Football Changes of Scenery: Turning a Bust into a Star

**Rain Man** · 08-19-2013, 12:28 PM

The Baldwin/Jenkins thread makes me wonder this.

What are some examples of guys who were busts for the team that drafted them, and then blossomed when they went to a new team?

I'm sure that some exist, but right now I'm having some trouble coming up with a good example. In particular, let's concentrate on high draft picks, but if you have others who languished and then became stars, throw them out there.

Favre flourished with his second team, but I'm not sure he was a bust with his first team. He just didn't play for them.

Priest Holmes flourished with his second team, but he was undrafted and had a 1,000 yard season with his first team.

Randy Moss flourished with New England after busting for Oakland, but he did pretty well with Minnesota before that.

Who ya got? Throw some names up here.

Quesadilla Joe · 08-19-2013, 12:31 PM

Broderick Bunkley was considered a bust before he came to Denver and then had a good season for us. He went to NO the next year and started sucking again though.

jd1020 · 08-19-2013, 12:32 PM

Does Cris Carter count?

**Rain Man** · 08-19-2013, 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jd1020

Does Cris Carter count?

I think he was actually pretty good for Philly, wasn't he? He just kept bringing his dealer into the huddle and drawing 12-man penalties.

Stewie · 08-19-2013, 12:32 PM

Len Dawson

Quesadilla Joe · 08-19-2013, 12:32 PM

Rich Gannon is another guy.

**Easy 6** · 08-19-2013, 12:34 PM

Heres one for Chiefs fans... Priest Holmes.

I was heartsick when we picked him up from Baltimore... "WHAT? MAN **** THIS GUY"

ModSocks · 08-19-2013, 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scott free

Heres one for Chiefs fans... Priest Holmes.

I was heartsick when we picked him up from Baltimore... "WHAT? MAN **** THIS GUY"

Doesn't count. He was an UDRFA and he was coming off a 1K season before being replaced with Jammal Lewis.

**Easy 6** · 08-19-2013, 12:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Detoxing

Doesn't count. He was an UDRFA and he was coming off a 1K season before being replaced with Jammal Lewis.

Yeah, I guess he did have a 1000 yard year, but iirc it was one of those just over 1000 deals where he got there with a 3.7 average or something similar.

ModSocks · 08-19-2013, 12:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scott free

Yeah, I guess he did have a 1000 yard year, but iirc it was one of those just over 1000 deals where he got there with a 3.7 average or something similar.

Even still, how can an UDRFA be a bust?

Doesn't count.

**Lzen** · 08-19-2013, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scott free

Yeah, I guess he did have a 1000 yard year, but iirc it was one of those just over 1000 deals where he got there with a 3.7 average or something similar.

I'm fairly certain Priest had at least a 4 ypc average. I remember that because I argued in favor of him on this bb when that trade happened and people were bitching. Still, he was an undrafted rookie free agent. Therefore he couldn't possibly be considered a bust.

**DaneMcCloud** · 08-19-2013, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scott free

Yeah, I guess he did have a 1000 yard year, but iirc it was one of those just over 1000 deals where he got there with a 3.7 average or something similar.

http://www.pro-football-reference.co...H/HolmPr00.htm

4.3 YPA

**DaneMcCloud** · 08-19-2013, 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scott free

Heres one for Chiefs fans... Priest Holmes.

I was heartsick when we picked him up from Baltimore... "WHAT? MAN **** THIS GUY"

Really? Holmes was the best running back in Texas, better than Ricky Williams. He had a 1,000 yards rushing in 1998.

I loved the guy.

patteeu · 08-19-2013, 06:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

Really? Holmes was the best running back in Texas, better than Ricky Williams. He had a 1,000 yards rushing in 1998.

I loved the guy.

I wouldn't go that far. Holmes might have prevented Ricky Williams from blowing up as a Freshman if he hadn't blown out his knee and missed the season, but the next year, which is the only year they both played for the team, Holmes backed up Williams which is probably a big part of the reason Holmes went undrafted.

It's hard to know which guy would have come out on top of a real competition by Priest's senior year absent injury, but Ricky Williams' Texas career was pretty outstanding and Priest's was pretty mediocre even before his injury (in fact, he was never their top ball carrier).

GordonGekko · 08-19-2013, 06:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by patteeu

I wouldn't go that far. Holmes might have prevented Ricky Williams from blowing up as a Freshman if he hadn't blown out his knee and missed the season, but the next year, which is the only year they both played for the team, Holmes backed up Williams which is probably a big part of the reason Holmes went undrafted.

It's hard to know which guy would have come out on top of a real competition by Priest's senior year absent injury, but Ricky Williams' Texas career was pretty outstanding and Priest's was pretty mediocre even before his injury (in fact, he was never their top ball carrier).

But we all know how this got sorted out in the pros. Priest was the NFL's premiere back for 3+ seasons, and Ricky Williams drifted from team to team and had one real good season in Miami.

Holmes was a much better player imo and was on pace for a 2000 yard season before the injury, and I'm not trying to be a homer on this. I think most fans from most teams would agree.

08-19-2013, 12:28 PM	Topic Starter
Rain Man NFL's #1 Ermines Fan Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: My house Casino cash: $3188491 VARSITY	Changes of Scenery: Turning a Bust into a Star The Baldwin/Jenkins thread makes me wonder this. What are some examples of guys who were busts for the team that drafted them, and then blossomed when they went to a new team? I'm sure that some exist, but right now I'm having some trouble coming up with a good example. In particular, let's concentrate on high draft picks, but if you have others who languished and then became stars, throw them out there. Favre flourished with his second team, but I'm not sure he was a bust with his first team. He just didn't play for them. Priest Holmes flourished with his second team, but he was undrafted and had a 1,000 yard season with his first team. Randy Moss flourished with New England after busting for Oakland, but he did pretty well with Minnesota before that. Who ya got? Throw some names up here.
Posts: 141,566

08-19-2013, 12:31 PM	#2
Quesadilla Joe Abolish The Salary Cap! Join Date: Mar 2008 Casino cash: $3968675	Broderick Bunkley was considered a bust before he came to Denver and then had a good season for us. He went to NO the next year and started sucking again though. __________________ “(Sean) Payton feels as strongly about Bo Nix as he did Mahomes.“ - Adam Schefter
Posts: 19,787

08-19-2013, 12:32 PM	#3
jd1020 In Search of a Life Join Date: Nov 2010 Casino cash: $7722645	Does Cris Carter count?
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08-19-2013, 12:32 PM	#5
Stewie MVP Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: West of the Equator Casino cash: $1779901	Len Dawson
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08-19-2013, 12:32 PM	#6
Quesadilla Joe Abolish The Salary Cap! Join Date: Mar 2008 Casino cash: $3968675	Rich Gannon is another guy. __________________ “(Sean) Payton feels as strongly about Bo Nix as he did Mahomes.“ - Adam Schefter
Posts: 19,787

08-19-2013, 12:34 PM	#7
Easy 6 pie is never free Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: the drivers seat Casino cash: $3597775	Heres one for Chiefs fans... Priest Holmes. I was heartsick when we picked him up from Baltimore... "WHAT? MAN **** THIS GUY"
Posts: 91,813