NFL Draft Busts

DixieDestroyer

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Here's somewhat of a rarity, an "NFL Bust" list with a majority of "affletes" (yo).
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My six favorite draft busts and where they are now

By MJD

1. Andre Ware, No. 7 overall, 1990.

The Heisman trophy winner was drafted by the Detroit Lions, but only got four years to soak in the expert tutelage of head coach Wayne Fontes. He could never beat out Erik Kramer or Rodney Peete for a permanent starting job, and ended up with the Raiders, where he was also promptly cut. Ware then made the move to the Canadian League, where he was also quite terrible.

But he's doing just fine these days, working as a college football analyst for ESPN, and as part of the Houston Texans broadcast team.

2. Ryan Leaf, No. 2 overall, 1998.

After doing everything he could to hurt the Chargers short of burning down Qualcomm Stadium and stabbing Junior Seau in the neck, Leaf bounced around to a couple of other NFL teams, most notably the Cowboys, but never found any success.

After leaving the NFL, Leaf spent a while coaching at West Texas A&M (he worked as the quarterbacks coach, and as the head coach on the golf team), but resigned after he asked a player for a pain pill.

But the good news for Leaf is that he managed his draft money well, he married a Chargers cheerleader, and you'll be happy to know that he's still making time for fun.

3. Lawrence Phillips, No. 6 overall, 1996.

After stellar rookie and sophomore years in which he averaged 3.3 and 3.4 yards per carry, respectively (had Phillips been able to stick with football and progress at the same rate, he'd be getting ready to average 4.6 yards per carry this season!) Phillips bounced around to a couple of other NFL teams, NFL Europe, Arena Football and the Canadian League. His career ended when two CFL teams cut him because he was kind of a jerk.

What's he doing these days? A 10-year stretch in California state prison. I'll let Wikipedia sum up his post-football criminal career:

On August 21, 2005, Phillips was arrested for assault after allegedly driving a car into three teenagers, following a dispute with the teens during a pick-up football game in Los Angeles, California. At the time of the arrest, Phillips was wanted by the San Diego, California, police in connection with two alleged domestic abuse incidents involving a former girlfriend, who claimed that Phillips choked her to the point of unconsciousness during one of the incidents. In addition, the Los Angeles Police Department was seeking Phillips in connection with yet another, separate domestic abuse allegation that had occurred previously in Los Angeles.

In March, 2006, the Associated Press reported that Phillips had been ordered to stand trial on felony assault with a deadly weapon charges stemming from the August 21, 2005, incident. The assigned judge dismissed two counts of child abuse and one count of leaving the scene of an accident, but continued the trial on the more serious charges.

On October 10, 2006, Phillips was found guilty of seven counts of assault with a deadly weapon. On October 3, 2008, Phillips was sentenced to 10 years in a California state prison.

4. Blair Thomas, No. 2 overall, 1990.

It feels a little unfair to call Thomas a bust, because his career was largely derailed by injuries, but he didn't last long in the league, and only gave the Jets four years and 2,009 total rushing yards.

That wasn't his only contribution to football, though. Thomas was the running backs coach at Temple University, where he helped develop two NFL running backs, which is two more than Temple has any right producing. Jason McKie and Stacey Mack both benefited from Thomas's coaching.

Today, Thomas and former Eagles receiver Kenny Jackson own a small chain of sports bars named "Kokomo's." They have "deep fried stuff galore".

5. Ki-Jana Carter, No. 1 overall, 1995.

Ki-Jana beat out even Ryan Leaf as Charles Robinson's worst all-time first-round draft pick back in 2007. That's the top of the mountain for draft bustage, really.

Carter tore up his knee in his first preseason game as a rookie and was never the same. He managed to stick around the league for seven more years, despite mostly anemic numbers. He peaked with the Redskins in 2001, when he carried 63 times for 308 yards and a 4.9 yards per carry average. After that, though, he failed to gain 100 more yards in his career.

I was hoping to find out that Ki-Jana and Blair Thomas opened up a roller disco together in State College, but that's not the case. Carter lives in Miami, does a little local broadcasting and hosts a Monday Night Football event at a Casino.

6. Tim Couch, No. 1 overall, 1999.

As a number one overall draft pick that went to a team in Cleveland, you might call Tim Couch "the anti-LeBron." Couch did manage to start for five years in Cleveland, though he only won 22 games in those five years, and his quarterback rating never broke out of the 70s. It wasn't like he didn't bring anyone any joy, though. Former Steelers broadcaster Myron Cope loved to make fun of him.

Couch tried to latch on with several other teams after finally being let go by the Browns, but he never saw another down of NFL action. He's currently working as a Kentucky Wildcats football analyst for the Big Blue Sports Network, but his best move was marrying former Playboy Playmate Heather Kozar, so he's got that going for him. Which is nice.


***Reference article...
 

Don Wassall

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I'll tell you the name that ought to be a national joke and the first onementionedwhenthis topic which is so beloved by the mediaisonce again brought up-- Mike Williams.


And Mike Williams. In 2002, tackle Mike Williams was the fourth overall pick of the draft by the Bills. He was a fat, lethargic slug and a colossal bust. In 2005, Mike Williams, a fat, lazy, hands of stone WR (who would have been a TE if he was white), was drafted 10th overall by the Lions. He was also a colossal bust.


Can you imagine the reaction if it was two white players with identical names playing two different positions and picked within three years of each other early in the first round flopping this bad? Ryan Leaf, Heath Shuler, Tim Couch, Cade McNown, Brian Bosworth, Mike Mamula, Tony Mandarich and the others ritually brought up for ridicule would have to move over big time for the new media/DWF objects of scorn.


But in DWF World, who even remembers T Mike Williams? Certainly none of those drooling over the affletic black tackles crowding the top of this year's mock drafts.
 

jaxvid

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The Lions drafting of Mike Williams was especially bizzare. Almost if it was intentional punishment to the franchise. Williams had missed a year waiting out the same court decision as Maurice Clarett on whether they could play early in the NFL (which they lost). Williams was off a year, tested horrible before the draft, and yet still was drafted in the first round!!! Absolute sheer incompetence on behalf of the Lions.

DWF's and their supporting media are an endless source of amusement for me. Here in Detroit I read an article about how the Lions need a safety. REALLY need a safety. So the reporter goes on about some black guy in this years draft who is such a "steal" because he is so "athletic" even though there are "questions" about his football skills.

Then the article talks about the reason they need a safety is because the guy they drafted a couple of years ago didn't work out (bust). But a couple of years ago he was the athletic "steal" that they had to waste a high draft choice on. No mention of Stuart Sweigart in the mix for safety this year. Funny, the only guy who's better then the last black bust is the next black bust.
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white is right

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The biggest life bust has to be Lawrence Phillips. I remember when he was released by the Rams and Vermeil looked like a Kennedy crying over the Boston public school board closing a lunch program in Roxbury.
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By the way I am suprised that Blair Thomas rushed for 2000 yards....
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Edited by: white is right
 

Don Wassall

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Looks like the highest drafted blackLB may be a bust for the second year in a row. Last year, the media swooned all over Aaron Curry, taken by Seattle as the fourth pick of the first round. The most complete player and the surest thing in the Draft, we were assured. The only other player givencomparable hype as "NFL ready" in that draft was WR Brian Robiskie, who has been a colossal flop to this point with the Browns.

Curry was mediocre in his rookie season in 2009, and has maintained that level of play so far in '10.

Rolando McClain was the first LB selected in 2010, taken eighth overall by the Raiders. Again, he was hyped as an instant NFL star. He has been even worse than Curry so far, a huge disappointment. He may turn it around, but great linebackers usually flash their potential right from the get-go. Compare the flops of Curry and McClain to the instant stardom attained last season by White rookies Brian Cushing, James Laurinaitis and Clay Matthews.

White linebackers are really coming on. The highest drafted one this year was Sean Lee, who unfortunately was taken by the White linebacker destroying Cowboys, who never gave Bobby Carpenter a fair opportunity and are doing the same with Lee so far. But the bottom line is linebacker is yet another position where black busts are common and White stars are readily found when given an opportunity.Edited by: Don Wassall
 

celticdb15

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"White linebackers are really coming on. The highest drafted one this year was Sean Lee, who unfortunately was taken by the White linebacker destroying Cowboys, who never gave Bobby Carpenter a fair opportunity and are doing the same with Lee so far. But the bottom line is linebacker is yet another position where black busts are common and White stars are readily found when given an opportunity"

Agreed! Deadlift does a great job of keeping track of the linebacker stats for the week, and some of the performances turned in are quite impressive. We've got a great crop of young guys that will be in the pros over the next couple of years. Guyslike Kuechly(BC), Smith(Miss St.), Herzlich(BC), Matt Berning(CMU), Nick Bellore (CMU, Ross Homan(Ohio St), Andrew Sweat(Ohio St.), Brian Wagner(Akron),Alex Wujciak(Mary), Casey Matthew(Oregon), Chris Colasanti(PSU) and many more all have the talent to play pro ball. Its more of a matter if coaches will give them a chance.
 

FootballDad

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Here is an article from ProFootballWeekly.com in regards to who they * hope * the "breakout" players will be in the AFC West this year. Here are the players and my take:

Broncos: Slowshawn Moreno. Really. They are praying that this will be "the year" that Slowshawn realizes his limitless "upside" and "affleticism". Please. He'll stink this year, too, IMHO.

Chiefs: Brandon Carr. The "weak link" in the Chiefs secondary. I've watched plenty of Chiefs games from the seats at Arrowhead, and I see nothing to justify this hope. He is an average corner at best, with "tight hips" and average burst. Worst of all, though, is that his instincts seem poor, as he is constantly out of position, and therefore torched.

Oakland: Lamarr Houston. Now this one I can see. If Houston can stay motivated, he is not bad, a strong, quick non-sumo DT. Of course, their are multitudes of white D lineman that play HS ball every year with his size and even better measurables that never even get a chance to play college ball because of pigmentation deficiency.

San Diego: Ryan Mathews. Only his second year in the league and the analysts are already trying to hype up this mulatto since they fear a bust is imminent. Although I think that Mathews has the tools to be a good back, I think that he will be another perpetually-injured player that will end up as a colossal bust, like a high percentage of black first-round picks.
 
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white is right said:
The biggest life bust has to be Lawrence Phillips. I remember when he was released by the Rams and Vermeil looked like a Kennedy crying over the Boston public school board closing a lunch program in Roxbury.
smiley36.gif
By the way I am suprised that Blair Thomas rushed for 2000 yards....
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Sounds like a man who knows his Beantown.
 

Deadlift

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BUSTS..

(DL) Marcus Spears -- re-signed by Dallas for 5 years.. :icon_rolleyes:

(DE) Jarvis Moss -- signed by Oakland

(DE/LB) Vernon Gholston -- signed by Chicago

(DE) Jamaal Anderson -- TBD

(DE) Derrick Harvey -- Tampa, perhaps?

(DL) Justin Harrell -- TBD

(DT) Jimmy Kennedy -- TBD
 

DWFan

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Oh my God. The caste system could be ten times as bad as it is, and I would still be surprised at Gholston being signed.
 

bigunreal

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White "busts" are typically one team and out. If they are picked up by any other team, it is strictly as a backup. Look at Brady Quinn- he is universally considered a "bust" after starting all of TEN games, strung out over a few seasons, in his career. Also, Matt Leinart, who has started 17 games over several seasons, and wasn't even able to sign with Seattle, where his college coach holds the reigns, and compete with the immortal Tavaris Jackson.

Black busts, on the other hand, are given numerous chances, despite showing zero potential with their original team. Witness Ghoulston, with ZERO sacks in four seasons, being signed by the Bears, where he almost certainly will be given every chance to start. And of course Fat Mike Williams, who did everything he could to repel any NFL suitors during several awful seasons with multiple teams, only to latch on with Seattle last year and have his quite mediocre performance be overhyped into near Pro Bowl status by the ever reliable jock sniffers and dwfs.
 

ToughJ.Riggins

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White "busts" are typically one team and out. If they are picked up by any other team, it is strictly as a backup. Look at Brady Quinn- he is universally considered a "bust" after starting all of TEN games, strung out over a few seasons, in his career. Also, Matt Leinart, who has started 17 games over several seasons, and wasn't even able to sign with Seattle, where his college coach holds the reigns, and compete with the immortal Tavaris Jackson.

Black busts, on the other hand, are given numerous chances, despite showing zero potential with their original team. Witness Ghoulston, with ZERO sacks in four seasons, being signed by the Bears, where he almost certainly will be given every chance to start. And of course Fat Mike Williams, who did everything he could to repel any NFL suitors during several awful seasons with multiple teams, only to latch on with Seattle last year and have his quite mediocre performance be overhyped into near Pro Bowl status by the ever reliable jock sniffers and dwfs.

Great post! I was thinking along the same lines about Mike Williams not long ago- and thought about making a post on it. I love it when you make these kinds of performance evaluation posts big!
 

ALBINO RHINO

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BUST IN WAITING

1. GERALD MCCOY

2. GLEN DORSEY

3. AARON CURRY

4. DARIUS HEYWARD-BEY

5. ANDRE SMITH

ON THE HORIZON: TERRELL PRYOR AND DEZ BRYANT- I FOR SEE AN IMPLOSION with this guy
 

Deadlift

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(DL) Marcus Spears -- re-signed by Dallas for 5 years.. :icon_rolleyes:

(DE) Jarvis Moss -- signed by Oakland

(DE/LB) Vernon Gholston -- signed by Chicago

(DE) Jamaal Anderson -- TBD

(DE) Derrick Harvey -- Tampa, perhaps?

(DL) Justin Harrell -- TBD

(DT) Jimmy Kennedy -- TBD


UPDATE!


--Jamaal Anderson to Indianapolis

--Derrick Harvey to Denver

--The "immortal" Marcus Spears is injured again.. (should have drafted J.J. Watt!)

--Due to the Marvin Austin injury, I heard that the Giants' picked-up Jimmy Kennedy..


And, I'll add a new name to this list - Kentwan Balmer (Seattle released him). Who will pick him up?
 

celticdb15

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Jesus sick of seeing all these fat slobs continue to get picked up..
 

Leonardfan

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Ketnwan Balmer just got cut from Seattle a year after being traded from San Francisco for a 6th round pack. He was the first round pick of the 49ers in 2008
 

Deadlift

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Freethinker

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Maybe the immortal bust of defensive ends was cut today, "The Freak" Vernon Gholston was cut today. 4 years in the league and still not even a gimmie garbage time sack.... W had his war on steroids but couldn't figure out this guy was the comic book villian Bane....http://www.google.ca/imgres?q=verno...&tbnw=163&start=0&ndsp=39&ved=1t:429,r:13,s:0
My gawd, that photo is nauseating. George W. Bush is really living up to his middle name, Wigger, in that photo. He also could be a closet homosexual (like many GOP politicians). Why did liberals hate this guy so much?
 

foobar75

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It's remarkable to me that these black busts, especially the DLs, continue get recycled over and over, and just cannot seem to wash out of the league. With regards to both Gholston and Balmer, there's no reasonable explanation as to why they are still being given chances to play, when it's very clear that they are two of the biggest busts we've seen in recent years. The are simply not good enough to play in the NFL.

Yet, come draft time, every year without fail, it's the Mike Mamulas of the world who are always mentioned atop any bust list, when dozens of black busts are ignored entirely.
 

ALBINO RHINO

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TNB blame game!!!!!!!!!!!!! gholston edition

Maybe the immortal bust of defensive ends was cut today, "The Freak" Vernon Gholston was cut today. 4 years in the league and still not even a gimmie garbage time sack.... W had his war on steroids but couldn't figure out this guy was the comic book villian Bane....http://www.google.ca/imgres?q=verno...&tbnw=163&start=0&ndsp=39&ved=1t:429,r:13,s:0

does the whining ever end???

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/blog/sh...Gholston-believes-that-Rex-Rya?urn=nfl-wp5651
 

Deadlift

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Carolina waived DT Kentwan Balmer.. (he must REALLY REALLY suck!)
 

Extra Point

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It's interesting to predict the busts before they happen.

Defensive lineman Shane Ray was drafted in the first round by the Broncos. This was after Ray was pulled over for speeding and cited for possession. This didn't deter Denver from drafting him.

Touted as an explosive athlete, Ray had bad numbers in the 20 yd short shuttle and 3 cone drill. These tests measure quickness, agility and change of direction ability. Ray had a 4.53 short shuttle and a 7.71 3 cone. These are offensive lineman-like numbers.

The Broncos plan to convert Ray to linebacker. With such poor measurables Ray looks like a bust in the making.
 

Leonardfan

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Cowboys sign 1st round bust WR AJ Jenkins. They signed him instead of the bigger, better Kris Durham...I'm guessing because of all dat upside.
 
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