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03-20-2010, 03:13 PM | Topic Starter |
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Gil Brandt: Best undrafted players of all time
Warner tops list of best undrafted players of all time
By Gil Brandt | NFL.com It's always a benefit when a team's first-round draft pick meets those lofty expectations. And it's a real bonus when mid- to low-round selections exceed their expectations. This, of course, has been at the heart of NFL.com's voting platform to determine the best draft picks in NFL history. Then there is the ultimate satisfaction of signing a player who was passed over entirely in the draft and seeing him become a productive pro. Talk about return on investment! So, as the NFL celebrates 75 years of the draft by asking fans to vote on the 75 most valuable draft picks of all time, here's a look at the 75 best undrafted players of all time: 1. Kurt Warner, QB, Northern Iowa Signed by: St. Louis Rams First year: 1998 NFL seasons: 12 Pro Bowls: 4 All-Pro selections: 2 Notes: In addition to being perhaps the greatest Cinderella story in NFL history, Warner is a two-time league MVP who has posted the three best single-game passing yardage totals in Super Bowl history. 2. Dick "Night Train" Lane, CB, Scottsbluff (Neb.) Junior College Signed by: Los Angeles Rams First year: 1952 NFL seasons: 14 Pro Bowls: 7 All-Pro selections: 3 Notes: Hall of Famer still owns rookie record for interceptions (14 in 1952) ... Had 68 career interceptions with three teams (Rams, Chicago Cardinals and Detroit Lions). 3. Emlen Tunnell, DB, Iowa Signed by: New York Giants First year: 1948 NFL seasons: 14 Pro Bowls: N/A All-Pro selections: N/A Notes: One of the great defensive backs in NFL history, second on the all-time list with 79 interceptions. 4. Warren Moon, QB, Washington Signed by: Houston Oilers First year: 1984 NFL seasons: 17 Pro Bowls: 9 All-Pro selections: 0 Notes: Hall of Famer ranks in the top six all-time for career attempts, completions, yards and TD passes. 5. Willie Brown, CB, Grambling Signed by: Denver Broncos First year: 1963 NFL seasons: 16 Pro Bowls: 9 All-Pro selections: 5 Notes: Starred for Oakland Raiders. ... Had 54 career interceptions and inducted into Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1984. 6. Willie Wood, CB, USC Signed by: Green Bay Packers First year: 1960 NFL seasons: 12 Pro Bowls: 8 All-Pro selections: 5 Notes: Member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame ... had an interception in Super Bowl I. 7. Joe Perry, RB, Compton (Calif.) Community College Signed by: San Francisco 49ers First year: 1948 NFL seasons: 14 Pro Bowls: 3 All-Pro selections: 2 Notes: One of the most explosive inside runners in NFL history. Hall of Famer led NFL in rushing two seasons. 8. Lou (The Toe) Groza, OT/PK, Ohio State Signed by: Cleveland Browns First year: 1946 NFL seasons: 21 Pro Bowls: 9 All-Pro selections: 4 Notes: Groza doubled as an offensive tackle and kicker for 14 years on Cleveland's championship teams of the 1950s before becoming a kicking specialist in 1961 ... Hall of Famer played until he was 43 years old. 9. Cliff Harris, S, Ouachita Baptist Signed by: Dallas Cowboys First year: 1970 NFL seasons: 10 Pro Bowls: 6 All-Pro selections: 3 Notes: One of the Cowboys' greatest success stories. Nickname was "Crash," and he was as tough as they come. 10. Cornell Green, DB, Utah State Signed by: Dallas Cowboys First year: 1962 NFL seasons: 13 Pro Bowls: 5 All-Pro selections: 3 Notes: Former college basketball player had 34 career interceptions. 11. Emmitt Thomas, CB, Bishop Signed by: Kansas City Chiefs NFL seasons: 13 First year: 1966 Pro Bowls: 5 All-Pro selections: 1 Notes: Had 58 career interceptions in a Hall of Fame career. 12. John Randle, DT, Texas A&I Kingsville Signed by: Minnesota Vikings NFL seasons: 14 First year: 1990 Pro Bowls: 7 All-Pro selections: 6 Notes: Randle, who was selected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame this year; had 137.5 career sacks in 219 games. 13. Antonio Gates, TE, Kent State Signed by: San Diego Chargers NFL seasons: 7 (active) First year: 2003 Pro Bowls: 6 All-Pro selections: 3 Notes: Former college basketball player has 479 receptions for 6,223 yards and 59 TD catches in seven seasons. 14. Priest Holmes, RB, Texas Signed by: Baltimore Ravens NFL seasons: 10 First year: 1997 Pro Bowls: 3 All-Pro selections: 3 Notes: Holmes overcame major injuries in college and the NFL. Had three straight seasons of 1,400-plus yards, scored 86 career rushing touchdowns. 15. Brian Waters, C/G, North Texas Signed by: Kansas City Chiefs NFL seasons: 10 First year: 2000 Pro Bowls: 4 All-Pro selections: 2 Notes: Played tight end in college and became one of the best interior linemen in NFL history. 16. Tony Romo, QB, Eastern Illinois Signed by: Dallas Cowboys NFL seasons: 6 (active) First year: 2004 Pro Bowls: 3 All-Pro selections: 0 Notes: Romo's 95.6 career passing rating currently ranks fourth on the all-time list. 17. Coy Bacon, DL, Jackson State Signed by: Los Angeles Rams First year: 1968 NFL seasons: 14 Pro Bowls: 3 All-Pro selections: 0 Notes: Had 22 sacks in 1976 (before it was an official stat). Outstanding athlete with unbelievable size/speed combination. 18. Nate Newton, G/T, Florida A&M Signed by: Dallas Cowboys First year: 1986 NFL seasons: 14 Pro Bowls: 6 All-Pro selections: 2 Notes: Amazing quickness and ability as a blocker for a man his size. 19. Dave Grayson, CB, Oregon Signed by: Dallas Texans (AFL) NFL seasons: 10 First year: 1961 Pro Bowls: 6 All-Pro selections: 4 Notes: Member of the AFL's all-time team, Grayson had 48 career interceptions playing for the Texans, Chiefs and Raiders. 20. Adam Vinatieri, PK, South Dakota State Signed by: New England Patriots NFL seasons: 14 (active) First year: 1996 Pro Bowls: 2 All-Pro selections: 2 Notes: Four Super Bowl rings -- and the game-winning field goal in two of those championships -- to go along with 338 career field goals. 21. Larry Little, G/T, Bethune-Cookman Signed by: San Diego Chargers First year: 1967 NFL seasons: 14 Pro Bowls: 5 All-Pro selections: 5 Notes: The leader of Miami's great offensive line of the 1970s. 22. Jeff Saturday, C, North Carolina Signed by: Indianapolis Colts NFL seasons: 10 (active) First year: 1999 Pro Bowls: 4 All-Pro selections: 2 Notes: Has been the anchor for Colts offensive line that protects Peyton Manning; part of Super Bowl XLI champions. 23. Donnie Shell, CB, South Carolina State Signed by: Pittsburgh Steelers NFL seasons: 14 First year: 1974 Pro Bowls: 5 All-Pro selections: 3 Notes: Part of the Steel Curtain defense that helped Pittsburgh win four Super Bowls in the '70s. Played in 19 playoff games. 24. Deron Cherry, DB, Rutgers Signed by: Kansas City Chiefs First year: 1981 NFL seasons: 11 Pro Bowls: 6 All-Pro selections: 3 Notes: Always had great ball skills, finishing with 50 career interceptions; currently minority owner of the Jacksonville Jaguars. 25. Jim Langer, C, South Dakota State Signed by: Miami Dolphins First year: 1970 NFL seasons: 12 Pro Bowls: 6 All-Pro selections: 4 Notes: One of three Hall of Fame offensive linemen from Dolphins' Super Bowl teams of the '70s ... Played every offensive snap in 1972 perfect season 26-75 at link(not copy and paste friendly) http://www.nfl.com/draft/story?id=09...s&confirm=true Last edited by LaChapelle; 03-20-2010 at 03:20 PM.. |
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03-20-2010, 03:14 PM | #2 |
I'll be back.
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My fingers were poised to lay into that dirty old bastard if he didn't include Priest.
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03-20-2010, 03:19 PM | #3 |
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4 Chiefs in the top 25. Good stuff.
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03-20-2010, 03:28 PM | #4 |
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03-20-2010, 03:35 PM | #5 |
Tossed Salad & Scrambled Eggs
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03-20-2010, 04:23 PM | #6 |
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Brian Waters ahead of Deron Cherry? Not to mention Nate Newton, Donnie Shell, Larry Little, and Jim Langer? Really?
I realize that the cowboys were the team that signed him out of college but I think Gil is overvaluing Waters just a little bit. |
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03-20-2010, 03:20 PM | #7 |
It Goes On
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I never make the cool lists.
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03-20-2010, 03:23 PM | #8 |
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Sorry this list is BS without Scalon, Shay, and Haynes. That's 1,2,3 right there!
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03-20-2010, 03:26 PM | #9 |
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Rod Smith should be in the top 25, easy.
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