Lions only have 4 in the top 50! (not that %8 of the busts is good)


1. Ryan Leaf, Chargers (1998)
2. Lawrence Phillips, Rams (1996)
3. Art Schlichter, Colts (1982)
4. Heath Shuler, Redskins (1994)
5. Charles Rogers, Lions (2003)

6. Keith McCants, Buccaneers (1990)
7. Johnny "Lam" Jones, Jets (1980)
8. Mike Junkin, Browns (1987)
9. Bo Matthews, Chargers (1974)
10. Jerry Tagge, Packers (1972)

11. Jim Drukenmiller, 49ers (1997)
12. Andre Ware, Lions (1990)
13. Reggie Rogers, Lions (1987)
14. Joe Profit, Falcons (1971)
15. Huey Richardson, Steelers (1991)

16. Peter Warrick, Bengals (2000)
17. David Klingler, Bengals (1992)
18. Derek Brown, Giants (1992)
19. Tim Couch, Browns (1999)
20. Curtis Enis, Bears (1998)

21. Steve Niehaus, Seahawks (1976)
22. Blair Thomas, Jets (1990)
23. Kelly Stouffer, Cardinals (1987)
24. Tony Sacca, Cardinals (1992)
25. Tim Worley, Steelers (1989)

26. Jack Thompson, Bengals (1979)
27. Walt Patulski, Bills (1972)
28. Tony Mandarich, Packers (1989)
29. Todd Blackledge, Chiefs (1983)
30. Aaron Gibson, Lions (1999)

31. Todd Marinovich, Raiders (1991)
32. Andre Johnson, Redskins (1996)
33. Leeland McElroy, Cardinals (1996)
34. Craig Powell, Browns (1995)
35. Mike Elkins, Chiefs (1999)

36. Russell Erxleben, Saints (1979)
37. Patrick Bates, Raiders (1993)
38. Dan McGwire, Seahawks (1991)
39. Trezelle Jenkins, Chiefs (1995)
40. Cade McNown, Bears (1999)

41. Reggie Rembert, Jets (1990)
42. Akili Smith, Bengals (1999)
43. Mike Mamula, Eagles (1995)
44. Jonathan Sullivan, Saints (2003)
45. John Clay, Raiders (1987)

46. Alex Van Dyke, Jets (1996)
47. Maurice Clarett, Broncos (2005)
48. David LaFleur, Cowboys (1997)
49. Jon Harris, Eagles (1997)
50. Michael Westbrook, Redskins (1995)
Full Descriptions (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/draft08/news/story?id=3325687)

I'm only counting 4 Lions in that list.

But they're all in the top 30.

Makes me sick. How can we be so inept at drafting. At some point you would think we would get lucky with something right? And of course it doesn't include wonderkid Mike Williams either. Makes me sick. Sick, sick, sick to be a fan of this franchise. If I was a season ticket holder I would boycott. Ugh, sick sick sick sick sick.

I'm only counting 4 Lions in that list.

so did I, what are you talking about.

Makes me sick. How can we be so inept at drafting. At some point you would think we would get lucky with something right? And of course it doesn't include wonderkid Mike Williams either. Makes me sick. Sick, sick, sick to be a fan of this franchise. If I was a season ticket holder I would boycott. Ugh, sick sick sick sick sick.
or Joey Ball Game or Stocker McDougal who was drafted higher than Gibson.

I'm surprised Akili Smith isn't on there. He was taken 3rd overall, played two games and was cut. That's pretty bad. BTW, the Bengals turned down 9 draft picks from the Saints to stay at #3 and take Smith. They could have taken that deal and drafted McNown (who wasn't any better) and had all the extra picks.

42. Akili Smith, Bengals (1999)

You're struggling today, Chris.

Another pick that is missing on that list is Millens 08' pick.

^ I'm just trying to prepare ourselves.

You're struggling today, Chris.
Ugh, I'm so busy at work I'm losing all reading skills. Well, I change my beef to "why isn't he higher on the list?"

How is Druckenmiller 30 some spots higher and he was taken at the end of the first (and had equally bad careers)?

My mind is aheadddd:
http://images.usatoday.com/sports/football/_photos/2004-10-15-inside-namath-ko.jpg

Makes me sick. How can we be so inept at drafting. At some point you would think we would get lucky with something right?
Barry Sanders ring a bell?

Aaron Gibson is just a strange, strange choice. Not that he isn't a bust but we traded into the back end of the first round to pick him if I remember correctly. I can think of 5 Lions picks alone that could go ahead of him.

^ yep, that was in the Ross days of bigger is better.

Barry Sanders ring a bell?

I was referring more to the last 8-10 years of drafting. Barry was once in a lifetime.

This list certainly includes some massive busts, but it is horrible. They include PSU RB's Blair Thomas and Curtis Enis, but not Ki-Jana Carter who went highest of the 3?
I love my Wolverines, but David Terrell was quite a bust. Potentially worthy of making the list.

It's interesting that the Bears have such a mixed history. I mean, Enis never did anything. Cedric Benson has been iffy. At least with Anthony Thomas and Rashaan Salaam they had strong rookie seasons before going to crap. The shadow of Walter Payton and Gale Sayers is too much for these guys, I guess.

I was referring more to the last 8-10 years of drafting. Barry was once in a lifetime.

Our "steals" were KJ and Shaun Rogers, both of which never truly panned out here. lol

I think we have really drafted talent, but they have been destroyed by the lions front office and coaching levels. I bet you if any of our flops went to Pittsburgh, New England, or Indy they would have been at least "good to above average".

No motivation in Detroit. Shawn Rogers (played part time, cause he could and no one cared). Shawn was a Sapp, now we have destroyed him. Hes another lazy ex-lion collecting his green.

Mike Williams & Charles Rogers- The lions were unable to motivate them

Jones, Bailey & Lehman- Motivated but always hurt.

Change that attitude- Change the preception- WIN

Change that attitude- Change the preception- WIN

I was thinking hanging Millen by his entrails outside the entrance to Ford Field might motivate some players.

We've tried everything else...

Barry Sanders ring a bell?

And Barry wasn't a steal either, more of a gift. I classify a steal as finding a gem in later rounds. Picking the best player on the board with the 3rd pick is not a steal.

I thought of it as a steal more because there's no way he should have even made it to the third pick.

Well, Aikman was a pretty good pick and everyone was pretty high on Mandrich too. Apparently the top two picks were pretty expected and Barry had to be considered at #3:


LEAD: Barry Sanders, the Oklahoma State running back and Heisman Trophy winner, yesterday became eligible for the National Football League draft April 23-24. Steve Walsh, the Miami quarterback, said he would also forsake his final year of college eligibility and turn pro.
Barry Sanders, the Oklahoma State running back and Heisman Trophy winner, yesterday became eligible for the National Football League draft April 23-24. Steve Walsh, the Miami quarterback, said he would also forsake his final year of college eligibility and turn pro.
Pete Rozelle, the N.F.L. commissioner, approved Sanders's application for the draft, although Sanders normally would be ineligible because he is a junior academically and athletically. Rozelle cited Oklahoma State's probationary status and the support Sanders has received from Oklahoma State officials.
Walsh announced he would graduate this summer, which automatically makes him eligible for the draft.
Both players are expected to be chosen early. The first choices appear to be Troy Aikman, the U.C.L.A. quarterback, by the Dallas Cowboys, and Tony Mandarich, the Michigan State offensive tackle, by the Green Bay Packers. The Detroit Lions, who will choose next, have expressed interest in Sanders.

Remember there were two pretty good players after him too (Derrick Thomas and Deion Sanders)

Love the new sponsor for the thread...at least I didn't see it at the begining.

I thought picking Mandarich before him was considered a big mistake (even before his problems). I stand corrected.

It was a mistake, just like taking Leaf was. But I don't think it was bashed when it happened if I remember correctly.

some of his wiki entry:


Playing at Michigan State University (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michigan_State_University), Mandarich played in the 1988 Rose Bowl, was named as a first-team All-American, an Outland Award finalist and a two-time Big Ten Lineman of the Year. Upon his entry into the 1989 NFL Draft (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1989_NFL_Draft), both scouts and media (most notably Sports Illustrated (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sports_Illustrated), which did a cover story on him, famously naming him "The Incredible Bulk") began trumpeting Mandarich as the best offensive line prospect ever. He appeared on the cover of Sports Ilustrated twice. Mandarich was also a colorful character, such as challenging then-Heavyweight Boxing Champion Mike Tyson (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Tyson) to a fight, his well-documented love of the band Guns N' Roses (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guns_N%27_Roses) (he had a dog named Axl (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Axl_Rose) and also a tattoo of the cross-design from the cover of Appetite for Destruction (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Appetite_for_Destruction) on his arm), and referring to Green Bay as "a village".


Drafted as an offensive linesman, Mandarich never lived up to the very high expectations set for him, and spent most of his first year on the Packers on special teams after a lengthy holdout that only got settled the last week before the regular season. He was also known for having attitude issues, and after three seasons of lackluster performance on a four-year contract, Mandarich was cut by the Packers.

I would have drafted Leaf back in '98 as well. When Michigan played them in the Rose Bowl, I though Leaf was one of the best QB's I had ever seen.