Steve Smith and the 15 Best Players Stuck on the Worst Franchises

For every superstar who plays on one of the NFL's best teams, there's another whose incredible production pays just about zero dividends.

He'll rack up stats and Pro Bowl honors like James Harrison racks up fines, but his team will still manage to sink to the bottom of the NFL barrel.

And at some point, you almost want to shed a tear for that poor guy, give him a hug, or give him a pat on the back while telling him, "It's OK, big man."

But at the end of the day, we can't do that.

All we can do is celebrate the players who look good even if their team doesn't.

Let's take a tour of the 15 best players who are struck on the NFL's cellar dwellers. 

15. Brian Dawkins (Denver Broncos)

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PHILADELPHIA - DECEMBER 27: Brian Dawkins #20 of the Denver Broncos looks on against the Philadelphia Eagles on December 27, 2009 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Eagles defeated the Broncos 30-27. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Gett

Who else thinks that Brian Dawkins regrets not retiring as a Philadelphia Eagle? I sure do.

Since signing with Denver before the 2009 season, the Broncos have won just 12 total games, including the team's horrific 4-12 finish in 2010.

Of course, Dawkins isn't quite the player he was during his prime in Philly, but he's locked in for three more years on a team that's future isn't exactly all that bright.

Maybe if Tim Tebow can turn into John Elway 2.0, then the Broncos will be OK.

Just kidding.

14. Paul Posluszny (Buffalo Bills)

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ORCHARD PARK, NY - NOVEMBER 28: Paul Posluszny #51 of the Buffalo Bills plays against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Ralph Wilson Stadium on November 28, 2010 in Orchard Park, New York. Pittsburgh won 19-16 in overtime. (Photo by Rick Stewart/Getty Images)

Paul Posluszny was drafted with the No. 34 overall pick by the Buffalo Bills in 2007 and he didn't know just what he was getting himself into.

Despite racking up at least 110 tackles in each of the three seasons in which he's been fully healthy—including 151 in 2010—the Bills have yet to win more than seven games in a season during Posluszny's tenure in Buffalo.

In fact, they've won just 24 total games the past four seasons, with zero playoff appearances and are in one of football's toughest conferences.

Good luck with that, Paul.

13. Carson Palmer (Cincinnati Bengals)

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CINCINNATI, OH - DECEMBER 19: Quarterback Carson Palmer #9 of the Cincinnati Bengals calls a play at the line of scrimage while playing the Cleveland Browns at Paul Brown Stadium on December 19, 2010 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty

I questioned putting Carson Palmer on this list because he has an obsession with throwing interceptions, but he's thrown at least 26 touchdown passes in four of his last five seasons that haven't been cut short by injury.

He's also has four seasons with at least 3,800 passing yards and two Pro Bowl Appearances, despite playing for a Bengals team that has made the playoffs just once since 2006.

Combine all that with the fact this guy is actually threatening to retire rather than play in Cincinnati, and you'll realize that Palmer is definitely stuck in a crappy situation.

At least he'll always have that Heisman Trophy to go home to.

12. Albert Haynesworth (Washington Redskins)

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GLENDALE, AZ - SEPTEMBER 02: Defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth #92 of the Washington Redskins stands on the sidelines during preseason NFL game against the Arizona Cardinals at the University of Phoenix Stadium on September 2, 2010 in Glendale, Arizona

A former two-time Pro Bowl and All-Pro selection, Albert Haynesworth has had a rough tenure in Washington.

It's undeniably been an absolute mess, with Haynesworth making it painfully obvious that he doesn't want to be there.

Why? Well, besides the fact he doesn't think he fits in a 3-4 system, Haynesworth probably doesn't enjoy playing for a team that's been two the playoffs just twice since 1999.

In a stacked NFC East, the Redskins are undoubtedly the stepchild of the division.

Haynesworth may be a beast, but you can't make a beast play hard if he doesn't want to.

11. Brian Waters (Kansas City Chiefs)

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KANSAS CITY - OCTOBER 19: Brian Waters #54 of the Kansas City Chiefs rests on the field during the game against the Tennessee Titans at Arrowhead Stadium on October 19, 2008 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by: Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

Just because the Chiefs had a good 2010 season, it doesn't mean everything was always peachy for Brian Waters in Kansas City. 

Having been with the Chiefs since his career began in 2000, the offensive guard has been selected to five Pro Bowls and is a two-time First Team All-Pro selection 

However, Waters has only played on three playoff teams and has played on three teams that have gone 4-12 or worse.

If Kansas City keeps its solid play up, he might end his career on a high note.

Waters also had to play through a whole lot of crap to get there.  

10. London Fletcher (Washington Redskins)

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LANDOVER, MD - DECEMBER 12: London Fletcher #59 of the Washington Redskins is introduced before the game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at FedExField on December 12, 2010 in Landover, Maryland. The Buccaneers defeated the Redskins 17-16. (Photo by Lar

Don't let London Fletcher's lack of Pro Bowls fool you—he has been one the NFL's best linebackers for more than a decade.

Fletcher has racked up at least 119 tackles in every season since 2000 and at least 129 tackles every season during his four-year stretch with Washington Redskins (2007-10).

The Redskins have won just 27 games since 2007 and have just one winning season during Fletcher's tenure (nine wins in 2008).

Now, Fletcher may be almost 36-years-old, but he was one of the few bright spots on a horrific Redskins defense in 2010.

Let's give this man the props he's failed to get throughout his entire career. 

9. Jake Long (Miami Dolphins)

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MIAMI - SEPTEMBER 21: Offensive tackle Jake Long #77 of the Miami Dolphins drops back into pass blocking against the Indianapolis Colts at Land Shark Stadium on September 21, 2009 in Miami, Florida. The Colts defeated the Dolphins 27-23. (Photo by Doug

Jake Long had a warm welcome to the NFL in 2008.

After being selected with the No. 1 overall pick by Miami, the Dolphins went 11-5 and won the AFC East in his rookie campaign just one season after stumbling to a 1-15 record.

The Dolphins have gone 7-9 in each of the last two seasons, while Long's racked up a number of individual honors.

He was a Second Team All-Pro selection in 2009, a First Team All-Pro selection in 2010 and has been selected to the Pro Bowl in each of his first three seasons.

Meanwhile, the Dolphins are in a state of flux right now, with Ricky Williams, Ronnie Brown and Chad Pennington possibly headed elsewhere this offseason.

But hey, at least Miami has its franchise left tackle.

8. Ndamukong Suh (Detroit Lions)

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DETROIT - OCTOBER 10: Ndamukong Suh #90 of the Detroit Lions celebrates a fourth quarter interception against the St. Louis Rams on October 10, 2010 at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan. Detroit won the game 44-6. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

The Detroit Lions appear to be headed in the right direction, but Ndamukong Suh doesn't appear to be headed to stardom—he's already there.

In his first NFL season in 2010, he was easily the league's most dominant defensive rookie, totaling 66 tackles and a staggering 10 sacks.

Suh was named to the Pro Bowl, was a First Team All-Pro selection and was the Defensive Rookie of the Year.

Though his Lions team may be headed to the playoffs in the near future, they haven't made it there since 1999.

Maybe Suh can change the team's fortunes around. 

7. Steve Smith (Carolina Panthers)

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SEATTLE - DECEMBER 05: Wide receiver Steve Smith #89 of the Carolina Panthers looks on during warmups prior to the game against the Seattle Seahawks at Qwest Field on December 5, 2010 in Seattle, Washington. The Seahawks won, 31-14. (Photo by Otto Greule

Steve Smith has had some good seasons in Carolina, like in 2008 when the Panthers went 12-4 and won the NFC South or in 2003 when they advanced to the Super Bowl.

He's been on numerous Panthers team that finished at or below .500, including the last two seasons when Carolina has won just 10 total games.

During his ten-year career—spent entirely in Carolina—Smith has racked up 620 receptions, 8,884 receiving yards and 52 touchdown catches as well as four trips to the Pro Bowl and three All-Pro honors.

Imagine where those numbers would be if he actually had a quarterback over the last three seasons. 

6. Chris Johnson (Tennessee Titans)

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INDIANAPOLIS - JANUARY 02: Chris Johnson #28 of the Tennessee Titans runs for a touchdown during NFL game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium on January 2, 2011 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

In just three NFL seasons, Chris Johnson has been nothing short of spectacular, with 4,598 rushing yards, 1,008 receiving yards and 38 total touchdowns.

In 2009, he also became just the sixth player in league history to rush for more than 2,000 yards in a season.

Although he did play on a 13-3 Titans team during his rookie season, Tennessee has limped to just 14 wins over the last two seasons and are in rebuild mode now that Jeff Fisher, Vince Young and possibly Kerry Collins will be gone from the organization.

If the Titans don't get swing a trade for a veteran quarterback, then Johnson might not play for a playoff contender for quite a while.

5. Andre Johnson (Houston Texans)

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HOUSTON, TX - DECEMBER 13: A dejected Andre Johnson #80 of the Houston Texans walks off the field after Houston was defeated by Baltimore in overtime at Reliant Stadium on December 13, 2010 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)

Each and every year we keep waiting for the Houston Texans to make it to the playoffs. If we wait too much longer, then Andre Johnson is going to be retired by the time the team actually makes there.

Arguably the league's top wide receiver over the last few years, Johnson has totaled 673 catches for 9,164 yards and 50 touchdowns in eight years in the NFL, all with Houston.

He's still yet to appear in the playoffs and has played on just one team that's finished the season above .500 (2009).

Poor Andre. At least he helps people win their fantasy football leagues, though. 

4. Maurice Jones-Drew (Jacksonville Jaguars)

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JACKSONVILLE, FL - DECEMBER 26: Maurice Jones-Drew #32 of the Jacksonville Jaguars watches the action during the game against the Washington Redskins at EverBank Field on December 26, 2010 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)

In his five-year NFL career, Maurice Jones-Drew has rushed for 5,248 yards, totaled 2,099 receiving yards and scored 51 total touchdowns.

He's been a true workhorse for the Jacksonville Jaguars, but it hasn't translated to a whole lot of wins.

The Jags have made the playoffs just once (2007) since drafting Jones-Drew, and in fact, that was the only team he's played on that's won more than eight games.

Jones-Drew will continue to be one of the league's most versatile backs and a top-five fantasy football selection, but he probably isn't going to the playoffs as long as Peyton Manning's around.

3. Steven Jackson (St. Louis Rams)

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SEATTLE, WA - JANUARY 02: Running back Steven Jackson #39 of the St. Louis Rams looks on during their game against the Seattle Seahawks at Qwest Field on January 2, 2011 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)

Though he's not at the top of this list, I don't know that I feel as bad for anyone as I do for Steven Jackson.

The guy's ran for 7,948 rushing yards, racked up 2,670 receiving yards and has scored 57 total TDs, but he's only played for one playoff team (his rookie season in 2004) and has never—I repeat, has never—played for a team with a winning record.

Jackson's also spent the majority of his career without much of a passing attack to help him out and played on a Rams squad that won just three total games from 2008-2009.

Damn, Steven. Let's go grab a beer, man. 

2. Joe Thomas (Cleveland Browns)

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CHICAGO - NOVEMBER 01: Tommie Harris #91 of the Chicago Bears is double-teamed blocked by Joe Thomas #73 and Eric Steinbach #65 of the Cleveland Browns at Soldier Field on November 1, 2009 in Chicago, Illinois. The Bears defeated the Browns 30-6. (Photo b

Drafted by the Cleveland Browns with the No. 3 overall pick in 2007, Joe Thomas has quickly emerged as one of the—if not the—best left tackles in the game.

He's made it to the Pro Bowl in each of his first four seasons, was a Second Team All-Pro player in 2008 and was a First Team All-Pro selection in each of the past two seasons.

While Thomas has had success during that span, we can't say the same about the Browns.

They had only one winning season (2007), won just 24 games, had three seasons with five wins or less and failed to make the playoffs each season.

In fact, Cleveland hasn't made a playoff appearance since 2002.

1. Patrick Willis (San Francisco 49ers)

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ATLANTA - OCTOBER 03: Patrick Willis #52 of the San Francisco 49ers against the Atlanta Falcons at Georgia Dome on October 3, 2010 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

After just four years in the NFL, Patrick Willis has already established himself as the best linebacker in the game.

He's been selected to the Pro Bowl in each of his four seasons so far, is a three-time First Team All-Pro selection and a one-time Second Team All-Pro Selection.

Willis already has a whopping 595 career tackles, but the 49ers are just 26-38 since he entered the league.

Better keep them All-Pro selections coming, P-Willy. Unless Jim Harbaugh's the real deal, that'll be all you have to show for yourself once you hang those cleats up.