NFL - Are You Ready For Some Football?! - 2010 Offseason

[SlowwHand]

Meanwhile, Zorn is wondering why he wasn't allowed to cut Campbell loose.

[OzzyKP]

http://www.theonion.com/articles/lon...minates,17306/

Then again if you've seen all the media attention on Tebow, Clausen and McCoy you kind of start to wonder if Bradford really did go undrafted.

[rah]

My favorite lines
After Gino Toretta in 1992 and Rashaan Salaam in 1994, Bradford became just the third player to win the award as part of an elaborate practical joke.
AND
They got me pretty good," Bradford said. "I guess I won't be playing football anymore. Well, my shoulder is so ****ed up that I can't really throw anyway."

[ColdWizard]

A day of shame and failure

Lawrence Taylor arrested and arraigned:

SUFFERN, N.Y. -- Pro Football Hall of Famer Lawrence Taylor has been arraigned on rape and prostitution charges in an assault on a 16-year-old runaway who police said was brought to his New York hotel room against her will.

A Rockland County judge set bail at $75,000.

Taylor, who has a history of drug abuse and runs-in with the law, was charged with third-degree rape, a felony charge that carries a term of up to four years in prison. Taylor was also charged with third-degree patronizing of a prostitute, a misdemeanor charge that carries a term of up to one year in prison.

No drugs were found in the room but police reports stated there was a bottle of alcohol.

Police officials also said at a news conference Thursday that Taylor was "cooperative" when he was taken into custody and questioned.

An attorney for Taylor, Kenneth Gribetz, said he was "confident [Taylor's] innocence will be proven."

Taylor posted bail and left with his attorney without answering any questions.

Judge Arnold P. Etelson granted a temporary order of protection that means Taylor cannot have anything to do with the accuser for six months. Taylor had been in town for business and to play golf at the Spook Rock Golf Course.

A second man was arrested in the case, New York City police said. Rasheed Davis, a 36-year-old parolee, was arrested on charges of unlawful imprisonment, assault and endangering the welfare of a child.

Police said Davis drove the girl, who had been staying with him in the Bronx for a few weeks, to the Holiday Inn Suffern, in Montebello, and told her she had to have sex with Taylor. She said she refused, Taylor sexually assaulted her, then he paid her $300, which she gave to Davis, police said.

Davis "struck the young girl with his fist, kicked her and brought her to the Holiday Inn against her will," NYPD spokesman Paul Browne said.

On the way back from Suffern, the girl sent text messages to her uncle spelling out what had happened, Browne said. The uncle then went to the NYPD, he said.

New York City police alerted Ramapo authorities to what happened. Police then went to Taylor's hotel room and arrested him.

"We're not happy with what took place, but our detectives have made the arrest and processed the scene," St. Lawrence said.

St. Lawrence also said sex with a 16-year-old cannot be consensual in New York state.

The alleged victim was 15 when she ran away from home in the Bronx in March but is 16 now, St. Lawrence said.

Taylor, 51, was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1999 and competed in ABC's "Dancing With the Stars" last year. He had a highly publicized struggle with drug addiction and has had multiple legal issues in retirement.

A quick, fierce and athletic linebacker who redefined his position, Taylor anchored the Giants' defense and led New York to Super Bowls titles in 1987 and 1991. He was selected to the NFL's 75th anniversary All-Time Team.

A 10-time Pro Bowler, he was the NFL Most Valuable Player in 1986 and the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 1981, 1982 and 1986. He recorded 132.5 sacks, which doesn't include the 9.5 sacks in 1981, when the statistic wasn't official.

In 2001, Taylor was convicted of possessing drug paraphernalia in New Jersey. The conviction stemmed from the September 1998 discovery in a hotel room of a butane torch and other materials commonly used to smoke crack.

In 1996 and 1997, he was arrested in South Carolina and Florida on drug charges. In those cases, he either admitted his guilt or agreed to enter a pretrial intervention program.

In 2000, he drew five years of federal probation for filing false tax returns and for tax evasion. In November, he was charged in Florida with leaving the scene of an accident.

JaMarcus Russell Released:

ALAMEDA, Calif. -- The Oakland Raiders released former No. 1 overall pick JaMarcus Russell on Thursday, ending a three-year tenure marked by his high salary and unproductive play on the field.

Senior executive John Herrera told The Associated Press about the move and said that "we wish him well."

The decision came less than two weeks after Oakland acquired Jason Campbell from Washington to take over at quarterback and signifies that owner Al Davis finally lost patience with the immensely talented but unproductive player he drafted first overall in 2007 against the wishes of former coach Lane Kiffin.

Russell will now likely be considered one of the biggest draft busts in NFL history, joining Ryan Leaf, Ki-Jana Carter, Akili Smith and others on that list. He will have been paid more than $39 million by the Raiders, while producing only seven wins as a starter.

Russell showed up at last week's minicamp, saying he would keep coming to work until told otherwise. He looked decent in the first of five practices last weekend but got less work as the weekend went on and the decision to cut ties was finally made.

The Raiders paid Russell more than $36 million through last season. They still owe him $3 million more but saved $6.45 million by not having him on the roster in 2010.

Since the start of the common draft in 1967, only one other No. 1 pick was released this quickly in his NFL career. Indianapolis cut 1992 top pick Steve Emtman after three seasons but that was more because of injuries than production.

Emtman played three more seasons for Miami and Washington. It remains to be seen whether any team will give Russell another shot.

Davis believed Russell could turn the fortunes of his struggling franchise when he drafted him. He stood by him during his struggles, revealing when he fired Kiffin in 2008 that the coach did not want him.

"He is a great player. Get over it and coach this team on the field," Davis read from a letter he sent Kiffin before the firing. "That is what you were hired to do. We can win with this team."

But the Raiders were unable to win with Russell at the helm and Davis allowed Cable to bench Russell midway through last season. The move was popular in the locker room and gave the team a spark on the field as Bruce Gradkowski led comeback wins over Cincinnati and Pittsburgh.

Davis was not satisfied with Gradkowski as his standard bearer and the Raiders were linked to possible offseason deals for Donovan McNabb and Ben Roethlisberger. While the Raiders downplayed how serious those talks ever got, they did make the move for another quarterback when they acquired Campbell from Washington for a 2012 fourth-round draft pick.

The team showed confidence in Campbell by extending his contract through 2011, giving him a $4.5 million deal that season on top of the $3.14 million he is owed this season.

Russell won only seven of his 25 starts as the Raiders extended an NFL-worst streak to seven straight seasons with at least 11 losses. He completed just 52.1 percent of his passes in his career with 18 touchdowns, 23 interceptions, 15 lost fumbles and a passer rating of 65.2.

That means Russell has been paid more than $5 million per win, more than $2 million per touchdown pass and more than $100,000 per completion.

While Russell's numbers are superior to Leaf's, he was paid considerably more money to do it and was picked first instead of second. Leaf's rookie contract guaranteed him only $11.25 million.

Russell's tenure in Oakland got off to a rough start and never got much better. He held out his first season, not signing a contract until after the first game of the regular season. That made his rookie season almost a complete loss, as he started only one game.

He showed some signs of progress in his second season, especially in winning the final two games of the year against Houston and Tampa Bay. But the problems of work ethic and his weight never disappeared and his third season was an utter disaster.

He was fined for being overweight when he showed up at training camp. He then put together one of the worst seasons in recent memory for an NFL quarterback. He completed 48.8 percent of his passes, with three touchdowns, 11 interceptions and a 50.0 passer rating that was the lowest since Leaf, Bobby Hoying and Craig Whelihan all finished below 50 in 1998.

[SlowwHand]

Ryan Leaf has waited a long time for this day, the one where his place on the all-time draft bust list matched his draft position: No. 2.

"If I'm going to be the biggest bust, I have to own up to it," Leaf told the Los Angeles Times last month. "I used to go to bed at night hoping somebody else like Heath Shuler might magically leapfrog me on those all-time bust lists.

"It never happened. Why? Because I am No. 1. I can't even think of anyone else in the ballpark that might be close to my combination of disappointment and failed expectations."

And move over -- or should we say down? -- Mr. Leaf.

With the Oakland Raiders' release of Russell on Thursday, there is a new quarterback sitting atop the all-time bust list.

How bad was Russell's short-lived career in Oakland? Consider what the Raiders received with their nearly $40 million investment:

» $5.7 million per victory (7 wins in 25 starts).

» $2.2 million per touchdown pass (18 in three seasons).

» $113,000 per completion (354 in his career).

Those are facts. What follows is one man's opinion of the top 10 NFL draft busts.
1. JaMarcus Russell, QB, LSU
It cost the Raiders $36 million to keep Russell -- the No. 1 overall pick in the 2007 draft -- around for three seasons, and they still are on the hook for another $3 million. That's a lot of money for a player who never cared enough about the game.

What he's doing now: Looking for an NFL job.

2. Ryan Leaf, QB, Washington State
Immaturity, a lack of commitment, and a bad temper doomed the second overall pick of the San Diego Chargers in the 1998 draft from the outset. To think the Colts, with the No. 1 overall selection, had given some thought to taking Leaf over Peyton Manning.

What he's doing now: Leaf is serving 10 years of probation after pleading guilty in Amarillo, Texas to eight felony drug charges and losing his job as an assistant football coach at West Texas A&M.

3. Tim Couch, QB, Kentucky
The top overall pick in the 1999 draft was supposed to be the franchise quarterback for the newly re-coined Cleveland Browns. Although Couch was plagued by nagging injuries and an inexperienced offensive line, he just simply didn't have the makings of an NFL quarterback. After getting cut by the Browns in 2004, he had two failed comebacks that sandwiched a two-year stint in the CFL.

What he's doing now: Couch is married to former Playboy Playmate Heather Kozar, and the couple have two sons. He serves as an analyst for the Big Blue Sports Network for Kentucky Wildcats football games.

4. Akili Smith, QB, Oregon
Taken by the Cincinnati Bengals with the No. 3 overall pick in 1999 draft, Smith never grasped the complexities of the NFL game and failed to show the work ethic required to succeed in the league. He started just 17 games over four years with the Bengals, throwing just five touchdowns. He had two failed comebacks with the Packers and Buccaneers before an uneventful, short stint in the CFL.

What he's doing now: In March, Smith became a graduate football assistant at Cal. He was hired by head coach Jeff Tedford, who previously coached Smith at Oregon as offensive coordinator.

5. Heath Shuler, QB, Tennessee
Shuler was a colossal flop after being drafted third overall by the Washington Redskins in 1994. He couldn't pass nearly as well as expected or handle the pressure of playing in the nation's capital. Shuler started just 18 games in his first two years and was benched in his third, losing his job to Gus Frerotte. he was out of the league by 1997.

What he's doing now: Shuler is a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives, representing North Carolina's 11th congressional district since 2007.

6. Tony Mandarich, OT, Michigan State
The "Incredible Bulk" came into the league as one of the most hyped players in NFL draft history. The No. 2 overall pick of the Packers in 1989 never lived up to the incredible hype, and after just three disappointing seasons in Green Bay, he was cut. Meanwhile, the players chosen around him -- Troy Aikman, Barry Sanders, Derrick Thomas and Deion Sanders -- were paving their way to the Hall of Fame.

What he's doing now: Mandarich, who currently owns a photographt studio in Arizona, confirmed in his 2009 book -- My Dirty Little Secrets—Steroids, Alcohol & God -- what had been long speculated, that he had been taking steroids at Michigan State. It was one of the worst-kept secrets.

7. Blair Thomas, RB, Penn State
The second overall pick in the 1990 draft rushed for only 2,000 yards and five touchdowns in four years with the New York Jets. The next two seasons he spent time with three different teams. He was out of the league by 1995.

What he's doing now: After serving as running backs coach at Temple for eight years, Thomas formed a partnership with former Eagles wide receiver Kenny Jackson, and the two operate a chain of sports bars called KoKoMos around Harrisburg, Penn.

8. Lawrence Phillips, RB, Nebraska
How long would Phillips have lasted in the NFL if today's player conduct policy was in place? Not. For. Long. The sixth overall pick of the St. Louis Rams in 1996, Phillips disappointed even beyond the expectations people had for him upon entering the league. Making matters worse, the Rams traded Jerome Bettis shortly after drafting Phillips, who wore out his welcome in St. Louis with a series of insubordinate actions. He was cut after just 25 games.

What he's doing now: Serving a 31-year prison sentence. Phillips had one run-in after another with the law, none worse than the one that sent him to prison last December for attacking his girlfriend and driving his car into three teens.

9. Charles Rogers, WR, Michigan State
The No. 2 overall pick in 2003 by Detroit lasted just three seasons in the NFL, and caught just 36 passes in his 14-game career. Poor attitude, injuries, and a drug habit contributed to his failures as an NFL player. After getting cut by the Lions in 2005, he had tryouts with the Dolphins, Patriots and Buccaneers in 2006, but was not signed. His career was finished.

What he's doing now: Multiple arrests, many related to his abuse of alcohol and drugs, followed his brief stay in the NFL, and last month, Rogers was ordered to return $6.1 million of his $9.1 million signing bonus to the Lions because his drug use violated the terms of his NFL contract.

10. Bruce Pickens, CB, Nebraska
The Falcons chose Pickens with the third overall pick in the 1991 draft, but he produced just two interceptions in four starts during his two and half seasons in Atlanta. He was completely out of the league after four seasons.


What he's doing now: Unknown.

http://www.nfl.com/news/story?id=09000d5d817ff891&template=with-video-with-comments&confirm=true

[Zopperoni]

Painful, just counting last season's stats, each of the following guys had more wins, more TDs AND more completions than JaMarcus Russell has had in his entire career:
Peyton Manning (14 / 33 / 393)
Drew Brees (13 / 34 / 363)
Brett Favre (12 / 33 / 363)
Tom Brady (10 / 28 / 371)
Matt Schaub (9 / 29 / 396)

[rah]

On the mike and mike show this morning they were joking that in a 32 team league he was ranked 34th last year.

[ZEE]

seeing all the corruption, greed, and lazyness at ALL levels of most corporations/franchises its amazing MOAR athletes don't follow JaMarcus's footprint. I can honestly see why he would do that. "Hell I got my 34 million deal so ill just flop around and retire in 3 years"

This isn't a JaMarcus Russell problem its a Capitalist wall street fat-cat problem. Why should any of these kids try to win at all anymoar, on this train of logic? Competitive sports is screwed.

[SlowwHand]

There's this thing called pride. You may be unaware of the concept. Did you happen to read the part about Ryan Leaf, and his not relishing being called the #1 Bust?

[ramseya]

I don't like that bust list for having Tim Couch so high. First of all, that QB draft class was terrible (Akili Smith, Cade McNown, Daunte Culpepper; McNabb was the only good one in that class with Culpepper being, well, Culpepper) so the Browns actually didn't do terribly by taking Couch. Then you factor in the horrible team he played for as well as having to go up against the early 2000's Ravens and Steelers... For a guy to lead the Browns to a winning season in 2002 largely by the skin of their teeth and Couch's late-game heroics before breaking his leg before the playoffs... He really doesn't deserve to be #3, even considered worse than Akili Smith.

If whoever made that list is going to give passes to guys like Joey Harrington and David Carr presumably because they played for such terrible teams, Couch really doesn't belong sandwiched between Leaf and Akili Smith.

Also, just an aside... statistically, Jemarcus Russell is no worse than Brady Quinn or the other QB's taken that year in later rounds (Kevin Kolb, John Beck, Trent Edwards). Russell got paid a whole lot more and did less with more, though. Still, Quinn supposedly hailed for his accuracy has the exact same career completion % as Russell (52.1%) even though Russell throws a lot of bombs and Quinn is more checkdown.

Interesting how the Eagles were mocked for making Kolb the 3rd QB taken in that draft and he has the best shot of making a career out of himself.

[ZEE]

There's this thing called pride. You may be unaware of the concept. Did you happen to read the part about Ryan Leaf, and his not relishing being called the #1 Bust?

Pride gets you physically, mentally, and financially scarred and ruined. The media and everyone else wants you to work your ass off for other people and die young and broke.

But Russell? He is the son of a factory worker and his talents got him where is to begin with. Now he never has to worry about injuries, he doesn't care what people think about him which saves him stress, and he is living the lap of luxury before he is even 30 and is set for the rest of his life. Of course people are pissed at him

The moar i think about it the moar i like Russell and how he completely PWNed an already broken system. (Capitalism lol)

[ramseya]

AAHZ:

I think you're mischaracterizing Russell. I bet you he's going to try out for other teams and try to resuscitate his career.

A dollar says Jack Del Rio is interested...

[MRT144]

Leaf is far and away a bigger bust that Russell because without a doubt, Russell never had the amount of hype surrounding him that Leaf did. Nobody was like "Russell is the next Manning" if they ever watched a game of Russell in their life.

[Ben Kenobi]

He can throw 60 yards from his knees!

That said, I think Leaf is the bigger bust because his numbers were in a class all by themselves, even when compared with JaMarcus.

[ColdWizard]

That list is stupid. Leaf is far worse than Russell and Russell hasn't even failed with his second and third teams yet. Plus I guess the writer was limiting it to top 3 picks but surely Andre Ware (7th overall) and Brian Bosworth deserve some sort of mention when discussing draft busts.