Busting Out All Over

Here are some of the biggest busts in the last 25 years of the NFL draft. It’s no surprise that the Bengals, Colts and Seahawks are prominently represented (* Supplemental choice):

PLAYER POS: Brian Bosworth, LB

School: Oklahoma

Overall/Yr/Team: *S/1988/Seattle

Defining moment? Just ask Bo Jackson.

*

PLAYER POS: Aundray Bruce, LB

School: Auburn

Overall/Yr/Team: 1/1988/Atlanta

Head case who never fulfilled potential.

*

PLAYER POS: Ki-Jana Carter, RB

School: Penn St.

Overall/Yr/Team: 1/1995/Cincinnati

Never overcame knee injuries.

*

PLAYER POS: Tom Cousineau, LB

School: Ohio St.

Overall/Yr/Team: 1/1979/Buffalo

Left his best years in Canada.

*

PLAYER POS: Steve Emtman, DT

School: Washington

Overall/Yr/Team: 1/1992/Indianapolis

Was robbed by injuries.

*

PLAYER POS: Kenneth Sims DE

School: Texas

Overall/Yr/Team: 1/1982/New England

Lackluster seven-year career.

*

Player Pos: “Lam” Jones WR

School: Texas

Overall/Yr/Team: 2/1980/N.Y. Jets

Averaged 28 catches over five seasons.

*

PLAYER POS: Ryan Leaf QB

School: Washington St.

Overall/Yr/Team: 2/1998/San Diego

Yardstick by which future busts measured.

*

PLAYER POS: Tony Mandarich OT

School: Michigan St.

Overall/Yr/Team: 2/1989/Green Bay

Steroids hid the fact he couldn’t play.

*

PLAYER POS: Rick Mirer QB

School: Notre Dame

Overall/Yr/Team: 2/1993/Seattle

Promising early, then slid off the map.

*

PLAYER POS: Steve Niehaus DT

School: Notre Dame

Overall/Yr/Team: 2/1976/Seattle

Seahawks’ inaugural choice lasted 39 games.

*

PLAYER POS: Blair Thomas RB

School: Penn St.

Overall/Yr/Team: 2/1990/N.Y. Jets

Emmitt Smith, Dallas, 17th overall.

*

PLAYER POS: Alonzo Highsmith RB

School: Miami

Overall/Yr/Team: 3/1987/Houston

1,195 rushing yards over six seasons.

*

PLAYER POS: Bruce Pickens DB

School: Nebraska

Overall/Yr/Team: 3/1991/Atlanta

Two interceptions in a dreary four-year career.

*

PLAYER POS: Heath Shuler QB

School: Tennessee

Overall/Yr/Team: 3/1994/Washington

Lost job to Gus Frerotte and faded away.

*

PLAYER POS: Akili Smith QB

School: Oregon

Overall/Yr/Team: 3/1999/Cincinnati

The jury is still out . . .

*

PLAYER POS: Jack Thompson QB

School: Washington St.

Overall/Yr/Team: 3/1979/Cincinnati

Throwin’ Samoan never got goin’.

*

PLAYER POS: Desmond Howard WR

School: Michigan

Overall/Yr/Team: 4/1992/Washington

Mediocre as a wide receiver.

*

PLAYER POS: Keith McCants DE

School: Alabama

Overall/Yr/Team: 4/1990/Tampa Bay

McCants McCouldn’t.

*

PLAYER POS: Art Schlichter QB

School: Ohio St.

Overall/Yr/Team: 4/1982/Baltimore

Gambling addiction cost him his career.

*

PLAYER POS: Ricky Dixon DB

School: Oklahoma

Overall/Yr/Team: 5/1988/Cincinnati

Six interceptions in six seasons.

*

PLAYER POS: Curtis Enis RB

School: Penn St.

Overall/Yr/Team: 5/1998/Chicago

Soft and injury prone.

*

PLAYER POS: Cedric Jones DE

School: Oklahoma

Overall/Yr/Team: 5/1996/N.Y. Giants

Just released after five uneventful years.

*

PLAYER POS: Mike Junkin LB

School: Duke

Overall/Yr/Team: 5/1987/Cleveland

Played 20 games over three seasons.

* PLAYER POS: Trev Alberts LB

School: Nebraska

Overall/Yr/Team: 6/1994/Indianapolis

Injuries limited him to 29 games.

*

PLAYER POS: Rich Campbell QB

School: California

Overall/Yr/Team: 6/1981/Green Bay

Nine interceptions in 68 career attempts.

*

PLAYER POS: Eric Curry DE

School: Alabama

Overall/Yr/Team: 6/1993/Tampa Bay

Never developed into a solid starter.

*

PLAYER POS: David Klingler QB

School: Houston

Overall/Yr/Team: 6/1992/Cincinnati

Threw 16 touchdowns passes in six seasons.

*

PLAYER POS: Lawrence Phillips RB

School: Nebraska

Overall/Yr/Team: 6/1996/St. Louis

The classic problem child.

*

PLAYER POS: Kelly Stouffer QB

School: Colorado St.

Overall/Yr/Team: 6/1987/St. Louis

Seven touchdown passes in four seasons.

*

PLAYER POS: Todd Blackledge QB

School: Penn St.

Overall/Yr/Team: 7/1983/Kansas City

The black sheep of the QB Class of ’83.

*

PLAYER POS: Brian Jozwiak OT

School: West Virginia

Overall/Yr/Team: 7/1986/St. Louis

Who?

*

PLAYER POS: Ken MacAfee TE

School: Notre Dame

Overall/Yr/Team: 7/1978/San Francisco

Caught 46 passes in 29 career games.

*

PLAYER POS: Andre Ware QB

School: Houston

Overall/Yr/Team: 7/1990/Detroit

Never mastered the NFL offense.

*

PLAYER POS: Kevin Allen OT

School: Indiana

Overall/Yr/Team: 8/1985/Philadelphia

Lasted one season.

*

PLAYER POS: Michael Haddix RB

School: Mississippi St.

Overall/Yr/Team: 8/1983/Philadelphia

1,635 rushing yards over eight seasons.

*

PLAYER POS: David Verser WR

School: Kansas

Overall/Yr/Team: 10/1981/Cincinnati

23 catches, three touchdowns in six years.