Greg's Top Ten Worst Draft Busts (6-10 Today, 1-5 Yesterday):
6. Tony Mandarich: When Sports Illustrated ran a cover story on Mandarich while he was still in college it was labeled "The Incredible Bulk" and drew enormous amounts of attention to prospective NFL teams looking to draft an offensive tackle. The story focused on Mandarich's unbelievably massive physique - a rarity for an offensive lineman in the 1980s. He was supposed to be a game-changer. The kind of player who could be the cornerstone of an offensive line for over a decade. When the 1989 NFL Draft approached there were many who speculated that Mandarich would be a top 5 pick. In fact he ended up getting picked #2 overall by the Green Bay Packers. What the Packers weren't aware of was Mandarich's rampant use of painkillers and steroids in college and the player once labeled as "The Incredible Bulk" was exposed as being little more than a science experiment gone wrong. Though he was large in size, he lacked the mobility needed to counter defensive players coming off the edge. After just three years with the Packers he was cut from the team and didn't return to the NFL until five years later when he salvaged his career with the Indianapolis Colts. What's most damaging to Mandarich's legacy is that he was picked in front of Barry Sanders, Derrick Thomas and Deion Sanders in succession - all Pro Football Hall of Famers.
7. Art Schlichter: When Art Schichter was playing for Ohio State University a book was written about him that was titled "Straight Arrow." It chronicled his collegiate career and portrayed Schichter as being somewhat of a perfect angel who was playing his life straight as an arrow. What nobody knew was that Schichter, a highly successful college quarterback, was hiding a massive gambling addiction. With no knowledge of his demons, Schichter was selected 4th overall in 1982 by the Baltimore Colts. By midseason of his rookie year Schilchter had already gambled away his signing bonus and when the NFL Strike of 1982 occurred, Schichter, alone with only his addiction, piled up $700,000 in gambling debts betting on sporting events. In 1983, with his debtors threatening to expose him for his actions which were outlawed by the NFL, he turned himself into the FBI. He was suspended by the NFL indefinitely for betting on games and by 1986 he was out of the NFL altogether. On September 15, 2011 he was sentenced to ten years in prison for a million-dollar ticket scam.
8. Brian Bosworth: Speaking of steroid users, Bosworth's drug habit was something of legend even before getting drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in the 1st round of the 1987 NFL Supplemental Draft. He is the only player in NCAA history to win the Butkus Award (given to the nation's top college linebacker) twice, yet his steroid usage at both the college and pro level is what garnered bigger headlines. The Seahawks decided to take a chance on Bosworth's talent and quickly learned that he was injury-prone, difficult to work with and highly overrated. Just two years after Seattle drafted him he was out of the NFL and turned to acting.
9. Heath Shuler: Shuler was draft #3 overall in the 1994 NFL Draft by the Washington Redskins who were trying to replace former Super Bowl MVP Mark Rypien. They also selected another quarterback in that draft - Tulsa quarterback Gus Frerotte, who was selected 194 picks after Shuler. By Shuler's second season he had relinquished his starting job to his understudy after suffering injuries and consistently underperforming. By 1997 Shuler was no longer playing in the NFL and retired with over twice as many interceptions than touchdowns. Today he is a member of the U.S. House of Representatives.
10. Blair Thomas: The second overall pick of the 1990 NFL Draft, Thomas was touted by most as the best rushing prospect of the draft after having a dynamic career playing for Joe Paterno's Penn State Nittany Lions. Unfortunately for the Jets and Thomas, his collegiate accomplishments didn't pay dividends at the professional level. Thomas lasted just four years in New York before bouncing around the league. He amassed just 2,236 yards and 7 touchdowns as a pro where he played for five different NFL franchises. What's worse is that 15 picks after Thomas was selected by the Jets, the Dallas Cowboys selected the NFL's all-time rushing leader, Emmitt Smith.
7. Art Schlichter: When Art Schichter was playing for Ohio State University a book was written about him that was titled "Straight Arrow." It chronicled his collegiate career and portrayed Schichter as being somewhat of a perfect angel who was playing his life straight as an arrow. What nobody knew was that Schichter, a highly successful college quarterback, was hiding a massive gambling addiction. With no knowledge of his demons, Schichter was selected 4th overall in 1982 by the Baltimore Colts. By midseason of his rookie year Schilchter had already gambled away his signing bonus and when the NFL Strike of 1982 occurred, Schichter, alone with only his addiction, piled up $700,000 in gambling debts betting on sporting events. In 1983, with his debtors threatening to expose him for his actions which were outlawed by the NFL, he turned himself into the FBI. He was suspended by the NFL indefinitely for betting on games and by 1986 he was out of the NFL altogether. On September 15, 2011 he was sentenced to ten years in prison for a million-dollar ticket scam.
8. Brian Bosworth: Speaking of steroid users, Bosworth's drug habit was something of legend even before getting drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in the 1st round of the 1987 NFL Supplemental Draft. He is the only player in NCAA history to win the Butkus Award (given to the nation's top college linebacker) twice, yet his steroid usage at both the college and pro level is what garnered bigger headlines. The Seahawks decided to take a chance on Bosworth's talent and quickly learned that he was injury-prone, difficult to work with and highly overrated. Just two years after Seattle drafted him he was out of the NFL and turned to acting.
9. Heath Shuler: Shuler was draft #3 overall in the 1994 NFL Draft by the Washington Redskins who were trying to replace former Super Bowl MVP Mark Rypien. They also selected another quarterback in that draft - Tulsa quarterback Gus Frerotte, who was selected 194 picks after Shuler. By Shuler's second season he had relinquished his starting job to his understudy after suffering injuries and consistently underperforming. By 1997 Shuler was no longer playing in the NFL and retired with over twice as many interceptions than touchdowns. Today he is a member of the U.S. House of Representatives.
10. Blair Thomas: The second overall pick of the 1990 NFL Draft, Thomas was touted by most as the best rushing prospect of the draft after having a dynamic career playing for Joe Paterno's Penn State Nittany Lions. Unfortunately for the Jets and Thomas, his collegiate accomplishments didn't pay dividends at the professional level. Thomas lasted just four years in New York before bouncing around the league. He amassed just 2,236 yards and 7 touchdowns as a pro where he played for five different NFL franchises. What's worse is that 15 picks after Thomas was selected by the Jets, the Dallas Cowboys selected the NFL's all-time rushing leader, Emmitt Smith.
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