Draft Busts - With this being an uncapped year...

[bowener]

can't teams cut ties with overly expensive and under performing players more easily? I thought I had read that they can sever the contract and pay out the guaranteed money owed (obviously without a cap penalty). If that is the case, who do you guys see as likely casualties?

I suppose it does depend upon the team; NYC teams will have more money than Buffalo, etc., so they may be more able to dump inflated contracts.

My first guess is going to be JaMarcus Russell, who may never sign another NFL contract again, but thanks to Al and his brilliant financial management team, he will never have to.

My next guest is Vernon Gholston. We may be annoyed with the Tyson Jackson pick, or Dorsey playing out of position, but at least we get moderate production from them. Gholston has 3 starts in 29 games, and just over 1 tackle averaged per game (30). His contract has $21 million in guaranteed money.

The next question is, does he have any value at all as a free agent? Apparently he can't play OLB at all, but does he have any ability to at least be a backup DE for a 4-3 team?

I am sorry if I have a completely incorrect understanding of how the uncapped year works.

[Mr. Laz]

i think real money is gonna stop alot of the wholesale house cleaning.

the faiders pay Russell, cut Russell,Russell goes somewhere else and plays well?


i'm not saying that Russell will every play well but just the threat of that will make teams hesitate to cut ties with guys they have spent big money on unless the play has another big bonus coming or something.

[Ralphy Boy]

Originally Posted by bowener

My next guest is Vernon Gholston. We may be annoyed with the Tyson Jackson pick, or Dorsey playing out of position, but at least we get moderate production from them. Gholston has 3 starts in 29 games, and just over 1 tackle averaged per game (30). His contract has $21 million in guaranteed money.

The next question is, does he have any value at all as a free agent? Apparently he can't play OLB at all, but does he have any ability to at least be a backup DE for a 4-3 team?

Glad I checked to see if anyone had just posted about him... almost a repost.

I remember what kind of a pass rusher this kid was in college but really haven't followed what has happened since he's been with the Jets. You'd think that, if he had any real pass rush ability, one of the two 3-4 coaches that had him, in his first 2 seasons, would have found it. He must have something wrong between the ears. At the very least, you send him on 3rd & long.

If he doesn't do something next season, he's a MUCH worse pick than TJ.

He's the kind of kid some coaches can destroy their career over but I would hope someone could get thru to him and make a great player out of him.

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by Ralphy Boy

If he doesn't do something next season, he's a MUCH worse pick than TJ.

No, he's not.

He wasn't counted on to be a building block.

He wasn't the Jets NINTH linebacker chosen in the top three rounds for NINE YEARS IN A ROW.

And, the Jets are a playoff team in spite of missing on him.

[Ralphy Boy]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

No, he's not.

He wasn't counted on to be a building block.

He wasn't the Jets NINTH linebacker chosen in the top three rounds for NINE YEARS IN A ROW.

And, the Jets are a playoff team in spite of missing on him.

I'm speaking relative to where he was expected to be drafted. Most people/experts EXPECTED Gholston to be a top 10 pick.

Expectations play a role in the draft bust detector. TJ was a HUGE reach which lessens his BUST (Big Useless Steaming Turd) Rating.

[bowener]

Originally Posted by Ralphy Boy

I'm speaking relative to where he was expected to be drafted. Most people/experts EXPECTED Gholston to be a top 10 pick.

Expectations play a role in the draft bust detector. TJ was a HUGE reach which lessens his BUST (Big Useless Steaming Turd) Rating.

He was drafted at No.6.

He will be labeled a bust, there is no doubt at this point. 30 tkls in 2 seasons for a (3-4) OLB is atrocious. He should have had 30 tkls half way through his first season. Throw in the fact that he was expected to be an immediate starter, and he was drafted at No.6 and paid a shit ton of money.

Tyson Jackson will likely be labeled a bust or terrible pick, but based on slightly different reasons. The same reason being that amount of money paid to him, and the spot he was drafted for the position he plays. Even if he is average the rest of his career (Can't say yet, but if we use this year as an indicator, he will be average), he will basically be a bust because of his draft spot and his pay. Had he been drafted in the 15-25 range, he would be considered a solid, safe pick. At that range in the draft he would have likely been filling a need for a team that is a few pieces short.

Ultimately, it seems the moral of this story is that, holding a high draft pick means you should go for the best player available, even if it might not be the biggest need.

['Hamas' Jenkins]

Gholston wasn't viewed as a reach. He was drafted into a horrible scheme for his talents (Mangini's read and react 3-4), and Ryan has buried him on the bench since Pace got back.

[Ralphy Boy]

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

Gholston wasn't viewed as a reach. He was drafted into a horrible scheme for his talents (Mangini's read and react 3-4), and Ryan has buried him on the bench since Pace got back.

Yes, my point is TJ was a "reach". Gholston has been a "bust" and was expected to be top 10. Comparing the "Bust" potential for both, IMO, the bigger bust is the one that was expected to be worthy of the slot but fails to live up to expectations.

A "bust" is on the player. A "reach" is on the organization.