K-9 Posted June 2, 2011 Posted June 2, 2011 KD in CT got me thinking about this in the OJ/TT thread. What great careers were cut short by injury and how great would those players have been if not injured? I'll start with: Robert James. Had he not been injured I think he would have ended up in the HOF as one of the best CBs to ever lace 'em up. He was truly the first shut down corner I can remember watching in person. Routinely took away the other teams' number one receivers. Warfield, Maynard, Biletnikoff, Taylor, just to name a few. You just lined him up across from the other team's number one and didn't worry about that guy hurting you. GO BILLS!!!
Lord Chinfist Posted June 2, 2011 Posted June 2, 2011 Off the top of my head how about Terrell Davis? Davis had 6413 yards in his first 4 years, over 2000 yards in his final full season, then injuries cut his career short. Who knows how many yards he wold have racked up.
NewEra Posted June 2, 2011 Posted June 2, 2011 Off the top of my head how about Terrell Davis? Davis had 6413 yards in his first 4 years, over 2000 yards in his final full season, then injuries cut his career short. Who knows how many yards he wold have racked up. I view Davis as an Emmit Smith type player. Very good RB, great OL and perfect situation. Smith had all the talent around him while Davis had an offensive scheme and OL that produced holes that I could have run for 1000 yards behind. When Davis went out, his replacements ran for 1500. I'm not saying Davis wasn't good, he was very good, but as a running back, I wouldn't view him as one of the greatest, just like smith, the all time leader in yards. Smith is a great back, but IMO, isn't one of the greatest (in which I usually associate with top 5 talents). Davis may have been a top 25 all-time guy, but I think there were better RBs that weren't lucky enough to be in the perfect situation. Davis and smith were in the perfect situation, and they capitalized on in.
Taro T Posted June 2, 2011 Posted June 2, 2011 Gayle Sayers. Yeah, he's in the HoF. But what could have been if he'd've stayed healthy or had the medicine of today back in his day.
Zamboni Man Posted June 2, 2011 Posted June 2, 2011 (edited) Bo Jackson comes to mind, who knows how great his career would've been if he never injured his hip vs. the Bengals. Edited June 2, 2011 by Zamboni Man
tonyd19 Posted June 2, 2011 Posted June 2, 2011 J.P Losman. Who knows how good he could have been with a brain.
paintmyhouse Posted June 2, 2011 Posted June 2, 2011 Trent Edwards. If he didn't take the brutal concussion hit maybe the Bills would have made the playoffs that season. Brian Piccolo, he actually died.
San Jose Bills Fan Posted June 2, 2011 Posted June 2, 2011 This name came up last week and several posters agreed that he would have been an all-time great had he not been so injured… Jerry Butler.
MattyT Posted June 3, 2011 Posted June 3, 2011 Bo Jackson comes to mind, who knows how great his career would've been if he never injured his hip vs. the Bengals. This was my first thought as well. He was soooo fun to watch.
Scottytubes54 Posted June 3, 2011 Posted June 3, 2011 Thinking just about the Bills, the one that pops into my mind is Sam Cowart. He was become a very dominant MLB, not quite in the same breath as Ray Lewis, but when he blew his achilles, there weren't many better MLB's in the league. He was young and had his best years ahead of him. I also think of another ILB who probably had his best years behind him, but still had tread on the tires when he got hurt and that was Chris Speilman.
Mark Vader Posted June 3, 2011 Posted June 3, 2011 A pair of high draft picks by the Colts: DL Steve Emtman & LB Trev Alberts.
Steve O Posted June 3, 2011 Posted June 3, 2011 (edited) Derrick Burroughs was coming into his own when his career was cut short by that thin neck ailment( was paralyzed for about 8 minutes against the Oilers if memory serves) Edited June 3, 2011 by Steve O
Taro T Posted June 3, 2011 Posted June 3, 2011 Derrick Burroughs was coming into his own when his career was cut short by that thin neck ailment( was paralyzed for about 8 minutes against the Oilers if memory serves) I was writing basically the same post when yours popped up. Imagine what might have been if he were still around for the Superbowl run.
ICanSleepWhenI'mDead Posted June 3, 2011 Posted June 3, 2011 Based solely on his college career and draft position (no way to know if he was really gonna be an NFL star): "RB Ki-Jana Carter, Penn State, 1995 Bengals moved up to take him first overall and gave him a then-record $7.1 million signing bonus. Owner Mike Brown called him the team's ``bell cow.'' Tore ACL in his left knee on his third preseason carry in Detroit, ending the season and starting a career cut short by injuries at every turn."
IA Bills Fan Posted June 3, 2011 Posted June 3, 2011 Marcus DuPree would have been an absoulte beast if it wasnt for his knee injury.
KD in CA Posted June 3, 2011 Posted June 3, 2011 Marcus DuPree would have been an absoulte beast if it wasnt for his knee injury. Good one; although his other issues really hampered him from reaching potential. The moment he decided to play for that a--hole Switzer he was doomed.
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