NFL epic fail draftees

[gaspergoo]

Who was the biggest epic fail in The NFL? Was it the Boz?

[solly]

Ryan Leaf

[WGH]

http://www.failuremag.com/arch_sports_nfl_draft.html

PICKY, PICKY, PICKY
STRANGE STORIES FROM THE NFL DRAFT
by Jason Zasky

With the NFL’s annual selection meeting coming up this weekend, we at Failure felt it was time to recount a few of the most compelling stories in draft history. Here they are, in chronological order, proving once again that sometimes truth is stranger than fiction.

In 1944, the Philadelphia Eagles selected Syracuse University fullback Norm Michael in the 18th round. Unaware of Michael’s whereabouts—Norm had enlisted in the Army and was stationed in Montgomery, Alabama—the Eagles neglected to inform him of the selection. Michael found out about his draftee status 55 years later, in 1999, while browsing through the sports section of his local newspaper. There he discovered his name on a list that included every Syracuse player drafted into the NFL.

In 1946, the Washington Redskins chose UCLA back Cal Rossi with the ninth overall selection. What the Redskins failed to notice was that Rossi was a junior and therefore, ineligible for the draft. In 1947, the Skins again selected Rossi with their first-round pick, before being advised that he had no intention of playing professional football.


On January 30, 1968 the Dallas Cowboys drafted 6’4" wide receiver David McDaniels in the second round, due in large part to his 4.40 40-yard dash time, recorded on a track at McDaniels’ alma mater, Mississippi Valley State. At Cowboy training camp, McDaniels looked painfully slow compared to the defensive backs, and was re-timed at 4.73 seconds. When the team returned to Mississippi Valley State they discovered that the college track was short by a yard-and-a-half. Later, the Cowboys saved face by trading McDaniels to the Chicago Bears—a team that also possessed an inaccurate 40-yard dash time—for a second-round pick. To this day, all NFL scouts measure to make sure the course in question is exactly 40 yards.

During ESPN’s television broadcast of the 1994 draft, announcer and draft guru Mel Kiper, Jr., strongly criticized the Indianapolis Colts for choosing Nebraska linebacker Trev Alberts over Fresno State quarterback Trent Dilfer with the fifth overall pick. Kiper quipped that mistakes like this were the reason the Colts were picking near the top of the draft every year. His remarks led to a heated on-air debate between Kiper and Colts personnel director Bill Tobin, who responded to the criticism by saying that his postman was more knowledgeable about the draft than Kiper. Tobin also questioned Kiper’s manhood, wondering aloud if the pompadour-styled announcer had ever worn a jockstrap.

In 1996, the New England Patriots selected defensive tackle Christian Peter in the fifth round, despite his history of assaulting women. The Patriots were pressured into cutting Peter three days after the draft when the media and women’s groups complained loudly about the selection. Later, the New York Giants signed Peter, put him through counseling for alcohol abuse, attention deficit disorder and anger management, and turned him into a law-abiding and productive player.


Don't forget:

Tony Mandarich
Todd Marinovich
Troy Williamson
Dimitrius Underwood
Tim Couch
Art Schlichter
Lawrence Phillips

There are others listed here...
http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=cr-worstfirstroundpicks042407&prov=yhoo&type=lgns



Carry on.

[GnR102385]

I would say that Tim Couch and Ryan Leaf are way up there.

[GnR102385]

And the Packers did take Tony Mandarich over Barry fucking Sanders, so :facepalm: for them.

[swarley]

Ryan Leaf

+12

[tws!]

And the Packers did take Tony Mandarich over Barry fucking Sanders, so :facepalm: for them.

:facepalm::cry:

[ThudMaker]

At least the Bears only made the list twice. I would have thought more. Cedric Benson is an Epic fail. Rashan Salaam is an Epic Fail, too. The list of first round dead weight goes on.

[Thrashy]

Akili Smith, and Kajana Carter were both pretty sad. Ryan Leaf was pretty bad though.

[Erik-RMCAudio]

Pacman Jones from the Titan's should get some mention because he was a top ten pick that got banned from the NFL for being arrested like 5 times in 3 seasons. I think he is playing for Dallas now but it's hard for people to change their behavior, especially if they are millionares.

[KillDozer]

I'd like to nominate Maurice Clarett. Not the biggest name, but definitely up there in epic failness: If you remember, he was a running back that:

1. Starred at Ohio State for one season, rushing for 1,237 yards (a school record for a freshman) and scoring 18 touchdowns, which helped the Buckeyes to a 14-0 record and the 2002 BCS National Championship. He scored the winning touchdown against the University of Miami with a five-yard run in the second overtime in the 2002 Fiesta Bowl.

2. Got suspended from Ohio State for filing a false police report ($10,000 worth of personal possessions "stolen").

3. Sued the NFL in an effort to become draft eligible while still a freshman in college (he didn't win).

4. Showed up at the 2005 NFL scouting combine, uttered the immortal phrase "It's humbling being humble," ran slow 40 yard dash times, and then refused to participate further.

5. Got drafted by the Denver Broncos, and gave up any guaranteed money for a contract full of incentives.

6. Performed poorly and showed a bad attitude in practice, to which his agent explained: "Maurice doesn't really like to practice."

7. Got cut by the Broncos during the preseason.

8. Now about 1 million dollars in debt due to his legal battles, Maurice decided to scare up some cash by committing armed robbery. His take from the crime: a cell phone worth $150.

9. While out on bail, he fired his lawyers and was arrested after leading police on a high-speed chase after making an illegal U-turn.

10. At a hearing for his latest offense, the judge set Clarett's bond at 5 million dollars.

11. Clarett pled guilty at his trial as part of a plea bargain. He got 7 and 1/2 years with the possibility of early release after 3 1/2.

[swarley]

I'd like to nominate Maurice Clarett. Not the biggest name, but definitely up there in epic failness: If you remember, he was a running back that:

1. Starred at Ohio State for one season, rushing for 1,237 yards (a school record for a freshman) and scoring 18 touchdowns, which helped the Buckeyes to a 14-0 record and the 2002 BCS National Championship. He scored the winning touchdown against the University of Miami with a five-yard run in the second overtime in the 2002 Fiesta Bowl.

2. Got suspended from Ohio State for filing a false police report ($10,000 worth of personal possessions "stolen").

3. Sued the NFL in an effort to become draft eligible while still a freshman in college (he didn't win).

4. Showed up at the 2005 NFL scouting combine, uttered the immortal phrase "It's humbling being humble," ran slow 40 yard dash times, and then refused to participate further.

5. Got drafted by the Denver Broncos, and gave up any guaranteed money for a contract full of incentives.

6. Performed poorly and showed a bad attitude in practice, to which his agent explained: "Maurice doesn't really like to practice."

7. Got cut by the Broncos during the preseason.

8. Now about 1 million dollars in debt due to his legal battles, Maurice decided to scare up some cash by committing armed robbery. His take from the crime: a cell phone worth $150.

9. While out on bail, he fired his lawyers and was arrested after leading police on a high-speed chase after making an illegal U-turn.

10. At a hearing for his latest offense, the judge set Clarett's bond at 5 million dollars.

11. Clarett pled guilty at his trial as part of a plea bargain. He got 7 and 1/2 years with the possibility of early release after 3 1/2.

Wow, what a fuck up