The Schottey Six: Most Disappointing NFL Players of 2009

The "world champion" Steelers are 2-2.

Part of that .500 record is due to an early season injury to Troy Polamalu. However, a huge negative to their season has been Willie Parker and his three yards per carry and no rushing touchdowns.

Let us not forget—from 2005 to 2007, Willie Parker averaged nearly 90 yards per game (over 115 all-purpose yards) splitting time with Jerome Bettis and Najeh Davenport.

Now, as the feature guy, Parker has fallen off the map. His average is at a career low and he may have lost his starting role to Rashard Mendenhall—who eclipsed Parker's season total in a single game.

Parker is only 28. With no physical reason to be running tentatively, it is being quickly assumed that he is not the back he once was.

Worse yet, Parker would, most likely, be unable to usurp the third-down back role from ace Mewelde Moore, who has carved out a perfect niche in the Steel City.

Parker's window of opportunity is quickly closing. He needs to get back from injury and show that he is still worthy of number one snaps.

Speaking of guys whose play isn't worth the paper their gigantic contracts are printed on.

WTF, mate! What has happened to Larry Fitzgerald?

Madden Curse, I know, I know.

181 yards through three games? Really? Home boy, you hit 150 yards numerous times last season and in the playoffs against much stiffer competition.

Some of his apologists will say, "look at the matchups!" or, "Warner isn't targeting him enough!"

Pooey.

He's targeted enough and he's paid to beat those tough matchups. Warner has been checkdown city this year because Hightower has gotten open when Fitzgerald hasn't.

Yes, coverages are starting to roll toward him, realizing he is more of a home run threat than Boldin.

No, that isn't an excuse.

Fitzgerald has to step up. The Madden curse is supposed to strike in form of injury, not laziness.

And, while we're on the topic of lazy.

Merriman was supposedly the panacea for the Chargers' defensive woes. With him coming back, everything would be A-OK.

Not so.

Merriman hasn't just been shut down this year. He's been irrelevant.

Teams are not even game planning for this defensive star. He is simply being blocked by running backs and linemen like he never was before.

Eight tackles.

Eight tackles are the only stats he has accumulated to this point in the NFL season. No sacks, no passes defensed, no interceptions, no fumbles.

Eight tackles.

None for loss.

Ranking the Chargers right now, five of their linebackers have been more disruptive than their most talented player.

Having watched the Chargers twice now, I can tell you that Merriman is playing scared rather than being frighting. He is playing like a man possessed—with self doubt.

It could be his offseason knee surgery. It could be his current "tweaked" groin muscle.

He doesn't look in game shape.

Something is off. This is not the Merriman of 2006 or 2007.

Right now, the Chargers would be better served with Merriman on the sidelines.

The Tennessee Titans have been good to Kerry Collins.

They ask him to do so little.

The Titans have outfitted the 36-year-old with two above average running backs, a good offensive line, and a bevy of receivers who fit in nicely with his strong arm.

Yes, the Titans do not have a Randy Moss or a Terrell Owens.

But, the Titans did go out and draft Kenny Britt and Jared Cook and sign Nate Washington—a bunch of guys that should be catching Collins' bullets 30 yards downfield.

Collins has responded with one of the worst seasons of his career.

The man looks lost.

His next interception will be his seventh, equaling last year's total. He's on pace for 24—a career high.

He's also throwing more than last year, something which stems from turnovers leading to late deficits.

Collins was great last year because the offense stressed ball control. This year, the offense should be even better, but Collins has forgotten what made him valuable.

The shouts for Vince Young are premature, but they are getting louder.

Soon Coach Fisher will listen.

Collins deserves another shot. Jake Delhomme does not.

Although expectations for Delhomme were lower than for his fellow southerner, Delhomme has played tremendously awful.

With a great running game and a host of options, Delhomme has developed tunnel vision for Steve Smith, resulting in seven interceptions.

To put that in perspective, Delhomme, who had a Week Four bye, is almost half way to his career high in interceptions. His seven sacks are almost equally as egregious.

Delhomme will get more chances. as depth behind him is slight.

However, the Panthers—who would have drafted a QB this April anyway—might be looking toward other options if his poor play continues.

When Steve Slaton had horrible days against the New York Jets and the Tennessee Titans, there was nothing to be concerned about.

When Steve Slaton had an average day against Jacksonville, people had a right to be worried.

When Steve Slaton failed to rush for 100 yards against Oakland—albeit getting to paydirt twice—NFL fans everywhere are hitting the panic button on a guy who should be a top-five NFL back.

Mike Bell and Pierre Thomas are both dealing with injuries and splitting carries and still have more yards apiece than Slaton.

Felix Jones has rushed for more yardage on less than half the carries Slaton has received.

Slaton's three fumbles are as big of a concern, as he's already nearly doubled his career total.

For Texan fans, Slaton was expected to have a career year and be the missing piece to the playoff puzzle. Run the ball and stop the run—that's supposed to be the formula, right?

Instead, Slaton looks lost heading into matchups with Arizona, Cincinnati, and San Francisco—three good defensive teams. If Slaton isn't able to find daylight against those squads, he could find himself losing more and more carries to Ryan Moats.

Braylon Edwards—Once the second most popular athlete in Cleveland and a budding young star in the NFL, Edwards was traded for a third-round draft pick and some change.

NYC isn't the easiest town to remake one's image in, but it is now or never for the former Michigan star.

Michael Vick—The media could not have done NFL fans a bigger disservice than hyping up Michael Vick as the "ultimate Wildcat!"

No, as of now, Vick is nothing more than a third stringer after Kevin Kolb looked phenomenal in place of McNabb. As for the wildcat, DeSean Jackson is worlds ahead of Vick.

Ed Reed—Anyone know where this guy has been? I have a clue. Watch a Ravens game and after every tackle, two seconds later Reed will enter the picture.

Reed can also be seen whiffing on pass deflections. This isn't the same player that led the league in interceptions last year, not by a long shot.

Michael Schottey is a Detroit Lions Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report and the producer and host of The Average Joe Sports Show on 860AM KNUJ (New Ulm, MN). He is also an NFL Analyst and Senior Writer for DraftTek.com.