With training camp a week away, an early storyline in the off season was the departure of JaMarcus Russell from Oakland.
Since then, he has failed to find an NFL job, and has faced trouble with the law.
He goes down as one of the biggest busts in NFL history, but is he the worst of all time?
Feel free to give me your thoughts on twitter (feel free to follow me as well)
twitter.com/MattMiselis
20. David Carr
David Carr was the first pick in the history of the Texans franchise, and just like many number one overall picks, the talent around him puts him on this list.
Carr has been with four teams in nine seasons, with 65 touchdowns as to 70 interceptions, and just cracked the 14,000+ passing yards mark.
Now, he is lucky to have a job as a career NFL back up.
19. Charles Rogers
Charles Rogers turned out to be the worst selection in a Detroit Lions history and has a lot of bad memories.
After being taken second overall in 2003, Rogers played three total seasons in the NFL.
Injuries and troubles with the law makes Rogers one of the memorable busts of the past decade.
18. Thomas Henderson
Drafted 18th overall by the Dallas Cowboys, Thomas Henderson had the talent to become one of the best line backers in the league history.
Heck, Hall Of Famer Lawrence Taylor even changed his number as he was inspired to wear it.
Despite success within the first few years of his career, drugs and alcohol led to the downfall of his career, which ended after six seasons.
17. Jim Druckenmiller
Some argue Jim Druckenmiller is the biggest bust in 49ers history–and they may have a point.
Druckenmiller only lasted four seasons in the NFL, but was especially known for his pitiful stint with San Francisco.
Career Stats: One touchdown, Four interceptions, 239 passing yards, 29.2 quarterback rating.
16. Ron Dayne
Ron Dayne was statistically supposed to become one of the greatest running backs in NFL history.
After setting the record for most rushing yards in college football history, he became a flat out bust in the NFL.
He exited the Giants after arguing with then head coach Jim Fassel.
Ron bumped his way to two teams until his NFL career officially ended in 2007.
15. Ki-Jana Carter
After having a successful college career, and being selected number one overall by the Cincinnati Bengals, Ki-Jana Carter was nothing more than a bust at the Pro-Level.
From his season ending injury in his rookie year, Ki-Jana posted a dismal 1,144 rushing yards and 20 touchdowns in TEN seasons!
14. Aundray Bruce
In 1988, Aundray Bruce was expected to be one of the next greatest pass rushers.
Unfortunately, it didn’t pan out for him. Bruce had two decent campaigns early in his career, but never near the caliber of a top overall pick.
He only lasted until 1991 before being cut by the Falcons, and ended any idea of him being a great rusher.
Final Stats: 11 seasons, 32 sacks
13. Art Schlichter
Art Schlichter the biggest bust in Colts history? He clearly makes the case.
For those who never heard of him, I am not surprised.
Selected 4th overall by the Baltimore Colts, but then his career and personal life took a turn for the worst.
His addiction to gambling never made Art the same quarterback ever again.
He lasted four seasons in the NFL, threw three touchdowns to eleven interceptions, and 1,006 in total passing yards.
12. Tim Couch
Another former number one selection bites the dust.
Tim Couch is one of the more memorable busts of the past decade.
In five NFL seasons where he wasn’t on the practice squad, Couch hit the injury bug, and combined with poor play from the team as a whole, lost his starting job not to far after.
2007 was his last stint in the NFL, as his career came to a disappointing end.
11. Akili Smith
Drafted third overall by the Bengals, the athleticism of Akili Smith never panned out.
In six seasons on the professional level, Smith had 2,212 passing yards, on five touchdowns and 13 interceptions.
He isn’t alone though, as quite a few other quarterbacks in the first round didn’t work out as well.
10. Curtis Enis
Curtis Enis reaches the top ten list after his NFL career came to a short ending.
Drafted 5th overall by the Chicago Bears, injuries killed him from the start.
He only lasted three seasons in the entire league, posting 1,497 yards and four rushing touchdowns.
9. Todd Marinovich
For everyone who remembers Todd’s story, it was indeed a sad one.
Receiving constant pressure from his father to succeed as a quarterback, Marinovich fell flat on his face.
Combine that with his addicting use of drugs, he only lasted two full seasons in the NFL before being cut in 1993 (yes, he was with the Raiders a shorter period of time than JaMarcus Russell).
Also keep in mind, he was drafted before Brett Favre.
8. Blair Thomas
Selected second overall by the New York Jets, Blair Thomas only lasted in the NFL for six seasons.
No, he wasn’t a bust due to addictions or injuries, he was just plain awful.
Blair goes down as one of the worst selections in New York Jets history.
Stats: 2,236 yards, seven touchdowns
7. Lawrence Phillips
Lawrence Phillips was supposed to be the next greatest running back in the league, and the St. Louis Rams were happy for his services at the time.
However, Phillips never panned out against NFL defenses.
In four NFL seasons, he rushed for 1,453 yards and 14 touchdowns.
As you read this today, Phillips is serving his time for the many troubles he had during his career.
Most recently, last year in fact, he was sentenced up to 31 years in prison for multiple abusive incidents.
6. Andre Ware
The former Hiesman Winner did not live up to the hype and success as he did in college.
Andre only lasted six seasons in the NFL, passing for five touchdowns, eight interceptions, and only 1,112, passing yards.
5. Brian Bosworth
The college success of Brian Bosworth never panned out on the NFL level.
Drafted by the Seahawks in the 1987 draft, Bosworth only remembrance isn’t a good one, which is being plowed by Bo Jackson on Monday Night Football, a game he guaranteed to shut down the running back.
Career Stats: Four sacks, three Fumble Recoveries.
4. Todd Mandarich
Tony Mandarich was projected to be one of the greatest offensive lineman to play this game, after his dominance at the college level.Only starting 47 games in his ten seasons in the league, the big lineman had to deal with the media when his use of steroids in college and the pros was made to the public.
3. Heath Schuler
Heath Shuler might have been able to move on from football, but what can’t be ignored is the bust able that is always associated with his name.
Drafted third overall by the Redskins, Helath Shuler only lasted in the NFL for five seasons, before becoming a politician.
Career stats: 15 touchdowns, 33 interceptions, 3,691 passing yards
2. JaMarcus Russell
Hate to pick on the loyal Raiders fan base, but JaMarcus Russell does go down as one of the biggest busts in NFL history.
Known for the strong arm out of LSU, Russell was nowhere near the expectations in Oakland.
His inability to stay in shape, and have a work ethic, even made Al Davis say it was time to move on.
With a record of 7-18 as a starter, and recent drug problems over the past month, JaMarcus Russell is the reason for holding back the Oakland Raiders for the past few seasons.
1. Ryan Leaf
Despite Mr. Russell joining the list of NFL busts, Ryan Leaf is still number one in my mind.
Why? Because he will always be known as the quarterback who was selected right after Peyton Manning, and failed miserably.
Leaf only played in 25 games, throwing 14 touchdowns and 36 interceptions.
Combine his run in with the media, teammates, and opposing fans, Leaf called it a short career in 2002.
Since his retirement, he has faced his legal troubles after he left the game.
Former teammate Rodney Harrison said it best: ” he probably did the best thing; he took his money and ran.”[14]
