100 worst draft picks
- Thread starter ajoytoy
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thanks for that link ajoytoy i would have never seen that had you not posted.
I like the one about Starbury, that is so true.
Is it me or is Page 2 a lot better then the whole espn site? I was cracking up reading this list.
I like the one about Starbury, that is so true.
Is it me or is Page 2 a lot better then the whole espn site? I was cracking up reading this list.
5. Art Schlichter, Baltimore Colts (No. 4, 1982)
There was no denying Schlichter's talent -- He had finished fourth, sixth and fifth in the Heisman balloting in three years at Ohio State. Trouble is, he was a compulsive gambler. (Apparently, the NFL didn't check for "character" back then.) While a backup with the Colts, instead of charting plays on a clipboard, he charted scores of games he had bet on. The pick also set off a trickle effect to this day: suspended by the NFL for the 1983 season, the Colts took John Elway with the first pick that year, except Elway wouldn't sign with the Colts, so they had to trade him to Denver, which essentially sent the Colts into a long downward spiral other than a brief resurgence in the "Eric Dickerson Era," culminating with the Peyton Manning pick in '98, which has led to nothing but crushing and painful defeats for Colts fans. It's a cruel world.
4. Lawrence Phillips, St. Louis Rams (No. 6, 1996)
Apparently, character still wasn't an issue by 1996, when the Rams took the troubled Nebraska running back. He finished with just over 1,400 yards in three seasons. Meanwhile, the Oilers grabbed Heisman winner Eddie George with the 13th pick.
3. Joe Barry Carroll, Golden State Warriors (No. 1, 1980)
Joe Barely Cares actually made an All-Star team once, but it's what the Warriors gave up to acquire this pick from the Celtics that makes it such a terrible selection: Robert Parish, who had just averaged 17 points and 10.9 rebounds, and the third pick in the draft, which turned into Kevin McHale. Such are dynasties and disasters born.
Ryan Leaf
Kevin Higley/AP Photo
When you look up "bust" in the dictionary, Ryan Leaf's name should be there.
2. Ryan Leaf, San Diego Chargers (No. 1998)
It's not just that Leaf was historically inept (14/36 TD/INT ratio), it's that his failure led the team to drafting Drew Brees, which led the team to drafting Philip Rivers, which led to them starting Brees anyway, which led to one playoff year, an injury and a trade, which leads to the team starting all over again with Rivers and hoping he pans out. Meanwhile, the Chargers have essentially wasted the first five years of the great LaDainian Tomlinson's career with just one playoffs year. By the time (if) Rivers matures, it's quite likely L.T. will start declining. Thank you, Ryan Leaf, thank you for destroying a franchise.
1. Sam Bowie, Portland Trail Blazers (No. 2, 1984)
It's not that Bowie was an awful player; it's who was drafted right after him: Michael Jordan (the Rockets took Hakeem Olajuwon first overall).
There was no denying Schlichter's talent -- He had finished fourth, sixth and fifth in the Heisman balloting in three years at Ohio State. Trouble is, he was a compulsive gambler. (Apparently, the NFL didn't check for "character" back then.) While a backup with the Colts, instead of charting plays on a clipboard, he charted scores of games he had bet on. The pick also set off a trickle effect to this day: suspended by the NFL for the 1983 season, the Colts took John Elway with the first pick that year, except Elway wouldn't sign with the Colts, so they had to trade him to Denver, which essentially sent the Colts into a long downward spiral other than a brief resurgence in the "Eric Dickerson Era," culminating with the Peyton Manning pick in '98, which has led to nothing but crushing and painful defeats for Colts fans. It's a cruel world.
4. Lawrence Phillips, St. Louis Rams (No. 6, 1996)
Apparently, character still wasn't an issue by 1996, when the Rams took the troubled Nebraska running back. He finished with just over 1,400 yards in three seasons. Meanwhile, the Oilers grabbed Heisman winner Eddie George with the 13th pick.
3. Joe Barry Carroll, Golden State Warriors (No. 1, 1980)
Joe Barely Cares actually made an All-Star team once, but it's what the Warriors gave up to acquire this pick from the Celtics that makes it such a terrible selection: Robert Parish, who had just averaged 17 points and 10.9 rebounds, and the third pick in the draft, which turned into Kevin McHale. Such are dynasties and disasters born.
Ryan Leaf
Kevin Higley/AP Photo
When you look up "bust" in the dictionary, Ryan Leaf's name should be there.
2. Ryan Leaf, San Diego Chargers (No. 1998)
It's not just that Leaf was historically inept (14/36 TD/INT ratio), it's that his failure led the team to drafting Drew Brees, which led the team to drafting Philip Rivers, which led to them starting Brees anyway, which led to one playoff year, an injury and a trade, which leads to the team starting all over again with Rivers and hoping he pans out. Meanwhile, the Chargers have essentially wasted the first five years of the great LaDainian Tomlinson's career with just one playoffs year. By the time (if) Rivers matures, it's quite likely L.T. will start declining. Thank you, Ryan Leaf, thank you for destroying a franchise.
1. Sam Bowie, Portland Trail Blazers (No. 2, 1984)
It's not that Bowie was an awful player; it's who was drafted right after him: Michael Jordan (the Rockets took Hakeem Olajuwon first overall).
...some of my fav's....
80. Derek Jeter, New York Yankees (No. 6, 1992)
What, you want to defend this pick? Do you like to steal candy from little kids? Imagine, for a moment, if the Expos had taken Jeter with the No. 3 pick instead of B.J. Wallace: Montreal would now be playing in its fabulous, 21st-century stadium, Jarry Park II, where free agents like Alex Rodriguez and Gary Sheffield take pay cuts just to play in baseball's most luxurious ballpark and high-five Youppi! after hitting game-winning home runs. It's a place where the Expos are going for their sixth straight division title and fans admit, "We don't really care about the hockey playoffs this year" as they flock to see Jeter captain their beloved Expos. True, there would be no baseball in our nation's capital, but that would be a small price to pay to see Jeter plying his trade in Montreal pinstripes. :com:
73. through 56. The first 18 picks of the 1983 baseball draft
It was probably the worst baseball draft ever -- of the first 17 picks, only the No. 1 pick (Tim Belcher, who didn't even sign with the Twins), the No. 2 pick (Kurt Stillwell) and the No. 16 pick (Brian Holman) did anything in the big leagues. But the 19th pick, he turned out OK -- Roger Clemens. :mj07:
48. Brien Taylor, New York Yankees (No. 1, 1991)
Look, drafting high school pitchers is riskier than hiring Charlie Sheen as a chaperone for the junior prom, but the Yankees get a big slap here for overpaying for Taylor. The previous record bonus for a No. 1 pick had been $575,000. The Yankees gave Taylor a $1.55 million bonus. He showed promise in the low majors before injuring his shoulder in an off-field fight. :sadwave:
46. Mark McGwire, Oakland A's (No. 10, 1984)
If only the Cubs had taken McGwire at No. 3, or maybe the Reds at No. 5, or maybe the Giants at No. 9, then McGwire never would have been teammates with Jose Canseco, he never would have been introduced to steroids (you know, if it happened that way), he wouldn't have shattered Maris' record in '98, Barry wouldn't have gotten jealous, Pedro Gomez would get to cover the actual game of baseball, we wouldn't have "Bonds on Bonds" and life as we know it would generally smell more like roses and fresh-baked bread. :scared :142smilie
41. D.J. Dozier, Minnesota Vikings (No. 14, 1987)
40. Blair Thomas, New York Jets (No. 2, 1990)
39. Ki-Jana Carter, Cincinnati Bengals (No. 1, 1995)
38. Curtis Enis, Chicago Bears (No. 5, 1998)
Is there a curse on Penn State running backs?
While Dozier and Thomas (who was drafted second even though he'd had knee surgery as a junior) were disappointments and Carter blew out his knee during preseason his rookie season, Enis' story was the strangest. After being drafted by the Bears, Enis admitted, according to a Sports Illustrated story, that he was a womanizer and abuser of alcohol, turned to Christian fundamentalism, married his three-months pregnant girlfriend (a former stripper), admonished his siblings for having out-of-wedlock children, fired his agent, ran up $500,000 in debt -- all that before training camp started. :142smilie :mj07:
Career combined totals for the four: 5,551 yards, 38 TDs. :mj07:
37. Any Michigan running back
Come to think of it, stay away from any Michigan running backs, as well: Chris Perry (2004), Tim Biakabutuka (1996), Tyrone Wheatley (1995), Jarrod Bunch (1991) and Butch Woolfolk (1982) were all first-round picks. Totals: No Pro Bowls and only one 1,000-yard season by Wheatley. :mj07: :142smilie
80. Derek Jeter, New York Yankees (No. 6, 1992)
What, you want to defend this pick? Do you like to steal candy from little kids? Imagine, for a moment, if the Expos had taken Jeter with the No. 3 pick instead of B.J. Wallace: Montreal would now be playing in its fabulous, 21st-century stadium, Jarry Park II, where free agents like Alex Rodriguez and Gary Sheffield take pay cuts just to play in baseball's most luxurious ballpark and high-five Youppi! after hitting game-winning home runs. It's a place where the Expos are going for their sixth straight division title and fans admit, "We don't really care about the hockey playoffs this year" as they flock to see Jeter captain their beloved Expos. True, there would be no baseball in our nation's capital, but that would be a small price to pay to see Jeter plying his trade in Montreal pinstripes. :com:
73. through 56. The first 18 picks of the 1983 baseball draft
It was probably the worst baseball draft ever -- of the first 17 picks, only the No. 1 pick (Tim Belcher, who didn't even sign with the Twins), the No. 2 pick (Kurt Stillwell) and the No. 16 pick (Brian Holman) did anything in the big leagues. But the 19th pick, he turned out OK -- Roger Clemens. :mj07:
48. Brien Taylor, New York Yankees (No. 1, 1991)
Look, drafting high school pitchers is riskier than hiring Charlie Sheen as a chaperone for the junior prom, but the Yankees get a big slap here for overpaying for Taylor. The previous record bonus for a No. 1 pick had been $575,000. The Yankees gave Taylor a $1.55 million bonus. He showed promise in the low majors before injuring his shoulder in an off-field fight. :sadwave:
46. Mark McGwire, Oakland A's (No. 10, 1984)
If only the Cubs had taken McGwire at No. 3, or maybe the Reds at No. 5, or maybe the Giants at No. 9, then McGwire never would have been teammates with Jose Canseco, he never would have been introduced to steroids (you know, if it happened that way), he wouldn't have shattered Maris' record in '98, Barry wouldn't have gotten jealous, Pedro Gomez would get to cover the actual game of baseball, we wouldn't have "Bonds on Bonds" and life as we know it would generally smell more like roses and fresh-baked bread. :scared :142smilie
41. D.J. Dozier, Minnesota Vikings (No. 14, 1987)
40. Blair Thomas, New York Jets (No. 2, 1990)
39. Ki-Jana Carter, Cincinnati Bengals (No. 1, 1995)
38. Curtis Enis, Chicago Bears (No. 5, 1998)
Is there a curse on Penn State running backs?
While Dozier and Thomas (who was drafted second even though he'd had knee surgery as a junior) were disappointments and Carter blew out his knee during preseason his rookie season, Enis' story was the strangest. After being drafted by the Bears, Enis admitted, according to a Sports Illustrated story, that he was a womanizer and abuser of alcohol, turned to Christian fundamentalism, married his three-months pregnant girlfriend (a former stripper), admonished his siblings for having out-of-wedlock children, fired his agent, ran up $500,000 in debt -- all that before training camp started. :142smilie :mj07:
Career combined totals for the four: 5,551 yards, 38 TDs. :mj07:
37. Any Michigan running back
Come to think of it, stay away from any Michigan running backs, as well: Chris Perry (2004), Tim Biakabutuka (1996), Tyrone Wheatley (1995), Jarrod Bunch (1991) and Butch Woolfolk (1982) were all first-round picks. Totals: No Pro Bowls and only one 1,000-yard season by Wheatley. :mj07: :142smilie
there was a time when wellington mara was the draft guru of the football giants.....
one of his worst picks, & i would think it would rank up there as one of the worst picks in all of sports, was in the first round (not sure if it was the very first pick of the nfl draft & forgot the year) & was a running back named rocky thompson who was better known as diver off high cliffs than as a running back.....
there also was a college football player named terry baker, from the university of oregon (?) who once won the heisman trophy.....i believe he was once a top pick (forgot who picked him) & his nfl career was awful...
one of his worst picks, & i would think it would rank up there as one of the worst picks in all of sports, was in the first round (not sure if it was the very first pick of the nfl draft & forgot the year) & was a running back named rocky thompson who was better known as diver off high cliffs than as a running back.....
there also was a college football player named terry baker, from the university of oregon (?) who once won the heisman trophy.....i believe he was once a top pick (forgot who picked him) & his nfl career was awful...
Boy i didnt throughly read the picks but i didnt see a few that should be on there. The Indianapolis Colts should have few there for sure.
These 4 for sure were a waste
John Hand --------------- Overrated
Quinton Coryatt ---------------------- Overrated
Steve Entman ---------------------------- Glass Joe
Trev Alberts ------------------ never even played hardly, drafted injured wow what a move.
Coryatt was overpaid and highly overrated did some nut not very much. The only thing I can remember Entman ever did was intercept a pass that Marino drilled into his face mask and he ran it back for a t.d.
Entman and Coryatt went 1 & 2. Sure got our monyes worth there.
And this one would have been dam near #1 if it had occured. The Indiana Pacers nearly drafted Steve Alford instead of Reggie Miller. Fans were outrage when Alford was passed over for Miller. Most cried foul that Alford would fill the stadium. MMMMMMMMMMM lets see. Future hall of famer Miller or Mr free throw Alford. God bless the Pacer front office for not making the mistake of a lifetime.
These 4 for sure were a waste
John Hand --------------- Overrated
Quinton Coryatt ---------------------- Overrated
Steve Entman ---------------------------- Glass Joe
Trev Alberts ------------------ never even played hardly, drafted injured wow what a move.
Coryatt was overpaid and highly overrated did some nut not very much. The only thing I can remember Entman ever did was intercept a pass that Marino drilled into his face mask and he ran it back for a t.d.
Entman and Coryatt went 1 & 2. Sure got our monyes worth there.
And this one would have been dam near #1 if it had occured. The Indiana Pacers nearly drafted Steve Alford instead of Reggie Miller. Fans were outrage when Alford was passed over for Miller. Most cried foul that Alford would fill the stadium. MMMMMMMMMMM lets see. Future hall of famer Miller or Mr free throw Alford. God bless the Pacer front office for not making the mistake of a lifetime.
ok went back thru and seem entman and coryatt. but no alberts. he was a total waste of a pick and should be in the top 20
think this guy was in the top 100
Ronald Stacey King (Stacey)
Position: F-C
Height: 6'11" Weight: 230 lbs.
Born: January 29, 1967 in Lawton, OK
High School: Lawton in Lawton, OK
College: University of Oklahoma
Drafted by the Chicago Bulls in the 1st round (6th pick) of the 1989 NBA draft.
Ronald Stacey King (Stacey)
Position: F-C
Height: 6'11" Weight: 230 lbs.
Born: January 29, 1967 in Lawton, OK
High School: Lawton in Lawton, OK
College: University of Oklahoma
Drafted by the Chicago Bulls in the 1st round (6th pick) of the 1989 NBA draft.
neverteaseit said:
i'm pretty sure that the alberts pick was the pick that mel kiper got into an argument with bill tobin....kiper thought indy should have picked dilfer instead....
yea your right ar i remember that now since you refreshed my memory, that was a classic. i remember tobin on t.v. saying who is mel kiper all i kept sayn to myself after that pick is who the hell is vince tobin. what a clunker of a pick.
