When it comes to football, I'm a huge Green Bay Packers and Seattle Seahawks fan. Yes, I know that both of them are in the NFC, but there once was a time when the Seahawks were in the AFC West... so it worked out perfectly... one NFC team... one AFC team.Anyways... let me get to my point. As a Packer fan from the 80's to present, the first person who pops into my head is Tony Mandarich. Two years earlier, the Hawks drafted Brian Bosworth.
The fact is every team has drafted someone that they've regretted.
Well when it comes to the Redskins, I can't think of a bigger draft bust than Heath Shuler. In 1993, Shuler was runner-up to Charlie Ward in Heisman Trophy voting. Scouts loved his game at the University of Tennessee and the Redskins were coming off a disappointing 4-12 season, just two years after winning the Super Bowl. So the Redskins released 1991 Super Bowl MVP Mark Rypien and drafted two quarterbacks: Gus Frerotte and Mr. Shuler. Neither would lead the Redskins back to the playoffs.
However, Frerotte had a decent career. He played for 14 seasons on 7 different teams and even made the Pro Bowl once in 1996.
Unfortunately, Shuler's career was quite the opposite. He started 13 games in his 1st two seasons as a Redskin. But after he was benched in 1996, he became expendable and was traded to the Saints for some draft picks. There, he would start 9 games until he suffered a foot injury that eventually ended his career.
His career stats included: 22 games started, an 8-14 record, 49.2% pass completion, 15 career TDs, 33 career interceptions, and a 54.3 QB rating.
On the flipside... there was a bright light at the end of the tunnel for Mr. Shuler. In 2007 (2006 election), ten years after his last NFL game, he became a member of the U.S. House of Representatives. He was successfully re-elected and is still a member of congress to this day.
Who knows... maybe one day he'll be our next President. I wonder what this autograph will be worth then?
So, congratulations goes out to 82Redbirds for correctly picking Shuler (John... so close). He's received 3 points. Everyone else earned 1 point.
Here's the updated point total:
82Redbirds - 11 points
G Moses - 10 points
TJ - 9 points
Tony MC - 9 points
Spastikmooss - 9 points
Sal - 9 pointsHoopography - 8 points
BA Benny - 8 points
Cam - 8 points
dkwilson - 7 points
Play at the Plate - 6 points
Steve D - 4 points
John - 3 points
night owl - 3 points
Jeremy - 2 points
Redsox101 - 1 point
Captain Canuck - 1 point
(...Joe) - 1 point
longlivethewho - 1 point
Martyn - 1 point
Last, but not least... here's your question of the day: What draft pick has been the biggest bust for your favorite team? All sports are welcome!
BA Benny - 8 points
Cam - 8 points
dkwilson - 7 points
Play at the Plate - 6 points
Steve D - 4 points
John - 3 points
night owl - 3 points
Jeremy - 2 points
Redsox101 - 1 point
Captain Canuck - 1 point
(...Joe) - 1 point
longlivethewho - 1 point
Martyn - 1 point
Last, but not least... here's your question of the day: What draft pick has been the biggest bust for your favorite team? All sports are welcome!
17 comments:
Hands down, Mike Williams of the Buffalo Bills.
A lot of Celtics fans would say Len Bias, and a lot of Browns fans would say Tim Couch. I'm going Red Sox though, and Brian Rose. He was the most hyped Red Sox prospect that I remember from my teen days (aside from Nommmmmaaaaaahhhhh), and he never really did anything. Had huge expectations for the kid, but sadly nothing ever came of him.
If you're sticking to football - Kordell Stewart.
We don't have draft sytems in UK sport, alot of multi million pound signings that were bust's, but as a draft bust Billy Beane (NYM) of course he's story is being captured by Hollywood at the moment but just 66 H's in 5 years. The mets thought he was better than Strawberry.
I cant think of any bad picks by the Giants, at least none that I can think of.
Martyn mentioned we don't have draft picks in the UK but I'm going to include a UK sport anyway.
John Jensen was picked up by Arsenal after Euro 92, he scored the winning goal for Denmark in the final beating Germany. He played for Arsenal for about four years and in that time only scored one goal. Not great.
Jake Plummer. He did really well at ASU. He wasn't a super high draft pick, but I thought he had a lot of potential. It just didn't work out for him in the NFL though.
I think Blair Thomas for the NY Jets would qualify as a big bust.
Lawrence Phillips was a running back out of Nebraska and was the Rams first round pick (6th overall) of the '96 draft. He was a huge disappointment (mostly for his off-the-field problems) and was cut from the team after 25 games. He's now serving a 31 year prison sentence for attacking his girlfriend and running his car into 3 teenagers.
I'm more of a college fan rather than a pro sports guy so I hope this counts. We don't have draft picks, we only have recruits. It's the same thing except they don't get paid to play really, but their impact on the team is the same. My biggest disappointment was Rhett Bomar. He was a highly touted QB coming out of high school. I was so looking forward to him playing alongside Adrian Peterson.
He was arrested twice I think for minor in possession of alcohol. H is play on the field got better as the season went on, but the following season he was kicked off the team two days before fall practice started for getting paid for hours he didn't work at a car dealership. He is the best example of why I don't get excited when a 4 or 5 star recruit comes to campus or when "the next (insert HOF player) is on scholorship". Now I could care less how highly a player is regarded and simply wait to see how they perform on the field.
Sorry for the long comment.
Oh! And by the way...YAY ME! I'm very excited about getting this one right!
Um, I'll go with Sam Bowie. I think that counts as a bust.
Huey Richardson - Pgh Steelers 1991 No 1 draft pick
Eric Lecompte, drafted by the Chicago Blackhawks in the 1st Round of 1993. Never played a single game in the NHL.
Oh, and I *did* plug your contest on my blog Friday morning:
http://puckjunk.blogspot.com/2010/08/beckett-craig-ferguson-conspiracy.html
Don't I get 5 points for that
:) :) :)
Hey Sal... sorry about that. you're right... I've corrected the error in the post.
A lot of familiar names on this list... but there are a few I've never heard of... then again... they're busts!
Mike Williams of the Bills?
Brain Rose of the Red Sox?
Billy Bean of the Mets?
John Jensen of Arsenal?
Huey Richardson of the Steelers?
Eric Lecompte of the Blackhawks?
Thanks again to everyone who's responded to today's question. With that in mind...
Contest entries are officially closed: Feel free to continue commenting, but it won't count for points.
Cameron Drew of the Houston Astros, nuff said
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