Sticking with last week’s subject of the NFL draft, we’re going to take a look at the draft from another angle. Everybody expects their first round pick to at least be a consistent contributor to their team for years to come. If a team is picking in the top ten, let alone the top five, you obviously expect a big time impact player. Sometimes it doesn’t work out that way. No matter how much scouting you do on a player, no matter how much tape you watch and how many interviews you conduct there is always a chance they’ll turn out to be a bust. Being labeled a bust is the biggest insult you can give an athlete; it’s the ultimate slap in the face. When you’re labeled a bust, it’s not an insult of your talent it’s an insult to your will and your manhood. So let’s take a look at the top ten draft busts of all time.
10. Aundray Bruce OLB, Atlanta Falcons: This is a name many football fans don’t remember, and with good reason. Bruce was the first player chosen in the 1988 draft. Bruce was a standout at Auburn and was expected to be an elite pass rusher at the next level. Some people dared compare Bruce to all-time great Lawrence Taylor, they sure weren’t doing him any favors. Bruce stumbled his way to 32 career sacks, a far cry from what was expected of him. At the end of his career he was eventually switched to tight end, when the number one pick has to switch positions he’s going to be on this list.
9. Tony Mandarich OT, Green Bay Packers: Sports Illustrated labeled him the best offensive line prospect ever, whoops. But who could blame them? Mandarich was a freak of nature, 6foot 6, 320 pounds, a 4.69 forty yard dash. As some suspected, Mandarich wasn’t a freak of nature, he was a freak of the chemicals. Mandarich was a product of steroids. What many teams failed to acknowledge as well was that he was not a great pass blocker; he played at Michigan St. who would pass maybe ten times a game. When Mandarich was drafted second overall he landed in Green Bay with a serious attitude and an even bigger drug problem. He claimed he would even go into the bathroom to shootup pain killers with a syringe and come back onto the field half in the bag. Mandarich didn’t even see the field one time in the final year of his contract in 1992. After a three year hiatus from football, complete with a stay in rehab, Mandarich finished his career in Indianapolis. Finally sober he salvage three seasons as a guard for the Colts.
8. Lawrence Phillips RB, St. Louis Rams: Phillips if nothing else has to go down as one of the biggest degenerates in NFL history. He was seemingly unstoppable at the University of Nebraska, running through the Big 12 every week. Despite questions surrounding his character the Rams selected him sixth overall in the 1996 NFL draft. Phillips spent two uneventful seasons in St. Louis before Dick Vermeil gave up on him. When Vermeil gives up on you, you know you’re a loser. Phillips was arrested countless times during and after his NFL career for a bevy of legal infractions. He’s currently serving a 31 year prison sentence in a California State Prison.
7. Penn State defensive lineman, Cleveland Browns and Buffalo Bills: I would love to pick just one player, but these two are just too close to call. Courtney Brown the first player selected in 2000 was supposed to be a dominant defensive tackle; instead he was out of football within six seasons recording just 18 sacks. Brown struggled with a few injuries but was never anything remotely close to a destructive force. Aaron Maybin was taken eleventh overall two seasons ago but has yet to record a sack for the Buffalo Bills and has started only two games in his career and was inactive for four games. Making matters worse Brian Orakpo, Clay Matthews, and Brian Cushing were all selected after Maybin. Maybin is easily my least favorite player in history.
6. Akili Smith QB, Cincinnati Bengals: After an extremely productive senior season in which he threw 32 touchdown passes, the Bengals though highly enough of Smith’s skills to make him the third player picked in 1999. The problem was they forgot to take into account his intellect, or lack thereof. Smith scored a putrid nine on his Wonderlic test and went on to a dismal NFL career. In four seasons with the Bengals Akili retired with only five touchdown passes and thirteen interceptions, adding up to a laughable 52.8 quarterback rating.
5. Vernon Gholston DE/OLB, New York Jets: Gholston’s stock was high going into the 2008 NFL Scouting Combine; afterwards it was through the roof. Gholston showed the blazing speed and Herculean strength that made him such a highly touted prospect, running a 4.58 forty yard dash and putting up 225 pounds 37 times on the bench. Gholston was expected to be a dominant force in the 3-4 defense as an elite pass rusher. Well after three atrocious seasons Gholston was released by the Jets. Vernon and I are currently tied on the Jets all-time sack list at zero.
4. JaMarcus Russell QB, Oakland Raiders: He was supposed to be one of the best quarterback prospects in recent memory. Russell was blessed with a rocket for a right arm and tremendous size. It was reported he could throw the football fifty yards from his knees. The Raiders didn’t blink when they made him the first player picked in the 2007 NFL draft. In three lackluster seasons with the Raiders he amassed only 18 touchdowns and 23 interceptions. As it turns out I guess it’s not so important to be able to throw the ball from your knees, those who watched him would describe his play as something else you would do from your knees
3. Charles Rogers WR, Detroit Lions: Coming out of Michigan St. Rogers was supposed to be the prototype wide receiver. He was tall, fast and had great hands; he was even compared to the great Randy Moss. The seemingly can’t miss prospect was drafted second overall in the 2003 NFL Draft. Within three seasons Rogers amassed only 36 catches and four touchdowns. Rogers was released and never signed with another team despite numerous tryouts. Rogers has been in and out of jail for various drug, alcohol and domestic arrests. In another smart choice he has five illegitimate children and he’s broke…sounds like a great family man to me.
2. Ryan Leaf QB, San Diego Chargers: Leading up to the 1998 NFL draft there were a good amount of people who thought Leaf would end up as a better pro than Peyton Manning, boy were they wrong. Selected just one spot after Manning, Leaf is the player most commonly associated with draft bust. Instead of being the savior for the franchise he set them back many years. In three controversial and worthless seasons he threw 14 touchdowns and 36 interceptions, the only thing worse than his play was his attitude. Leaf was well known for being one of the most arrogant people you will ever meet. After those three woeful years he was released by the Chargers. His biggest contribution was giving them such a poor record that they got to draft LaDainian Tomlinson fifth overall in 2001.
1. Art Schlichter QB, Indianapolis Colts: Schlichter rivals Lawrence Phillips on the degenerate list. He was considered the golden boy coming out of Ohio St. University and was expected to go on to a highly productive NFL career. The one problem with Art was that he had been hiding a severe gambling problem since his early years at OSU. He blew his entire signing bonus midway through his rookie season and was reportedly charting other NFL games that he had money on while he was on the sideline. Within three seasons Schlichter was released by the Colts and was suspended by the NFL. He retired with only three touchdown passes and eleven interceptions. Schlicther has been in over 30 prisons since his playing days have ended for various fraudulent activities. He most recently was arrested for stealing one million dollars from a 68 year old woman, true class.