cage Posted August 30, 2011 Posted August 30, 2011 (edited) A few weeks ago there was a discussion that prompted the following question... What NFL players, any team, have been a BUST on team #1 and then became a SUCCESS on team #2? Lets define BUST as someone who was drafted by team #1 and cut loose after 1-3 years as a failure. NOT people who were traded, left via free agency or were cut in a salary cap move. Lets define SUCCESS as someone who became a multi-year starter (off/def) or at least 1 Pro Bowl... NOT special teams stand-outs. I'm having trouble coming up with any from any team... Edited August 30, 2011 by cage
Pulled Hammies Posted August 30, 2011 Posted August 30, 2011 Doug Williams and Steve Young, both drafted by Tampa Bay.
EasternOHBillsFan Posted August 30, 2011 Posted August 30, 2011 Johnny Unitas was perhaps the greatest "BUST to GREAT" QB of all time. He was perceived as a dumb quarterback by the Steelers who promptly let him go, and then he became a Baltimore Colt. Not a high draft pick, but certainly a gaffe of epic proportions.
CBD Posted August 30, 2011 Posted August 30, 2011 (edited) Cedric Benson was discarded by Chicago and became a decent starting RB for the bengals. Obviously there was more to it than just his play however. Edited August 30, 2011 by Carey Bender
Punch Posted August 30, 2011 Posted August 30, 2011 Doug Williams and Steve Young, both drafted by Tampa Bay. Possibly also Vinny Testaverde, another Buc draft pick. Johnny Unitas was perhaps the greatest "BUST to GREAT" QB of all time. He was perceived as a dumb quarterback by the Steelers who promptly let him go, and then he became a Baltimore Colt. Not a high draft pick, but certainly a gaffe of epic proportions. the bust was in the fact the Steelers cut him. He was drafted in the 9th round (then the 102nd overall), not sure there were a lot of expectations for him to be a stud. Incidentally, the Steelers also released Jack Kemp around that time.
cage Posted August 30, 2011 Author Posted August 30, 2011 (edited) Possibly also Vinny Testaverde, another Buc draft pick. OK, I like the list so far... lets keep going. I'm going to keep Unitas off the list as it goes back too far before football operations were anywhere near as sophisticated - Steve Young - Doug Williams - Vinny Testaverde - Cedric Benson Edited August 30, 2011 by cage
TheBlackMamba Posted August 30, 2011 Posted August 30, 2011 (edited) absolutely. i think what team a player goes to is a huge factor in their success (tom brady, aaron rodgers, ben roethlisberger) there are players that had no shot to succeed because of the team they went to (joey harrington, alex smith, jp losman) then there are players that are transcendent and can change the whole course of a franchise by themselves (peyton manning, matt ryan, lawrence taylor, joe montana) Edited August 30, 2011 by TheBlackMamba
Punch Posted August 30, 2011 Posted August 30, 2011 absolutely. i think what team a player goes too is a huge factor in their success (tom brady, aaron rodgers, ben roethlisberger) then there are players that are transcendent and can change the whole course of a franchise by themselves (peyton manning, matt ryan, lawrence taylor, joe montana) This is definitely true--- it's possible Trent Edwards may have developed into what Bill Walsh envisioned he would be had he been brought up properly on a better team. The concussions alone may have permanently stunted his growth, something he might not have encountered in, say, Minnesota. There are Browns' coaches from the Tim Couch era that hold to this day that he should have been a great NFL QB, if only he weren't so horribly mismanaged by a franchise in utter disarray. Who knows what might've been.
GOBILLS78 Posted August 30, 2011 Posted August 30, 2011 Might not be able to call him a bust because he was a fourth-round pick, but a guy who seemingly came out of nowhere after being cut was Rich Gannon. Not sure there were many high-round guys who were released then went on to stardom.
mousetrap08 Posted August 30, 2011 Posted August 30, 2011 (edited) Jim Plunket comes to mind did nothing for the PATS and won Super Bolws for the Raiders. Edited August 30, 2011 by shadowcat10
TheMadCap Posted August 30, 2011 Posted August 30, 2011 Justin Babin was a bust when he was drafted by Houston, but turned into a decent player with Tenn...
mrags Posted August 30, 2011 Posted August 30, 2011 Chris Carter and Steve Largeant? Weren't both players cut by the teams that drafted them only to be some of the best WRs of all time?
NickelCity Posted August 30, 2011 Posted August 30, 2011 Not to nitpick, but wasn't Young traded to the 49ers for a 2nd and a 4th? The story is certainly a big turn around, I only mention this because the OP said no trades, and it made it much harder to think of examples.
Charles Romes Posted August 30, 2011 Posted August 30, 2011 Gary Anderson cut by the buffalo bills. All time NFL leading scorer at time of retirement
cage Posted August 30, 2011 Author Posted August 30, 2011 absolutely. i think what team a player goes to is a huge factor in their success (tom brady, aaron rodgers, ben roethlisberger) there are players that had no shot to succeed because of the team they went to (joey harrington, alex smith, jp losman) then there are players that are transcendent and can change the whole course of a franchise by themselves (peyton manning, matt ryan, lawrence taylor, joe montana) I guess that's what this question is looking to address... lets see how long the list is that people from the crowd?
BillsObserver Posted August 30, 2011 Posted August 30, 2011 Some old timers will take offense to this but I'd really like to only consider the past decade or 2. I just think it's so incredibly different now for GM's, who have to deal with media and social media, where literally everyone has a voice and any mistake is compounded by twitter and message boards like this. And they also have access to tremendous amounts of resources. Maybe I'm wrong but I feel like it was easier to be wrong about a guy back in the 70's and 80's. Rex Grossman has a shot of being that success. I can't think of anyone else besides Benson. But Benson wasn't dismissed because he didn't have the talent. I'd love to pick out guys who were dismissed because they were completely given up on, like Maybin.
Punch Posted August 30, 2011 Posted August 30, 2011 Jim Plunket comes to mind did nothing for the 49ers and won Super Bolws for the Raiders. This is probably the best possible example.
mrags Posted August 30, 2011 Posted August 30, 2011 Chris Carter and Steve Largeant? Weren't both players cut by the teams that drafted them only to be some of the best WRs of all time? After a quick google on both players they were both selected in the 4th round. Where Largent was drafted by the Oilers and was cut only to be picked up by Seattle where he retired as the most successful WR of all time. I'd still say that counts. Carter on the other hand was cut by Buddy Ryans Eagles after off the field issues, being picked up by Minnesota to retire as arguably one of the top 5 WRs of all time. Since I thought of them I feel they should be included into that conversation. While neither were 1st rounders, they were cut by the teams that drafted them only to be 2 of the greatest of all time.
cage Posted August 30, 2011 Author Posted August 30, 2011 (edited) Gary Anderson cut by the buffalo bills. All time NFL leading scorer at time of retirement Good one! So we have... - Gary Anderson - Vinny Testaverde - Cedric Benson - Justin Babin - Steve Largent - Thomas Jones Steve Young was traded, Jim Plunkett was traded. Doug Williams left for USFL due to salary dispute with Bucs Cris Carter led the Eagles with 11 TD catches but was cut because of drug/alcohol abuse by Buddy Ryan This list MUST be longer.... Edited August 30, 2011 by cage
Rob T from OP Posted August 30, 2011 Posted August 30, 2011 OK, I like the list so far... lets keep going. I'm going to keep Unitas off the list as it goes back too far before football operations were anywhere near as sophisticated - Steve Young - Doug Williams - Vinny Testaverde - Cedric Benson How about Wes Welker. Wasn't he cut by the team that drafted him?
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