You don't go 10-6 one year with a still productive, Canton-bound QB and then 4-12 the next - unless you dismantle the team. Thompson dismantled Sherman's playoffs team. The Polar Bear conspired to tank that season, partly b/c he wanted a top 10 pick and partly b/c he needed an excuse to fire Sherman, who averaged 11 wins as GM/Coach.
Always forgetting the salary cap problem that Patler broke down for us.
Bud Adams told me the franchise he admired the most was the Kansas City Chiefs. Then he asked for more hookers and blow.