutch factor, the leadership, etc etc
In my eyes, Dan is still the best talent ever at the position, the definitive NATURAL. And one thing: I think Dan's stats...are the less impressive thing about him... I think only watching him play, you can understand his greatness... and it makes me sad thinking that most of the fans will remember him most for t for the super season and the stats, instead that for how freaking great and magical and almost perfect for the role it was (yes, yes, I know, he didn't like to fake a run and preferred to pass instead to feed the great ones like Higgins, Craver, Parmalee, Kirby and so on, silly him).
but it is just a dream and an argument that you could apply to many qbs I guess.... Imagine if Montana played today...and his career wasnt' changed by the hits&injuries... I mean, how longer would have been the 49ers dynasty? the secret of New England longevity is actually just that, IMHO: Brady (or Manning except last year) can be still effective in their late thirties not because they are better players than or athletes or pros than, say, Marino or Montana or...Stabler? and many others, but just because they are much much less damaged (I remember when Montana was with the Chiefs...he was still freaking decisive in the game, but still he was a shadow of the previous self)
sorry for the rant and the sucky English
