Is RG3 the biggest draft bust in NFL history?
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| Nick Wass/AP |
Washington easily handled the Jacksonville Jaguars defeating them 41-10, however they did it without their star quarterback Robert Griffin.
During the game Griffin dislocated his ankle and Kirk Cousins came in and threw two touchdowns, 250 yards, and had a completion percentage of 66.7%. Not bad for a guy drafted in the fourth round. When I heard the news on television there was one phrase that seemed to be repeated over and over again by broadcasters, and that was "a changing of the guard" in Washington.
It is speculated that Griffin will miss several months of football with the ankle injury and may not be 100% when he is cleared for play. There is a real possibility that Cousins may remain the starter even when Griffin is medically cleared to play. Should that happen football fans will ponder if Robert Griffin is the biggest NFL draft bust of all time.
In his short tenure in Washington Grifiin has been plagued by injuries. In his rookie year the Heisman winner put up some amazing stats throwing 20 touchdowns, only 5 interceptions, and 3,200 yards. However during his rookie year Griffin hurt his LCL and ACL and has not seem the same since. Last year Griffin threw 16 touchdowns, 12 interceptions, and his quarterback rating dropped dramatically from 73.2 in his rookie year to 40.1 in 2013.
This year's season opener Griffin did not throw a touchdown and had a quarterback rating of 29.7. Griffin has never shown the same big play ability since his rookie injuries which have forced him to stay in the pocket rather than scrambling around and picking up first downs with his legs. But even if Griffin never starts another game in Washington does that make him the biggest bust of all time? There are some horrible draft busts in NFL history, especially at quarterback.
Ryan Leaf, QB: When I think of draft busts the first name that comes to mind is this guy. Drafted second overall by the San Diego Chargers in 1998 Leaf's career in the NFL only lasted 4 years. Besides his horrible play on the field Leaf is most remembered for his poor behavior. A few lowlights of Leaf's off the field behavior include missing the last day of mandatory rookie orientation, he threw obscenities at a reporter for writing about a tantrum he had and later told the press he wouldn't be talking to them any more. Late in his rookie year Junior Seau spoke up and told Chargers management needed to "get a guy in here not to baby sit, but to win." Over 10 years later Leaf has yet to mature, recently he was sent to jail for five years for violating probation.
JaMarcus Russell, QB: When the Raiders draft someone in the first round there is a good chance that person will be a bust. Darren Mcfadden, Darius Heyward Bay, and of course drafting kicker Janikowski in the first round makes the Raiders one of the worst teams when it comes to the draft. But on top of the crap pile that is the history of Raiders first round picks lies JaMarcus Russell. In his entire NFL career he never had a completion precentage above 55% in a single season and his best quarterback rating in a single season was 31.6. He certainly never lived up to being drafted first overall in 2007.
Vernon Gholston, LB: Of course I'm going to put a Jets player on this short list. In 2008 the Jets grabbed the Ohio State linebacker with the sixth overall selection. In his 3 year career Gholston never recorded a single sack, a forced fumble, or an interception. This was certainly a pick the Jets would like to take back.
Should Cousins win the starting job over Griffin later this year it will be unfortunate that Griffin will be in the same category as these players. Griffin isn't a bust because of his attitude or a lack of talent, he would end up on the list because of injuries. Not only that, but he could end up on top of the list because of what Washington gave up to nab Griffin, giving the Rams their No. 6 overall pick in 2012, their second-round pick in 2012, and their first-round picks in 2013 and 2014. The Rams turned those picks into selections for DT Michael Brockers, CB Janoris Jenkins, RB Isaiah Pead, G Rokevious Watkins, LB Alec Ogletree, WR Stedman Bailey, RB Zac Stacy, and OT Greg Robinson.
Do you believe Robert Griffin will go down as the biggest draft bust of all time? Let us know in the comments section below!
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