ESPN Ranks Top 10 #1 Pick NFL Draft Busts

I don’t have a problem with ranking individuals that are a disappointment in sports. Right now Jim Tressel is my #1 guy, who needs the other 9 people when he’s around? But I always have had a problem with how the media categorizes professional busts. Not meeting expectations is a great way to get on the list, but I have never agreed with putting a guy on the list that was injured while playing. Who can control that? At least the guy was on the field when he got hurt!

ESPN has a few busts on the list that I don’t like. Checkout their list and my thoughts.

10. David Carr, QB, Texans, 2002

I don’t agree with him being on the list. Granted he did not put the Texans on his back and lead them to the playoffs during his 5 year career there but how could he put anyone on his back when his back was on the ground after each passing attempt? The Texans are still struggling to put a winner together in Houston. Not sure how he is a bust? After the abuse he took, he should be considered a football hero.

9. Alex Smith, QB, 49ers, 2005

When will the NFL learn… perhaps never as Cam Newton is being touted as a 2011 first round draft pick? Alex Smith was a product of Urban Myer’s spread offense. When Smith was running that offense in 2004 for University of Utah, the spread offense was not widely used thus defenses had a hard time preparing to play against the Ute’s each week making Smith look like a QB god. Smith was a product of the system he ran. To his credit, Smith is still in the NFL and hanging tough. It’s not like the 49ers have faired well in putting talent around Smith.

8. Aundray Bruce, LB, Atlanta Falcons, 1998

This University of Auburn alum was “The Freak” before Jevon Kearse was “The Freak”. At 6’ 5”, 255 lbs, running a 4.5 40 yard dash, his physical ability was awe inspiring. His rookie year he recorded 70 tackles, 6 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, and 2 interceptions; not a bad year for anyone. But that’s where the train comes off the track. Either for a lack of interest or who knows what, Bruce never seemed to invest in learning the game and preparing for his opponents. This is where expectations get the best of a pick. He played 11 seasons in the NFL, just never on the All-Pro level he was seemingly capable of playing.

7. Courtney Brown, DE, Cleveland Browns, 2000

Another top pick with a great rookie season (70 tackles and 4.5 sacks) and then a lack of interest and injuries became his story. Brown, a Penn State alum, blew out his knee in 2005 which ended his career.

6. Tim Couch, QB, Cleveland Browns, 1999

Couch had the big body, great arm, and he was a product of a Run and Shoot offense at University of Kentucky; essentially a form of the Spread Offense. The knock on Couch was he never learned to read defenses nor adjust to the complex offense they ran in Cleveland. My problem with this is the coaching staff. It frustrates me to no end seeing a player in a scheme, in any sport, that they do not fit. Peyton Manning does not run a complicated offense with the Indianapolis Colts. The Colts have 15 plays that they run over and over and they run those plays really well. Why have a “Mike Martz” style offense with a 100 plays to learn if your team may only run 4-5 of those plays really well?

5. Ki Jana Carter, RB, Bengals, 1995

How is this guy a bust? His 3^rd pro carry in his first preseason game he tears his ACL. He never regained his speed after the injury. Carter, another Penn State alum, played 7 years in the NFL. Again, not sure why he’s a bust as the average playing career for running backs in the NFL is 3 years. So he’s not going to the Hall of Fame. It’s unfortunate that he was a number one pick. It’s even more unfortunate that he was injured in a meaningless preseason “money” game.

4. JaMarcus Russell, QB, Oakland Raiders, 2007

#4?!?!? How did he slide to #4? At least Couch, Smith, and Carr tried. It didn’t seem like Russell, the one year LSU wonder, gave much effort on the field much less read his playbook or study film off it. I would put Russell higher on the list due to the money paid to him after his holdout, $61 million with $32 million guaranteed. Russell finished his career with Oakland 7-18 as a starter before being released in 2010. 3 years, #1 pick, and done!

3. Tom Cousineau, LB, Buffalo Bills, 1979

This #1 pick didn’t like the contract offer he received from the Bills and took his talents to the Canadian Football League. After 3 years in the CFL, Cousineau joined the NFL and ended his quiet career with the 49ers in 1987. The Bills traded O.J. Simpson for the right’s to pick Cousineau to the 49ers. When Cousineau choose to join the NFL in 1982, the Bills then traded his rights to Cleveland, a pick they used on Hall of Fame quarterback Jim Kelly. All worked out in the long run for the Bills. Not so much for Cleveland. Moral of the story, don’t draft what you can’t sign. I hang this one on the Bills not on Cousineau.

2. Terry Baker, QB, Los Angeles Rams, 1963

Baker was an amazing athlete for Oregon State University playing both football and basketball for the Beavers. His NFL career is deserving of his #2 ranking. His stats after 18 NFL games, 21 passes attempted with 0 touchdowns. Ouch!

1. Steve Emtman, DL, Baltimore Colts, 1992

Emtman was an unbelievable stud player coming out of University of Washington. He was the real deal until injuries ransacked his pro career. He finished his first 3 seasons on the Injured Reserve list, first blowing out his left knee then his right knee twice. After making several attempts to comeback, Emtman then hurt his neck. His pro career was done at 27. Injuries not his talent made him a bust… if you view him that way.

Just to clarify, there are only two legitimate busts on ESPN’s list, JaMarcus Russell and Terry Baker. The unfortunate players whose careers were marred by injury don’t deserve the moniker of a bust. Nor do the players whose coaches couldn’t adjust to their player’s talent or have the players adjust to their schemes. That’s an ESPN list for bad evaluation of talent by NFL coaches, which is something that happens WAY too often in the NFL.