I'm guessing we've been burned so many times by first round draft picks that we'll consider any success, no matter how small, a quality pick.

Would Earl Campbell do?

Pretty much, it's a good way to sum up why some still don't think Hali was a bad pick.

Larry Johnson has 1750 twice, Priest Holmes had 1500 twice and more than 1400 a third time. It's not like you're talking hall of famer here.

Because I want to spend the #5 pick on a RB who cleared 1500 yards and 10 TDs once in his entire career and who has a career YPA of 4.0

That is a ridiculous argument. A bust is a player who provides no more than minimal value to a team. A disappointment? Yes. A bust? No.

Calling him a bust as a pro is like calling Kerry Meier a bust as a college player. Maybe he didn't reach his full potential as a QB, but he has certainly provided a lot of value even if it is at a lesser position.

What is the title of the thread, you stupid ****?

I'm just hoping for someone better than Ryan Sims. Perhaps our expectations are different...

I think we need to take the original post into consideration, too. You cannot blame Texas, their coaching, scouting or anything else for what made Ricky fall short. Everyone knows it was Ditka who corrupted him... that pothead.

You people need to let Sims go. You don't hope for an average player in the top 5 or 10. You need a guy who is going to be among the best players at his position for years.

I guess that Lawrence Phillips, Ryan Leaf, and Rae Carruth were also derailed by unforeseen circumstances, since they all had the physical talent to play in the league.

A player who fails to produce at the position he was drafted to play is a bust. End of story.

And expectations are even higher for top picks. They're expected not just to succeed, but play at a high level for years

If you draft a guy to play left tackle at 2 and he plays there for 10 years with a few pro bowls, you've gotten your money's worth. If the guy doesn't play at that level, but he's been your starter for a few years (think John Tait, but drafted #2 instead of 14), he's a disappointment, but he's at least produced at the position. If the guy you spent the number 2 pick on ends up at guard, he's a bust. Period.

Robert Gallery is not what you're looking for in the top 5.

No I'm not. No one who drafted any of those guys would have done so had they known about those "unforeseen circumstances" off the field. But guess what--that's why guys drop due to "character concerns".

I'm not the one playing fast and loose with an argument saying that Ricky Williams can't be viewed negatively because he pissed away his talent and that Ryan Leaf, Phillips, and Carruth can.

Ricky Williams will likely end his career among the top 25 running backs in NFL history in terms of yardage. He's a lot of things, but he's not a bust.

8615 yards would put him at number 30 all time. He finished this season with 7771.

I'm seeing a therapist. He just hurt me so much...

But this draft pick is going to be MUCH better *optimism*

And he got all those yards seeing double from the bong resin. That's gotta count for something, like Mickey Mantle hitting most of his homers while seeing three baseballs coming at him. :-)

Ryan Sims being brought up, this fan base really is motivated by fear.