Running NFL Preseason Thread

Re: Running NFL Offseason Thread

Ryan Leach might disagree.

Jet fans might mention Blair Thomas or Lam Jones.

 

Re: Running NFL Offseason Thread

Is Ryan Leach related to Mike Leach?

Then there was Ryan Leaf, who was drafted of Central Arkansas.

 

Re: Running NFL Offseason Thread

good catch - was listening to Mike Leach program when I made that post

 

Re: Running NFL Offseason Thread

nope, ryan leach, er, leaf had a hof career compared to russell. ditto mandarich, thomas and lam... and what none of them were, but russell was, was the NO. 1 PICK OVERALL in their draft. put that with the fact he was (allegedly) a qb and you get someone who will AT LEAST share the title forever.

 

Re: Running NFL Offseason Thread

I think the new rookie cap is going to be an end of an era of sorts regarding the "bust" label, which JaMarcus just might wear it forever. When the Raiders took Russell -- or the 49ers took Alex Smith, or the Browns took Tim Couch, etc. -- the money was so crazy at the #1 pick that you pretty much had to take a quarterback because most teams' salary structure doesn't allow for a cap figure that high at any other position. Now that those rookie contracts are more in line, the default drafting of QBs is going to subside.

 

Re: Running NFL Offseason Thread

couldn't disagree more. teams who have the no. 1 pick overall plus a glaring qb need will almost always go for whoever they perceive as the best qb in any draft. i don't really see how the cap plays a role.

 

Re: Running NFL Offseason Thread

Thomas and Jones were # 2's so not far off .

 

Re: Running NFL Offseason Thread

i think mandarich, too, was the second overall. yes, it's 'close,' but in terms of judging the degree of 'bust-age,' it's a pretty quantum leap. as soon as a qb in the no. 1 overall spot fills the bill, game. set. match.

congrats, jamarcus. well done!!

 

Re: Running NFL Offseason Thread

A couple of D Linemen drafted # 1 that were just a shade behind Russel as busts- Walt Pultulski by the Bills and Kenny Sims by the Pats.

 

Re: Running NFL Offseason Thread

Jones wasn't totally awful. He did have 13 touchdown receptions and averaged 16.8 yards per catch. Hardly on the R. Jay Soward level. Granted they could have had Anthony Munoz with the next pick, but they had already spent two No. 1s out of the previous three years on OTs (Marvin Powell in '77, Chris Ward in '78).

Thomas still had to split time with Freeman McNeil and Johnny Hector in his first year, and ran for 728 yards his second year. Not great, not awful. Yeah, they could have had Emmitt Smith. So could 15 other teams.

 

Re: Running NFL Offseason Thread

If the 49ers in 2005 were going to give someone a five-year, $22 million contract like Cam Newton just got, they would have taken Braylon Edwards or Ronnie Brown or Cadillac or a defensive lineman or anybody but Alex Smith. (Those players also would have been busts, but it's beside the point for the point I'm making.) If the Raiders in 2007 were going to give out such a contract, they would have taken Calvin Johnson, who was a guaranteed star. But teams operate on salary slots, and if you're going to put that much of your cap space into a receiver or running back, you're going to have to skimp elsewhere. So quarterback became the only wise place to spend that $30-plus million upfront and allocate the eight-figure cap number.

The franchise QBs will still be taken first. But the guys who just kind of rise to the top because that's the only option -- Smith, Russell, Couch, David Carr, I'd even put Matthew Stafford in that category -- it's going to be more of an open field.

 

Re: Running NFL Offseason Thread

well, you're being far too generous if you're trying lift the 'bust' tag from lam or blair. they were monumental busts, by any measure, for no. 2 picks overall. but jamarcus spares them from being in serious contention for 'biggest bust EVER' consideration.