Bill Walsh once famously said, “it’s better to get rid of a player a year early rather than a year too late.” That predicament is especially acute when it is the franchise/HOF quarterback. Not only is there the risk that the player might not be as effective, but he also stands in the way of developing his intended successor. As much as we would like to think our favorite player is everlasting and irreplaceable, nostalgia ultimately does not win championships.
Is it better to let the player go a year early, and hope you don’t look foolish should he lead his new team to a Super Bowl?