When you knew.... (1 Viewer)

[BlackHole]

An off shoot of MOP's thread here. I think there are alot of times we can all remember or have hears about a great player finishing off his carreer in a bad way.

How about a personal memory you have of when you saw "your guy" or favorite team "stud", or another great player display a performance that you thought was the first sign of falacy in a big way? even if it was hindsight

Mine:

Howie Long jumping off sides 7 times against the Bills during the trouncing in the AFC playoffs. Howie looked befuddled and dismayed on the close ups and the numerous replays of him up close that I was not terribly surprised (disapointed, but not surprised) when he announced two weeks later that he was retiring.

When did you see your hero or a hero type player become human?

 

[SOmojo]

Tony Dorsett wearing a uniform that had Orange on it while it was still clean.

Chad Hutchinson, any time his name was mentioned.

Larry Allen being helped off the field, then being thrown back out there by Bill Parcells. Yeah, he still plays, but he is done.

 

[cdwood]

Here are a couple of recent indications for me:

Emmitt Smith signing with the Arizona Cardinals.

Marshall Faulk doing a great job with NFL Network.

 

[Boston]

In other sports:

Bobby Orr in a Blackhawks uniform.

The worse case (for those who can remember) of a great player playing way past his prime was Willie Mays with the Mets. It was just ugly. I guess Muhammad Alli fighting Holmes is up there as well.

As far as football goes Johnnu Unitas in San Diego wasn't pretty and the last year or two of Eddie George wasn't the player that we had seen in his prime.

 

[mcjc4]

seeing number 84 in Vikings uniform turn into #18 in a Raiders uniform. Randy, with all his flaws was the bet offensive weapon the Vikings have ever had.

 

[jetpack]

Terry Bradshaw coming off the bench against the Jets back in 83 after being out nearly all season. He tosses 2 TDs to help the Steelers win and get a playoff berth. But that was it for Bradshaw, and with him, really the end of the great Steeler team era.

More recently. I was hoping to see Joey Porter on the field for the Steelers this year, but after the opening night win over Miami, I never saw him again cept during pre-game warm-up fights and post-game interviews.

 

[2banalias]

Here are a couple of recent indications for me:

Emmitt Smith signing with the Arizona Cardinals.

Marshall Faulk doing a great job with NFL Network.

His fall from grace was easy to swallow since Steven was right behind him waiting for his chance.

 

[Iron Mike Tomczak]

Bettis's infamous fumble signaled the end of his career, which could have ended on that play if it werent for big ben's tackle.

 

[Memphis Foundry]

Jack Lambert struggling to get on the field in '84 when he had turf toe. He had played solid ball in '83 so it came as a pretty big shock.

Franco Harris washing out of the league with a few forgettable games in a Seahawks uni in '84 after Noll's infamous "Franco who?" comment.

Bradshaw after the aforementioned Jets game.

 

[Godsbrother]

Jack Lambert struggling to get on the field in '84 when he had turf toe. He had played solid ball in '83 so it came as a pretty big shock.Franco Harris washing out of the league with a few forgettable games in a Seahawks uni in '84 after Noll's infamous "Franco who?" comment.Bradshaw after the aforementioned Jets game.

All good and I'll add one more. When Greg Lloyd went to Carolina -- it was obvious he was finished, he looked like he was in slow motion.By the way, Bradshaw's final game was so great. All season long we had to put up with Stiff Cloudt and he got progressively worse to the point that the team that started 9-2 was in danger of not making the playoffs. When Noll announced that Bradshaw would start it was such a huge lift to the team and Bradshaw played great but after his second TD pass he came off the field with his throwing arm dangling and it was clear he was done. It was an awesome, gutsy performance and enough to put the Steelers in the playoffs. Unfortunately the next week Stiff Cloudt was back and the Steelers were one and done in the playoffs.

 

[cstu]

A healthy Drew Bledsoe getting benched for Tony Romo.

 

[Alluro]

Jim Kelly getting knocked out of a playoff game against the jacksonville jaguars...

Also watching Dan Marino struggle horribly in the playoffs against either jacksonville or denver (can't remember)...you knew it was over for both

 

[yetiknight]

Seeing a delirious cokehead make claims of the police setting him up. I felt ashamed for him.

 

[Iron Mike Tomczak]

When Bam Morris got arrested.

honorable mention to nate newton, 230 lbs of MaryJane......he was already retired though

 

[shakeybarn]

Some of my favs still had it when they went out.... Walter Payton, Steve Young, even Jerry had a little.

But now I know... after seeing Brett Favre the last few years... it's clear to me when to go. He's like Cal Ripken... he's costing his team in the long run, in not being able to turn the page vs. a fan-favorite.

 

[2banalias]

A healthy Drew Bledsoe getting benched for Tony Romo.

tonyhomo.com

 

[Kip Dynamite]

Jerry Rice after he left the 49ers. Even though every now and then we would see the Jerry we know in some of those games.

 

[delusional]

levon kirkland doing goaline stands for the eagles

 

[TheLastDispatch]

Alstott's broken neck

Priest's injury last year

 

[Ed Wood]

Also watching Dan Marino struggle horribly in the playoffs against either jacksonville or denver (can't remember)

Jacksonville. 62-7 IIRC. Last game for Jimmy Johnson as coach.

 

[Beergogglz]

Some of my favs still had it when they went out.... Walter Payton, Steve Young, even Jerry had a little.But now I know... after seeing Brett Favre the last few years... it's clear to me when to go. He's like Cal Ripken... he's costing his team in the long run, in not being able to turn the page vs. a fan-favorite.

In before Fla\/\/ed's "hater" post.

 

[chris1969]

Rice when he came back too quick and re-injured his leg.

Ricky Williams when he went on his Ganja tour.

TO when he copied off the Seinfeld episode and claimed there was a phantom spitter.

 

[GRIDIRON ASSASSIN]

Jerry Rice after he left the 49ers. Even though every now and then we would see the Jerry we know in some of those games.

You do realize that he was one of the main reasons why the Oakland Raiders made it to the Super Bowl the last time, don't you?For me, it's when the NY Jets sign a veteran player: Ronnie Lott, Boomer Esiason and Wilber Marshall quickly come to mind. NFL veterans don't retire, they become Jets.

 

[BlackHole]

Some of my favs still had it when they went out.... Walter Payton, Steve Young, even Jerry had a little.But now I know... after seeing Brett Favre the last few years... it's clear to me when to go. He's like Cal Ripken... he's costing his team in the long run, in not being able to turn the page vs. a fan-favorite.

Favre is the one that actually made me think of this. I think he has the ultimate football player mentality. Too bad he didn't hang it up 2 years ago...the 2005 season showed the world (except Madden) that Favre is done.I'll add the year before T. Brown went to TBay. When I saw Tim stop running complete routes (he always ran complete routes, even on running plays), and start short arming a few balls, I was saddened. The only reason I'm glad he played 1 more year is that I got to see him get his 100th TD in Oakland (thanks for setting that up Chucky, class move)

 

[Koya]

I can't really recall that specific moment for LT.

For Simms, it was when Coach stayed with Hosstetler. You knew it was done, and it wasnt even on the field. I still hold a grudge against Parcells for that.

It is more vivid in baseball (Piazza just getting beat by a fastball) and basketball (Ewing breaking his wrist = done). For me not so much in football.

 

[Raider Nation]

Good Ken >>> Not-so-good Ken

 

[Colin Dowling]

I turned my back on McNair when he went to the Dark Side (Baltimore). GB Vince...

 

[Koya]

I turned my back on McNair when he went to the Dark Side (Baltimore). GB Vince...

Yeah. Because it wasn't like management essentially forced that. Why do you blame McNair? Did he have a realistic choice? The team treated him like garbage.

 

[Jous]

Good Ken >>> Not-so-good Ken

I still do not understand how that man is not a HOF'er yet. One of the top QB's of his age along with Bradshaw and Tarkenton.EDIT: And Staubach of course

 

[ThisGuy]

When Tiki Barber said he was retiring...we're still waiting for his skills to diminish.

Eddie George's final 2 seasons in TN.

 

[Chaz]

In retrospect, when Bo Jackson ran over Brian Bosworth on MNF, that was the end of the Boz.

 

[Bri]

Also watching Dan Marino struggle horribly in the playoffs against either jacksonville or denver (can't remember)

Jacksonville. 62-7 IIRC. Last game for Jimmy Johnson as coach.

Yeah that was quite some "shellacking" they gave Marino.Coughlin did something just a little wrong there. Shame he never figured it out and the team "blew up" from the inside out. He was definitely on the right path to a great team at that time.

 

[Bri]

I can't really recall that specific moment for LT.

There was a point where he was just a stand up lineman, 3rd down guy real late in his career that did it for me. He may have been playing LB all 4 downs then, but I didn't notice him til 3rd down and to not notice LT was surprising.On a similar note, Banks had one or two good years in Washington then was clearly done. IMO He was one of the better LBers of that era.Andre Tippet took a smack from a FB that knocked him on his keyster. I think it was against Miami. He was an awesome LB, that was about as clear a sign that he was done as there could possibly be. Did he make the HOF?The Bears brutal Supe win over the Pats "had to" mean the end for many Patriots. Some didn't know it but it really was the beginning of the end. Hannah was so special, I wish he went out on better terms.Bruce Armstrong got beat by Bruce Smith like a dozen times in one game. Bruce really could have had 12 sacks that day if the timing was more in his favor. IIRC the next week Armstrong sat with an injury and everyone wonderred what the injury was. Hurt pride I thought. I really liked Armstrong. Underrated linemen IMO

 

[TLEF316]

when wayne cherbet went down last year against SD. I was at the game 3 sections away from the endzone. i instantly knew it was another concussion and that he was done.

 

[Cold Steel]

In retrospect, when Bo Jackson ran over Brian Bosworth on MNF, that was the end of the Boz.

I've always thought of that run as the highlight of Boz's NFL "career"...Rice as a Raider = OK; Rice as a Seahawk =

Any RB signing with the Cardinals...

Watching Bo's hip injury in slow motion...

Herschel Walker going to the NJ Generals...

Personally, I think that Favre is still good enough to start in the NFL. It wasn't that long ago that GB was one of the stronger NFC teams (2004), and people seem to forget what has happened to the rest of the team since then.

 

[BoltBacker]

Not a fan but when Warner opened the season in '03 as the Rams starting QB vs the Giants I could tell had lost his fearless attitude in the pocket and was more worried about the pass-rush than his receivers down-field and doubted very much he'd ever return to pro-bowl form. That was his SIX fumble game and it was on the heels of an '02 season that had been injury riddled and very sub-par for a guy that was averaging a QB rating over 100 the three years before that.

Plenty of people said "one bad game" but it's how he played so badly that was telling imo. He held onto the ball forever and when he did make decisions they were pretty poor. Those that saw the game will remember he got some meaningless yards late to make the outing look respectable..... well, as respectable as a six fumble/one INT game can look.... but he looked done to me. Since then he's been a shadow of his former self struggling to keep his QB rating 20 points lower than it had been in his three year "prime" and failing to fend off rookie QBs from taking his job despite the fact he's been surrounded by some offensive talent.

There were a lot of people pimping this guy as recently as last summer.

 

[jerseydevil20]

Here are a couple of recent indications for me:Emmitt Smith signing with the Arizona Cardinals.Marshall Faulk doing a great job with NFL Network.

2004 Emmitt Smith 267 937 9 td 3.5 ypc Not bad for a 14 game season as a Cardinals RB.

 

[Colin Dowling]

I turned my back on McNair when he went to the Dark Side (Baltimore). GB Vince...

Yeah. Because it wasn't like management essentially forced that. Why do you blame McNair? Did he have a realistic choice? The team treated him like garbage.

He went to the RAVENS, you hear me? ANY TEAM BUT THE RAVENS and I would have supported him full on.

 

[Cookiemonster]

The 2nd season after Bo's hip injury. I still held out hope for his return 'till the start of the 2nd season.

The end of the 49er Giants game when Montana got clobbered by Banks, claiming "everything hurts". One more good season in K.C. but never again the best QB I'd ever seen.

 

[EdwardCat]

Rice when he came back too quick and re-injured his leg.Ricky Williams when he went on his Ganja tour.TO when he copied off the Seinfeld episode and claimed there was a phantom spitter.

Owens' career isn't done nor is he declining.

 

[dwarfboy]

I can remember thinking Evander Holyfield was done for several fights, but he fought quite a few more.

 

[Bri]

Herschel Walker going to the NJ Generals...

wow really?

 

[ThisGuy]

The 2nd season after Bo's hip injury. I still held out hope for his return 'till the start of the 2nd season.The end of the 49er Giants game when Montana got clobbered by Banks, claiming "everything hurts". One more good season in K.C. but never again the best QB I'd ever seen.

It was Leonard Marshall. That was ugly.When Mark Bavaro took a cheap shot in the knee from Ronnie Lott and almost needed help getting off the field, I knew it then.

 

[Cookiemonster]

The 2nd season after Bo's hip injury. I still held out hope for his return 'till the start of the 2nd season.

The end of the 49er Giants game when Montana got clobbered by Banks, claiming "everything hurts". One more good season in K.C. but never again the best QB I'd ever seen.

It was Leonard Marshall. That was ugly.When Mark Bavaro took a cheap shot in the knee from Ronnie Lott and almost needed help getting off the field, I knew it then.

Sorry. Waaay too many beers and doobies since then to cloud my memory.

 

[GRIDIRON ASSASSIN]

When they found Rae Carruth hiding in the trunk of a car, I knew his best NFL days were behind him. Now fellow inmates are.

 

[GroveDiesel]

The 2nd season after Bo's hip injury. I still held out hope for his return 'till the start of the 2nd season.The end of the 49er Giants game when Montana got clobbered by Banks, claiming "everything hurts". One more good season in K.C. but never again the best QB I'd ever seen.

Seeing Montana play for KC was Deion's reputation as a total shutdown corner was over when Marvin Harrison absolutely blew by him for a long TD. It looked like Deion was standing still compared to Harrison blowing by him.

 

[Gottabesweet]

when Vinny Testaverde got put into a game just so he could throw TD to extend his streak to 20 years with one.

 

[Bri]

when Vinny Testaverde got put into a game just so he could throw TD to extend his streak to 20 years with one.

:(

 

[WampusCat43]

"With the first pick in the 1999 NFL draft, the Cleveland Browns select...Tim Couch, Kentucky"

 

[Gr00vus]

When Earl Campbell came back from injury in 1983. He had a nice season, but I'd never seen him really go down at first contact much until then - it was obvious he wan't the same. Then he really fell off the table when he got sent to the Saints. I don't know that I've ever seen someone lose it all so quickly.

Also John Jefferson after he got to the Packers. #### that was a bad move - GD free agency.