Players with great potential but careers were cut short

Discussion in 'NFL General' started by BearNole 6304, Feb 10, 2007.

  1. BearNole 6304

    BearNole 6304 nfl-*****s member

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    I would have love 2 have seen Bo Jackson finish his career, the man ran with so much power and determination. if not 4 dat hip injury, i think he would have been the third greatest running back of all time behind walter payton and barry sanders.
     
  2. DolfanDale

    DolfanDale Active Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (BearNole 6304)</div><div class='quotemain'>I would have love 2 have seen Bo Jackson finish his career, the man ran with so much power and determination. if not 4 dat hip injury, i think he would have been the third greatest running back of all time behind walter payton and barry sanders.</div>
    Walter Payton and Barry Sanders are my two favorite running backs, but we can't leave Jim Brown out of any discussion of greatest running backs. I wish the NFL Network would rebroadcast some old Jim Brown games so that we could see him at game speed. I do think that Bo Jackson would have been special. I don't know that I've ever seen a back that big with that kind of speed.

    Terrell Davis was having one heck of a career before his career got ended. Without Terrell Davis, I don't think the Broncos beat the Packers in the Super Bowl. I know the Broncos system makes a lot of runners look good, but I do think that Terrell Davis was special.

    Sterling Sharpe should make this list as well. He was one of the best WRs in the league when he got hurt.

    John Offerdahl had his career cut short with injuries to his abdominal muscles. The former Dolphins linebacker made the Pro Bowl his first five years before his injury problems began. Offerdahl and a buddy once saved an elder couple whose car had gone off the road and into the water. Offerdahl was a class act on and off the field.

    There's a few to get the list started.
     
  3. The Return of the Raider

    The Return of the Raider Active Member

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    Sterling Sharpe was a mean dude on the field. I am really bummed that he didn't finish. That was probably the toughest, grittiest, warrior at his position that I have seen in my lifetime. Imagine if he had a full career with the emerging Brett Farve.... OMG, the Pack might have gotten a couple more in the 90's.

    Terrell Davis has to be mentioned here, since he saved John Elway's career and legacy. Shanahan's credit as a great producer of running backs all started with him. They have not seen another one like him, though many have gotten decent overall yardage.
     
  4. FLORIDA PACKER

    FLORIDA PACKER nfl-*****s member

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    The thing is most Denver Runners get around 1000 yards period, TD got over 2000, that itself says he was more than just a product of the system.
     
  5. Bearsfan1

    Bearsfan1 2 Time Defending FF Champion

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (FLORIDA PACKER)</div><div class='quotemain'>The thing is most Denver Runners get around 1000 yards period, TD got over 2000, that itself says he was more than just a product of the system.</div>
    I agree, the real difference isnt the total, but the # of atts and YPC difference you see now compared to when he was there. Portis was great there too. He has proven he wasnt just a system guy as well. Those guys took 300 carries and still averaged 5 + ypc, the guys he has now just cant do what those guys were doing.
     
  6. FLORIDA PACKER

    FLORIDA PACKER nfl-*****s member

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    ^
    Definately true, TD was and Portis is an all around great back, Mike Anderson, Tatum/Mike Bell, Ruben Droughns and all them are "solid" but as evidenced by Droughns Benching and Anderson failing to do much in Baltimore they are mere products of the system.
     
  7. Pack Attack

    Pack Attack The KISS Army

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    How many Packers fans here remember John Michels? I'm sure Porky does...

    He had a lot of promise, but just couldn't stay healthy.
     
  8. Bears#1Fan

    Bears#1Fan nfl-*****s member

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    Someone who i think would have had a very good prob not the best career was DE Dennis byrd from the jets.. He was a machine up until he had that spinal injury
     
  9. porky88

    porky88 King of Kings

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Pack Attack)</div><div class='quotemain'>How many Packers fans here remember John Michels? I'm sure Porky does...

    He had a lot of promise, but just couldn't stay healthy.</div>
    Yep. He was our 1st round pick back in I believe our Super Bowl season. Unless I'm mistaken he started every game at LT for that 1996 team and did a very good job. Really could've been a franchise LT had he stayed healthy.

    I really often wonder how good the Packers would've been had Sterling Sharpe never got hurt. I think we may of won at least one more Super Bowl in the 90's. Maybe the 98 game against the Broncos. :crying:

    Also, How about Robert Brooks? Brooks, Freeman, and Sharpe. Man it's almost to hard to think about. :X
     
  10. DP

    DP He shoots, he scores!

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    John Michaels is the kid in my school...hes annoying. ;-)

    Nahh I don't remember him.
     
  11. DolfanDale

    DolfanDale Active Member

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    Let's not forget the Detroit Lions other great #20, Billy Sims. He ran for over 1,000 yards in three of his first four years and had his highest yards per carry, 5.3, in his fifth and final year before a knee injury ended his career.
     
  12. The Return of the Raider

    The Return of the Raider Active Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (DolfanDale)</div><div class='quotemain'>Let's not forget the Detroit Lions other great #20, Billy Sims. He ran for over 1,000 yards in three of his first four years and had his highest yards per carry, 5.3, in his fifth and final year before a knee injury ended his career.</div>
    good one, Dale. I'm even old enough to have watched him play, and remember. There is one play of his that is etched in my mind forever. Its that one where he leaped over a guy diving at him, then planted is foot on the facemask of another guy, and nearly got enough traction to jump away. It kind of looked like he did a flying martial arts kick.
     
  13. BearNole 6304

    BearNole 6304 nfl-*****s member

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    i was a huge terrell davis fan so it really hurt 2 c him go down and jamal anderson went down wit him at the time.
     
  14. Zackman

    Zackman The Historian

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    [​IMG]
    Bengals QB Greg Cook is likely the poster boy for this subject.
    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>His 9.411 yards per pass attempt and 17.5 yard per completion are rookie records that still stand. Cook was UPI's choice for AFL Rookie of the Year.</div>
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greg_Cook
     
  15. Coltsfan

    Coltsfan nfl-*****s member

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    ok i think TIKI eventhough he is retiring now he has more potential to go on
     

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