NFList

Rams’ Carter heads list of first-half disappointments

By Joel Buchsbaum, Contributing editor
As published in print Nov. 6, 2000

Rams DE Kevin Carter

As a follow-up to last week’s list of surprises, we asked scouts who they thought were the biggest disappointments in the first half of the season.

1. Kevin Carter / Rams — "Last year he was the best defensive end in football, and this year, after not getting the contract he wanted, he has just flat-out quit on that team. Just watch the tape — the guy is not even trying. He is just ‘stealing’ money. He should be suspended for insubordination. Against the Chiefs, he just laid down. I have never seen anything like it. He let them block him."

2. Darrell Russell / Raiders — "For one five-game stretch, he totally disappeared and was a complete zero on the field."

3. Tony Banks / Ravens — "Brian Billick was convinced (Banks) was ready to take over this year, but instead, he has really dragged the team down. The guy can make the great pass and play and has superb tools, but he still can’t manage a football team. I have never seen a quarterback screw up so many times inside the red zone."

4. Todd Lyght / Rams — "He has gone from Pro Bowl to bull’s-eye in one year. Everyone has been picking on him and beating him like a drum. I don’t know if he has lost it, is hurt or just has stopped trying, but he has been awful."

5. Akili Smith / Bengals — "After a strong offseason, the Bengals felt he was ready to take over, but instead, he cost Bruce Coslet ... and pulled that team down to the point where they were the worst passing team in football for the first seven games."

6. Curtis Enis / Bears — "This was supposed to be the year he emerged as a star. Instead, he was so bad they had to bench him in favor of journeyman James Allen."

Others mentioned — Jon Kitna, Seahawks; Simeon Rice and Mark Smith, Cardinals; Troy Aikman, Cowboys; Chuck Smith, Panthers; Reggie Tongue, Seahawks; Mike Jones, Rams; Bruce Armstrong, Patriots; Antowain Smith, Bills.

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2000 - 2001 Season