Draft hype : confession

[Bretsky]

Motife - is that your list of first round busts or someone elses?

The problem with a list like that is that for some players it tends to evaluate success or failure based on whether or not the player fulfilled his pre-draft hype.

Mandarich is a classic example. He certainly didn't become the perenial All-Pro that many people predicted; however he did have a 7 year career and was a starter at GB for 2 seasons and a starter at Indy for 3 seasons. How does that make him a bigger bust than Ryan Leaf? or Rich Campbell? or Brian Bosworth? They played, but very little.

Mandarich may have had even a better career if it hadn't been for the intestinal virus that sidelined him his entire last year in GB. The previous two years he had been the starting RT and at one point toward the end of his second year as a starter there were articles generally suggesting he was developing into a steady, but unspectacular player. When he was sidelined the entire next season, losing significant weight and strength, every team lost interest in him. At Indy he was viewed again as a steady, but unspectacular player. A lot of positive things were said about his leadership at Indy, and his influence on young players who he cautioned against having the attitude he had in GB. Unfortunately he suffered a significant shoulder injury that he was not able to return from.

It kind of irks me sometime when he is batched with other first round players that never contributed anything. He was a victim of his dominating college career and the media hype that followed him

ESPN labled Mandarich either the 2nd or 3rd greatest bust in the history of the NFL draft in their show special. Leaf was very high as well.

[motife]

Motife - is that your list of first round busts or someone elses?

Hi sham,

It's Mel Kiper's. You might be able to recognize his "Dick Vitale-esque" enthusiasm in some of his comments.

[Fosco33]

The Bears had a few draft busts on there as well - Curtis Enis and Cade McNown.

[esoxx]

David Terrell, Rashan Salaam, Marc Columbo, Roper, etc...

[Joemailman]

I actually purchased a Tony Mandarich jersey. It had the number 77 but no name. I kept it for a while after Tony was gone hoping someone good would get the number. It became a jinx as player after player with the number would get cut. I finally got rid of it. Recently Cullen Jenkins has redeemed the number somewhat.

[Scott Campbell]

I don't think Tommy Maddox deserves to be on those lists anymore.

[oregonpackfan]

I actually purchased a Tony Mandarich jersey. It had the number 77 but no name. I kept it for a while after Tony was gone hoping someone good would get the number. It became a jinx as player after player with the number would get cut. I finally got rid of it. Recently Cullen Jenkins has redeemed the number somewhat.

Perhaps you can take consolation that Packer starter Ron Kostelnik wore that number during the Lombardi Glory years for the Packers. Kostelnik was not a star but a steady performer.

Oregonpackfan

[Guiness]

Agreed on Maddox. And Desmond Howard? Sure he never lived up to expectations, but he had at least one really big game

What about Dan Wilkinson? Again, not the force he was supposed to be, but an 11 year career as a starter? How is that a bust?