Where Are They Now?
 

Interesting article I found:

[url=http://www.lostlettermen.com/weekly-feature-nfl-drafts-50-biggest-busts-where-are-they-now/2/]Weekly Feature: Draft’s Top 50 Busts: Where Are They Now? | LostLettermen.com[/url]

Re: Where Are They Now?
 

This guy had the physical ability and the instincts to be very special....but was there more of a head case? Gotta a ton of chances:

Lawrence Phillips, Nebraska, RB (No 6. overall, 1996): After a shortened career due to major character issues, Phillips was arrested and eventually sentenced to 31 years in prison for domestic violence and assault with his car in a bizarre incident in which he tried to run over kids with his car after a pickup football game in Los Angeles

Re: Where Are They Now?
 

live stream baby

Re: Where Are They Now?
 

On the subject of Ryan Leaf, he actually was going to attempt an NFL comeback 2 years ago. He had a handful of teams that were interested in him because of his raw physical talent and apparantley his arm strength was still there. I remember one team specifically being the Green Bay Packers. As recent as last September, you'd still hear his name out there about attempting his comeback but I assume his recent battle with illness has probably ended his comeback. He had a brain tumor or something along those lines.

I think he could be a backup. There are guys out there worse than him. And plus he is mature now, which is what he didn't have the last time he was in the NFL..

Re: Where Are They Now?
 

I guess I though it interesting where some of these guys are now and how it gives a snapshot of what happens to NFL players after they leave the game. For example, Derek Brown runs three Quiznos stores; does he have "Glory Days" queued up on his iPod?

A lot of them seem to end up as coaches at their old high school.

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Gotta love Joe Profit - who wouldn't want to do a business deal with Dr. Profit on their side?

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On #4 I just want to say I didnt like Heath Shuler in is 1st career and I like him less now in his WATN 2nd career!

Re: Where Are They Now?
 

Hmm, recurring theme: A few of these guys went into the restaurant business...

Either way you slice it, being a first round draft bust isn't too bad of a predicament to find yourself in, as long as you have some semblance of a business sense to get yourself some permanent cash flow.

Re: Where Are They Now?
 

the term "bust" is so unfairly applied to players. In some cases, yes, guys clearly have ability but fail to put it together. But at the same time they didn't draft themselves. To me it's only ok to use the term 'bust' if you apply it equally to teams & players.

Even though it wasn't that long ago, I think teams have come a long way since Ryan Leaf. He's the perfect example of why teams evaluate players' character, life history & IQ. He had everything, except the ability to deal w/all the pressure of expectations. Who knows, he might still be playing had he been a 2nd rounder.

[QUOTE=freddyg12;830214]the term "bust" is so unfairly applied to players. In some cases, yes, guys clearly have ability but fail to put it together. But at the same time they didn't draft themselves. To me it's only ok to use the term 'bust' if you apply it equally to teams & players.

Even though it wasn't that long ago, I think teams have come a long way since Ryan Leaf. He's the perfect example of why teams evaluate players' character, life history & IQ. He had everything, except the ability to deal w/all the pressure of expectations. Who knows, he might still be playing had he been a 2nd rounder.[/QUOTE]

I see your teams have come a long way and raise you Jamarcus russel. Even with all of the time teams put in, it's difficult to predict how a 21 or 22 year old is going to react to being a millionaire. It's like the stories of how the majority of lottery winners wins up broke. Some of the kids are going to have strong support systems and some, if not most, are going to have people leaching off of them.

Re: Where Are They Now?
 

My own List: Maurice Clarett, Ron Dayne, Danny Wuerffel, Mike Williams (USC WR) Alex Smith, Jamarcus Russell, Brady Quinn,

Re: Where Are They Now?
 

Couldnt we make a list of just Redskin busts over the last decade or two???

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[quote=CrustyRedskin;830230]Couldnt we make a list of just Redskin busts over the last decade or two???[/quote]

I think we'd run into server problems...

Just to name a few -- Bobby Wilson, Andre Johnson, Rod Gardner, Desmond Howard (open to debate, I guess), Heath Shuler (probably all-time Redskin bust - if he pans out, the fortunes of the team for the mid to late 1990's and early 2000's is completely different).

Re: Where Are They Now?
 

F... him!! He's in denial and should put his ego aside.

[url=http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/blog/shutdown_corner/post/Tiki-Barber-remains-unemployed-and-sad?urn=nfl-wp6443]Tiki Barber remains unemployed and sad - Shutdown Corner - NFL Blog - Yahoo! Sports[/url]

Re: Where Are They Now?
 

I'd feel bad for Tiki Barber but I can't feel bad for a loser like him. He's probably just trying to come back because he's broke.

Re: Where Are They Now?
 

[quote=mooby;831201]I'd feel bad for Tiki Barber but I can't feel bad for a loser like him. He's probably just trying to come back because he's broke.[/quote]

I'll bet that he'll divorce his new fiancee within a mere 3 years of marriage or less.

Re: Where Are They Now?
 

[quote=jwmann2;830225]My own List: Maurice Clarett, Ron Dayne, Danny Wuerffel, Mike Williams (USC WR) Alex Smith, Jamarcus Russell, Brady Quinn,[/quote]

Last I heard Clarett got out of prison and got a spot on the roster of an UFL team. Mike Williams the USC wideout had a good season for the Seahawks last year and looks to be productive again this year, Brady Quinn is the backup quarterback for the Broncos (you might be familiar with the guy he beat out for the backup job), JaMarcus Russell is probably sitting at home having some purple drank right now, and I have no idea what Ron Dayne and Danny Wuerffel are doing.

Re: Where Are They Now?
 

wuerffel is doing church type things. he turned down the last NFL offer he got because he's committed himself there, or something like that.

mike williams might get another multi-million $$$ deal, so yeah, he's still around.

rod gardner wasn't a bust and Desmond Howard was a superbowl MVP (as a returner/special teamer) with green bay. he just sucked for us, but a 10 year career and hardly a bust, we just took him WAY too high.

Re: Where Are They Now?
 

[quote=That Guy;831236]wuerffel is doing church type things. he turned down the last NFL offer he got because he's committed himself there, or something like that.

mike williams might get another multi-million $$$ deal, so yeah, he's still around.

rod gardner wasn't a bust and [B]Desmond Howard [/B]was a superbowl MVP (as a returner/special teamer) with green bay. he just sucked for us, but a 10 year career and hardly a bust, we just took him WAY too high.[/quote]

Yeah we gave up 2 first round picks to move up for him.

Re: Where Are They Now?
 

[quote=That Guy;831236]wuerffel is doing church type things. he turned down the last NFL offer he got because he's committed himself there, or something like that....

[/quote]

Wuerfful was cut at the insistence of Dan Snyder. After Steve Spurrior stood up to 'Dan the man,' his job was offered back to him. Wuerfful refused! That's right, he turned down tens of THOUSANDS of $$$ just on principle. [I]Very[/I] impressed by that.

His play as a QB, though? Not so much...

Re: Where Are They Now?
 

[quote=SolidSnake84;829956]On the subject of Ryan Leaf, he actually was going to attempt an NFL comeback 2 years ago. He had a handful of teams that were interested in him because of his raw physical talent and apparantley his arm strength was still there. I remember one team specifically being the Green Bay Packers. As recent as last September, you'd still hear his name out there about attempting his comeback but I assume his recent battle with illness has probably ended his comeback. He had a brain tumor or something along those lines.

I think he could be a backup. There are guys out there worse than him. And plus he is mature now, which is what he didn't have the last time he was in the NFL..[/quote]

Ryan Leaf pleaded guilty to seven or eight counts of possession/use of controlled substances and at least one count of delivering a controlled substance. He is on 10-years probation for that. As I recall, that happened in 2009 so he still has 8 years of probation to go.

In addition, he had a benign brain tumor that required surgical excision earlier this year.

"Arm strength" is probably not enough to get him onto an NFL roster these days when you consider that there is his prior poor performance, his drug convictions and a brain tumor on the other side of the ledger...