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Careers that ended too soon (1 Viewer)
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Ministry of Pain
Footballguy
Hey Jurb, respect your opinion and POV but I cannot agree about the Ed Reed comparison. I feel like Reed is a good couple of notches above Taylor. And while Taylor was developing in the NFL, I never saw the HoF elite that I saw in Ed Reed. Maybe Taylor would have gotten even better but I feel like Ed Reed is a slightly different class...maybe I'm splitting hairs, just my opinion.
Bracie Smathers
Footballguy
in reverse order:
10. tie Javon Walker and Kijana Carter
Was in the limo the night the Bronco DB got shot to death after WR Brandon Marshall decided he would shake up champane bottles and spray them all over gangbangers in LoDo (Lower Downtown Denver). That destroyed him and he never was the same player.
Kijana blew out his knee before he played a game and struggled but never made a comeback.
9. Jerome Brown
Had some great years befoer he passed away.
8. Sean Taylor
See above
7. Robert Edwards
Only one great yaer, blew his knee out in the sand on the beach in Hawaii during the Pro Bowl
6. Gabe Rivera
Would have been awesome.
5. Don Rogers
One great year, tragic death. Perished a year before the drive that never would have happened had he been on the field.
4. Joe Delaney
Drowned while tring to save a little boy's life when the kid fell into a pond.
3. Bo Jackson
Bo don't know Diddley but he was a great athlete.
2. Greg Cook
Could've been Joe Montana before Joe Montana
1. Ernie Davis
Greatest player who never had his chance. First player taken at a time when RBs dominated the game. He was diagnosed with leukemia and died before he ever played a down in the league.
10. tie Javon Walker and Kijana Carter
Was in the limo the night the Bronco DB got shot to death after WR Brandon Marshall decided he would shake up champane bottles and spray them all over gangbangers in LoDo (Lower Downtown Denver). That destroyed him and he never was the same player.
Kijana blew out his knee before he played a game and struggled but never made a comeback.
9. Jerome Brown
Had some great years befoer he passed away.
8. Sean Taylor
See above
7. Robert Edwards
Only one great yaer, blew his knee out in the sand on the beach in Hawaii during the Pro Bowl
6. Gabe Rivera
Would have been awesome.
5. Don Rogers
One great year, tragic death. Perished a year before the drive that never would have happened had he been on the field.
4. Joe Delaney
Drowned while tring to save a little boy's life when the kid fell into a pond.
3. Bo Jackson
Bo don't know Diddley but he was a great athlete.
2. Greg Cook
Could've been Joe Montana before Joe Montana
1. Ernie Davis
Greatest player who never had his chance. First player taken at a time when RBs dominated the game. He was diagnosed with leukemia and died before he ever played a down in the league.
jackdubl
Footballguy
Well, Bo is the easy number one for me. Probably obvious looking at my avatar. I'm just glad I got to see him play baseball once in person. It was worth it to see him strikeout and break the bat over his leg. That man was superhuman. I doubt many could continue to play on an artificial hip, either.
Sterling and Terrell Davis are next for me.
Sterling and Terrell Davis are next for me.
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Chairshot
Footballguy
For me it's easily Terrell Davis.
I firmly believe that if he had stayed healthy and had a full career then we are talking about a easy HOFer, possibly the all time rushing leader and probably arguing between TD, Emmitt and Sanders about who was the best RB of the modern era.
TD was that good.
I personally think he was the best overall running back I've ever seen (with Sanders being the best pure runner).
ETA: I just went back and looked at the stats from 96-98. Amazing 3 year run.
I firmly believe that if he had stayed healthy and had a full career then we are talking about a easy HOFer, possibly the all time rushing leader and probably arguing between TD, Emmitt and Sanders about who was the best RB of the modern era.
TD was that good.
I personally think he was the best overall running back I've ever seen (with Sanders being the best pure runner).
ETA: I just went back and looked at the stats from 96-98. Amazing 3 year run.
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KellysHeroes
Footballguy
Reggie Bush. I know he's still playing but his early career injuries turned him into a shell of what could of been in the saints offense... Would of been special.
Raiderfan32904
Footballguy
:IBTL:
Gale Sayers is the answer for me. The guy was an all-around threat rushing, receiving, and returning kicks. He was the best RB in the NFL for as long as he played which was only six years and had two bad knee injuries over that time. He also lost his fellow Bear RB Brian Picolo to cancer near the end of his career.
johnadams
Footballguy
Lots of good names. Here a couple of mine.
Jeff Fuller, SS, 49ers. Huge hitter spent two years as a starter playing in Lott's shadow. Serious neck injury finished his career. As reason 997 as to why Debartolo was the greatest owner ever, Eddie D set up an annuity for Fuller independent of any contract that still pays out to Fuller.
Neil Lomax, QB, Cards. Had an amazing '84 where he nearly set the passing record, but had to settle for second place to Marino's incredible season. A couple of decent years followed with an amazing strike shortened '87 where his 12 game numbers would have put him over 4500 yds passing in a regular schedule. Major hip injury ended his career at 29.
Jeff Fuller, SS, 49ers. Huge hitter spent two years as a starter playing in Lott's shadow. Serious neck injury finished his career. As reason 997 as to why Debartolo was the greatest owner ever, Eddie D set up an annuity for Fuller independent of any contract that still pays out to Fuller.
Neil Lomax, QB, Cards. Had an amazing '84 where he nearly set the passing record, but had to settle for second place to Marino's incredible season. A couple of decent years followed with an amazing strike shortened '87 where his 12 game numbers would have put him over 4500 yds passing in a regular schedule. Major hip injury ended his career at 29.
ninerfanatic492000
Footballguy
I like the crowell stab, in the same vein......Patrick jeffers. As a 49er fan I often wonder what William Lloyd,Eric johnson and garrison Hearst(christ,talk about badluck) could've been without injuries
GroveDiesel
Footballguy
No kidding. At first I thought they were joking, but I think they were being serious.Chad Pennington? Jahvid Best?
Garrett
Footballguy
/thread.
Ministry of Pain
Footballguy
Max Kellerman
Sea Duck
Footballguy
You're thinking of his brother Sam.
BoltBacker
Footballguy
William Andrews(ATL)RB
Sugar Huddle
Footballguy
QB Greg Cook. Bill Walsh called him the QB prospect that he had ever seen enter the NFL. And Walsh knew QBs.QB. Joe Namath. He was so good but the knee injuries took their toll.RB. Gale Sayers. Only 6 seasons. The Kansas Comet could score from anywhere and in any way. Once scored 6 TDs in a game.RB. Icky Woods. I really wanted to see more than one season of the Icky shuffle.RB. Jamal Anderson. Wicked knee injury. Big backs are usually never the same.RB. Terrell Davis. Man he was on pace for the HOF until the injury.WR. Sterling Sharpe. The man could not be covered. He was just too big and strong.WR. Darrell Stingley. I don't remember much about how good he was but I do remember the devastating hit from Jack Tatum. What a sad story.WR. Joe Papale.
no one had more heart than this guy. Three years in the league and never played college football. Only an average player but gave it his all.NT. Tim Kumrie. Well, maybe this guy had as much heart as Papale. Toughest pound for pound player I've ever seen. What a wicked injury in the SB.
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mad sweeney
Footballguy
fixed.Dude wrote his own ticket to mediocrity and it's amplified by how badass he thought he was before he even signed a contract. Moron who doesn't deserve to be remembered as anything but a guy who ruined his own career.
mad sweeney
Footballguy
I'd add the Boz as a distant piggyback to Bo. I don't know if steroids helped ruin his shoulder, but it was looking nice for a Bo/Boz showdown twice a year. At least, if Boz could've upped his game. And yes, part of wanting Boz to have done well was because I was a dumb 17 year old that thought monster trucks and WWF was awesome and had lines in the side of my head and blue Gargoyles.
mad sweeney
Footballguy
Walter Jones retired too soon for my tastes. True, he already had a 1st Ballot HoF career but once he hurt his knee, it was over. He went entire seasons without giving up a sack or being called for holding. One of the best players at their position of anyone in any position. His last game, on 2 bad knees he gave up 2 sacks (to that seasons DMVP, not some scrub) and couldn't get back to form. Dude didn't even go to training camp and still owned the NFL for a decade. Would love to still see #71 swallowing any and all defenders.
el centro
Footballguy
RB - this ones easy for me, one of my all-time favorite players was T.Davis and was quite disappointed it ended on injury,
TE- My favorite TE to watch play was Mark Bavaro. I always wondered what happened to him.
QB - Not really a big Vick fan, but it would've been nice to see what his career stats might've been without the interruption.
WR - as a GB fan, I'd have to agree on Sterling
TE- My favorite TE to watch play was Mark Bavaro. I always wondered what happened to him.
QB - Not really a big Vick fan, but it would've been nice to see what his career stats might've been without the interruption.
WR - as a GB fan, I'd have to agree on Sterling
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FreeBaGeL
Footballguy
houndirish
Footballguy
Sayers, Bo, Sharpe and Namath all seem to be picks that can't be ignored.
From a homer perspective I'd add TE Mark Bavaro.
From a homer perspective I'd add TE Mark Bavaro.
sihaokills
Footballguy
Gotta say Sayers... He was dominant and I think he could have been one of the best all time
Riversco
Footballguy
Bo Jackson never played a full NFL season because he split time playing for the Kansas City Royals in MLB. Bo also split carries while with the Raiders with some guy named Marcus Allen. Bo would get like 12 carries per game. LT2 would get 20+.
sn0mm1s
Footballguy
Yeah, but Bo also got to come into the NFL season completely fresh while everyone else in the league had already played through training camp, preseason and nearly half of the regular season. I loved watching Bo - but his status has grown to mythical proportions. He was injured in college and didn't last long in the pros. If Jamaal Charles never makes it back are we going to anoint him as "would've been the GOAT". His stats are even more impressive than Bo's.
Cold Dead Hands
Footballguy
Whatever happened to the Nigerian Nightmare?
sharptongued1
Footballguy
The three guys I immediately thought of...
1. Sterling Sharpe
2. Tony Boselli
3. Bo Jackson
1. Sterling Sharpe
2. Tony Boselli
3. Bo Jackson
sharptongued1
Footballguy
I wouldn't say playing 162 games of professional baseball left him, "completely fresh."
sn0mm1s
Footballguy
Compared to professional football it did.
benson_will_lead_the_way
Footballguy
Crowell was great for FF, the top WR per game for a while..3 years?Bavaro is one of my favorite all-time players. He and lil Joe weren't top players very long at all due to injuries. Sure Jim Brown, but can you think of a better example of that "man among boys" saying than Bavaro carrying 4-5-6 defenders after a catch? I can't imagine why his knees gave him trouble.I thought Simms got too much credit for his leadership driving those Giants, usually right after Bavaro made a catch or catch and run that clearly stirred everyone up.Charlie Ward and Major Harris' careers never started-always felt a little cheated by not getting to see them in the NFL.
ninerfanatic492000
Footballguy
it must be the difference in sports but i was so surprised how un-athletic Charlie seemed in the NBA after watching his feats on the gridiron. The guy i haven't seen mentioned that i always wondered if could've made the trasition was Tommie Frazier......talk about a amazing athlete whose body simply betrayed him'Bri said:
Ron_Mexico
I Love Doggies
"The Robert Treatment"
Robert Smith - Minnesota Vikings.
He started for 4 years from 1997-2000.
Rushed for a career high 1500+ yards in 2000, and walked away, in his prime.
Robert Smith - Minnesota Vikings.
He started for 4 years from 1997-2000.
Rushed for a career high 1500+ yards in 2000, and walked away, in his prime.
mad sweeney
Footballguy
Yeah, he must've been exhausted from jogging in and out of the dugout 9 times a game, with an occasional 90 ft sprint.
ninerfanatic492000
Footballguy
Bo did simulate viloent contact everytime he struck out. running over and dragging Boz into the endzone must've felt like dream compared to his bad days at the plate. watching him as a kid i always expected oneday for the bat to not break cleanly and to see half a bat stuck in his leg
Chairshot
Footballguy
This is a really good one. Smith averaged 5.0 YPA over those years, too. He could have been really great.
HellToupee
Footballguy
Billy Sims
Marcus DuPree
Hart Leel Dykes
Marcus DuPree
Hart Leel Dykes
Pat Patriot
Footballguy
I thought we were talking about guys who's careers were cut short by injury (or death)? Robert Smith, Barry Sanders and Jim Brown walked away from the game by choice.All of the best examples for me seem to be RB which is not surprising with the punishment they take.
Gale Sayers is my favorite player of all time. Billy Sims was my favorite player as a kid. Terrell Davis was well on his way to the HOF. I'm not sure how good Joe Delaney would have been but the circumstances of his death make him a favorite for me. Bo Jackson was another guy who could have been so much more memorable than he already is.
Area51Inhabitant
Footballguy
Marcus Dupree is another guy that deserves mention in this thread.
BO knows Didly
ninerfanatic492000
Footballguy
Good Call........Steve was another example of why its ok for players to get max $. what a ferocious player.......even so towards the end when his body was basically in pieces.another rising star struck down(and almost his life) by Injury was Dennis Byrd. i can remember watching the game while my Mom was in the room and her turning to me and saying "you are not playing football"..........took alot of begging and pleading after she saw that to give me the greenlight.'MNTom said:
