Ras-I Dowling: The most terrible Bill Belichick draft pick

Eight.

That's the number of games that the 33rd overall pick of the 2011 draft appeared in. That's 25%.

That 33rd overall pick is kind of a big deal. It's the first pick in the second round, which the Pats acquired from the Panthers. It's the equivalent of essentially having an extra first rounder. Many wondered who the team would take with the pick. Defensive end Brooks Reed was a common choice. Certainly, the Patriots could use that kind of help on the defensive line.

If not Reed, then maybe the Patriots could've used some receiver help - both Torrey Smith and Randall Cobb went later in that second round.

Of course, it's always easy to look back at the draft with hindsight. However, the telltale signs were there.

Dowling was a surprise pick. He was coming off a senior year at Virginia in which he missed six games. Maybe that was a red flag.

Ras-I was the starting corner entering his rookie season. He lasted two games. Relegated to a backup last year, he lasted just over a month. Classic Ras-I.

That's just about it for the NFL career of Ras-I Dowling. When the corner got injured in training camp this year, that was the nail in the coffin.

Bill Belichick has had some busts before, but at least they got time on the field to prove they were busts. Dowling never even got that far. If he was undrafted, or a late round pick, it'd be one thing. However, for a high second round pick to be that useless is inexcusable.