Chron: Terrible teams needn't dwell on it

More proof into getting Reggie Bush or other draft picks so we can become future Super Bowl contenders....

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/3555459.html

No. 1 draft picks can help pretenders become contenders

By MEGAN MANFULL
Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle

The Texans are dwelling in the NFL cellar, but no one in the organization is planning to file for permanent residency.

With two victories going into their season finale Sunday at San Francisco, the Texans find themselves in what has been a common predicament for a number of NFL teams.

Twenty-five teams have finished 2-14 or 1-15 since the NFL schedule was expanded to 16 games in 1978. That doesn't include the strike-shortened seasons in 1982 and 1987 when four teams finished with no more than two victories.

Of those teams, a number have created dramatic turnarounds. Bolstered by strong No. 1 draft picks, franchises have become respectable in just one year. There are even instances when teams have reached the Super Bowl just two years after finishing as the worst team in the league.

"It shows you what's possible," Texans owner Bob McNair said. "If no one had ever done it before, maybe you would be overly optimistic to have those goals.

"But when you see other teams have done it, I don't think it's overreaching to say that we can have a dramatic turnaround also."

The Texans would love to emulate what the Dallas Cowboys and Carolina Panthers have done. In 2001, the Panthers finished 1-15. They drafted defensive end Julius Peppers with the No. 1 pick and finished 7-9 during his rookie season. In 2003, they finished 11-5 and reached the Super Bowl.

The Cowboys finished 1-15 in 1989, enabling them to choose Emmitt Smith with the No. 1 pick in the draft. They posted a 7-9 record in 1990, were 11-5 in 1991 and then won the Super Bowl after the 1992 season after going 13-3.

"There have been a number of teams that have had swings of eight games from one season to the next and some nine games," McNair said. "The Colts had a 10-game swing (from 1998 to 1999). The most recent was San Diego went from 4-12 to 12-4 in 2004. Significant swings can occur like that."

McNair has little doubt the Texans can orchestrate a turnaround. But he is aware that it doesn't work out for all teams like that.

The Oilers were 2-14 in 1983. Over the next three years, their records were 3-13, 5-11, and 5-11. They kept stockpiling No. 1 picks, however, and by 1987 they reached the playoffs and went seven consecutive years.

Having yet to experience the playoffs, the Texans hope to rebound quickly from this season. They should get a big boost if they draft USC running back Reggie Bush with the No. 1 pick.

But if they don't, McNair is optimistic about the influence the upcoming draft will have on their future.

"We'll have a high pick in the first round and our second-round pick will be near the top of it and virtually at the bottom of the first," McNair said. "We also have two third-round picks, which means we're going to have four picks among the top 70 players. I think those four picks can have a significant impact."