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Schein Nine: 2006 draft class full of flops
The best of 2008
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Williams has blossomed into a well-rounded, high impact defensive stud. And Steve Slaton, in his rookie year with the Texans, has already accomplished much more than Reggie Bush has in New Orleans during three years with the Saints.
Houston, killed in all circles on draft day, looks absolutely brilliant.
Let's examine where the other picks in the top 10 are right now.
No. 2 pick - Reggie Bush, Saints RB
Count me among the masses who buried the Texans for passing on the former USC legend. Boy, was I wrong. Bush just went on injured reserve this week, capping his third straight underwhelming and disappointing NFL season. His rookie season was filled with such promise but marred by injury that hampered his overall quality of play. Bush has been sub-par in his development as a between-the-tackles NFL runner. I still think he can morph into a Brian Westbrook type, but we haven't seen the consistency or the ability to stay healthy.
No. 3 pick - Vince Young, Titans QB
Where do you begin? His rookie season was magical. His second season, while the interceptions were way too high, resulted in a playoff berth. This season, Young's been a total flop. He wasn't around enough in the offseason. He played terrible early in the regular season. Then Young refused to go back into a game. And eventually he got hurt and lost his job to the more stable, on and off the field, Kerry Collins.
Young's healthy now, but is a total non-factor as the Titans march towards the playoffs. How's that for a major fall from potential stardom! And you now have to wonder aloud if Young will ever play quarterback for the Titans again. I don't think he will.
No. 4 pick - D'Brickashaw Ferguson, Jets OL
D'Brick had a really nice rookie season, playing alongside Pete Kendall in 2006. He slumped in 2007, playing alongside scrub guard Adrien Clarke. Ferguson has had a very solid 2008 with Alan Faneca now his running mate on the left side.
No. 5 pick - A.J. Hawk, Packers LB
There were several executives who rated Hawk as the second best player in the 2006 draft behind Reggie Bush. How's that as a nugget with Williams making the Pro Bowl! While Hawk hasn't reached the level of Williams, he's been a rock for the Green Bay defense, shifting positions at linebacker to compensate for the Nick Barnett injury.
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| Vernon Davis is not what the 49ers expected out of their top pick of 2006. (Jed Jacobsohn / Getty Images) |
No. 6 pick - Vernon Davis, Niners TE
This draft pick never made any sense. Davis was a classic combine wonder, not a football player. He came into San Francisco with an attitude and sense of entitlement based upon his paycheck and he's been nothing short of a gigantic bust. And of course, Davis became a national punch line as the target of Mike Singletary's classic rant ("I want winners") during his first post-game press conference as Niners coach this season.
As one NFC Pro Bowler told me, "It's a classic case of a player who looks like Tarzan and plays like Jane."
No. 7 pick - Michael Huff, Raiders DB
I really liked Huff coming out of Texas but boy was I wrong. Now, for the sake of fairness, he's been in Oakland where chaos reigns. But Huff's play has been underwhelming and he hasn't really made an impact. And there have been omnipresent rumors over the last few years that Oakland is ready to trade him.
NFL Week 17
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Week 17 action
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Vikings 20, Giants 19 -- Recap | Box
Panthers 33, Saints 31 -- Recap | Box
Packers 31, Lions 21 -- Recap | Box
Falcons 31, Rams 27 -- Recap | Box
Texans 31, Bears 24 -- Recap | Box
Patriots 13, Bills 0 -- Recap | Box
Colts 23, Titans 0 -- Recap | Box
Steelers 31, Browns 0 -- Recap | Box
Raiders 31, Bucs 24 -- Recap | Box
Bengals 16, Chiefs 6 -- Recap | Box
Eagles 44, Cowboys 6 -- Recap | Box
Dolphins 24, Jets 17 -- Recap | Box
49ers 27, Redskins 24 -- Recap | Box
Ravens 27, Jaguars 7 -- Recap | Box
Cardinals 34, 'Hawks 24 -- Recap | Box
Chargers 52, Broncos 21 -- Recap | Box
Analysis
Video
Photos
No. 8 pick - Donte Whitner, Bills DB
Listeners on Sirius still quote back to me my genuine response to this pick, "From the department of wow! I'm stunned!!" Whitner was supposed to be a first-round pick but not in the top 10.
It's worked out much better than that. Whitner has become a very good player and excellent tackler for the Bills and a team leader. The safety's injury absence was felt during the Bills' collapse. Whitner should be a Pro Bowl contender in the near future.
No. 9 pick - Ernie Sims, Lions LB
I believe that after Super Mario, Sims has been the second-best player drafted in the top 10 of the 2006 draft. The linebacker totaled over 100 tackles in both 2006 and 2007 and is on pace to do the same this year. He'll never get the proper credit or recognition because, well, he's a Lion!
No. 10 pick - Matt Leinart, Cardinals QB
He's spent more time in the hot tub than on the football field during his NFL career. Or at least it feels that way. Leinart, who I thought was destined to be a big time NFL winner, lost a fair competition with Kurt Warner this preseason. With Warner playing like an MVP and the culture changed in Arizona with the the Cardinals winning the NFC West, Leinart could be trade bait in the offseason. I thought this was going to be a perfect fit; the college winner with the team that didn't win. Leinart's now an afterthought.
Other nuggets ...
Jay Cutler: Went No. 11 to Denver and has become a star.
Haloti Ngata: Was the next pick and deserved to make the Pro Bowl. We won't leave him off of our ballot for first-team All Pro at defensive tackle.
Antonio Cromartie: Slipped this year after a sensational 2007. You can still argue he has the biggest upside of anyone in this draft.
DeAngelo Williams: Challenged by rookie Jonathan Stewart, finally lived up to his status. He went No. 27 to Carolina.
Nick Mangold: Just made the Pro Bowl for the Jets at center. He was the 29th pick.
And the 30th pick was Joe Addai. While injured this year, he obviously has been very productive for the Colts.
John McCargo, Bobby Carpenter, Jason Allen and Tye Hill have been huge disappoinments.
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