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Steelers WR
Plaxico Burress
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On Draft Day, every NFL team believes it took a terrific player in the first round.
However, by December, some teams feel as if they paid Rolls Royce prices for a lemon and
got a Ryan Leaf instead of a Dan Marino. While many of these players will turn it around
and go on to have long and successful careers, if you just look at expectations and
production, these players were the NFL’s most disappointing rookies, according to NFL
insiders. Responses were made anonymously.
1. WR Plaxico Burress / Steelers — "As a rookie, he did just enough to tease
you with his talent but was a royal screw-up on the field."
"Instead of growing up, he acted like a spoiled, rich brat who did not care about
helping his team. The big thing is, his work ethic was so bad that he was never really
prepared. If you want to show a rookie how not to act and behave, show them a video of
this guy’s first year."
2. WR R. Jay Soward / Jaguars — "On the field he dropped passes, fumbled
punts and missed assignments, and off the field, he got himself suspended."
"The Jaguars became an elite team by drafting blue-chip people who were also
blue-chip players, like Tony Boselli and Kevin Hardy, and stressing character in the early
rounds. And then they go out and take a kid with 100 red flags in the first round."
3. LB Rob Morris / Colts — "He blew the start of the season by holding out,
and then just when he was starting to make an impact, he suffered a season-ending
injury."
"I still think he will be a good one, but he gave them nothing as a rookie. If
they had a little more defense, they could have challenged the Titans and Ravens."
4. LB LaVar Arrington / Redskins — "He was supposed to be the second coming
of Lawrence Taylor and the best player in the draft, but the best thing you can say about
his rookie year was that he got better after being a liability up until around
midseason."
"I still think he will be a great one, but as a rookie, he was more like Keith
McCants or Aundray Bruce than L.T."
5. RB Thomas Jones / Cardinals — "Jamal Lewis set the NFL on its ear, and
this kid was given a starting job and could not even hold it (without) anyone great
sitting behind him."
"Looked tentative as a rookie, and running back is one position where if you
hesitate, you are dead."
"He could be a top back this year. In fact, he should be one because he is a good
kid with lots of talent, but as a rookie, he appeared to be intimidated." |
