NFL Draft 2011: 10 Biggest Draft Busts for Dallas Cowboys During Jerry Jones Era

It's NFL draft season, and that means mock drafts, pro days and Mel Kiper and Todd McShay having their scripted draft fights on ESPN. Well, maybe that argument they had on Jimmy Clausen was real. Anyway, we’re here to talk about draft busts.

You know, the Ryan Leafs and JaMarcus Russells of the world. What makes a bust though? Is it a failure to live up to potential, or maybe just not living up to the level of potential set by the team that drafted the player? Like the Tennessee Titans and Vince Young, or the New York Jets and Vernon Gholston.

What about the Cowboys? Have they had any busts and if so, were they major busts?

Let's take a look at the 10 biggest busts in the history of Jerry’s ‘Boys.

David LaFleur

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13 Sep 1998: Tight end David LaFleur #89 of the Dallas Cowboys in action during a game against the Denver Broncos at the Mile High Stadium in Denver, Colorado. The Broncos defeated the Cowboys 42-23. Mandatory Credit: Brian Bahr /Allsport

LaFleur was supposed to replace the irreplaceable Jay Novacek and did not get the job done. He was drafted in 1997 and had decent statistics with 35 catches, 322 yards and seven touchdowns in 1999, but tailed off in 2000 and was released after the season. He never lived up to potential, and many Cowboy fans have already forgotten the former LSU product.

Bobby Carpenter

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LANDOVER, MD - DECEMBER 27: Bobby Carpenter #54 of the Dallas Cowboys defends against the Washington Redskins at FedExField on December 27, 2009 in Landover, Maryland. The Cowboys defeated the Redskins 17-0. (Photo by Larry French/Getty Images)

It may a little bit of a stretch to call Carpenter a bust, but he was dang close to it. He amassed a mere 96 tackles during his four-year tour in Big D between 2006 and 2009 and never earned a consistent starting role. He was a little bit of a liability in pass coverage, and the Cowboys traded the former Ohio State University player for a certain offensive tackle named Alex Barron in 2010.

Quincy Carter

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CHARLOTTE, NC - JANUARY 3: Quarterback Quincy Carter #17 of the Dallas Cowboys rests on the sidelines during the NFC Wildcard playoff game against the Carolina Panthers at Ericsson Stadium on January 3, 2004 in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Panthers de

Raise your hand if you had high hopes for brother Carter? Raise your hand if you thought Carter would become a decent quarterback in Dallas after he was drafted in 2001? I know I’m not the only one with my hand raised, because I remember Carter playing well enough to lead the ‘Boys to a 10-6 record and a playoff game in 2003.

But the Q man’s life was in disarray, and the Cowboys released him just before the season started in 2004. Since then he’s been arrested for drugs and floated his away around the NFL and Canadian Football League.

Shante Carver

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8 Dec 1996: Defensive lineman Shante Carver of the Dallas Cowboys works against Arizona Cardinals offensive lineman Lomas Brown (right) during a game at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Arizona. The Cowboys won the game, 10-6. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Dunn

Carver had a total of 11.5 sacks in four seasons (1994-1997), never forced a fumble and was just a huge disappointment. Carver was a defensive end and basically averaged about three sacks a year. Well, at least he did well in the Arena League.

Sherman Williams

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26 Nov 1998: Running back Sherman Williams #20 of the Dallas Cowboys in action during a game against the Minnesota Vikings at Texas Stadium in Irving, Texas. The Vikings defeated the Cowboys 46-36. Mandatory Credit: Brian Bahr /Allsport

The Sherman Shake was pretty famous in the state of Alabama, especially when the Crimson Tide had it going in the early '90s. Williams was drafted in 1995 to boost the stable of backs the ‘Boys already had, and reached a career high with 468 rushing yards in 1997.

But alas, Williams was busted for trafficking drugs, and his NFL career went into the big house with him and never came out.

Antonio Bryant

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IRVING, TX - OCTOBER 17: Wide reciever Antonio Bryant #88 of the Dallas Cowboys watches from the sideline during the game with the Pittsburgh Steelers at Texas Stadium on October 17, 2004 in Irving, Texas. The Steelers defeated the Cowboys 24-20. (Photo

Bryant has had a pretty decent NFL career. He had over 1,200 receiving yards in 2008 for Tampa and did pretty well for the Browns during his short tenure there. But when he was a Cowboy, it was nothing but drama.

He threw a towel in the face of then head coach Bill Parcells and failed to reach 1,000 yards during his two-and-a-half year stint in Dallas, which began in 2002. It was a drama-filled tenure filled with disappointment.

Julius Jones

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IRVING, TX - OCTOBER 21: Julius Jones #21 of the Dallas Cowboys gets ready on the field during the game against the Minnesota Vikings at Texas Stadium on October 21, 2007 in Irving, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

It's hard to call a player who totaled almost 1,000 yards per year in his first four NFL seasons (2004-2007) a bust. But in his last year in Dallas, Jones fell off of the Grand Canyon into the valley of a thousand suns. Jones was the warmup act for running back Marion Barber, but when Barber’s career took off, so did Jones.

Kevin Burnett

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SEATTLE - AUGUST 12: Kevin Burnett #57 of the Dallas Cowboys looks on during the preseason game against the Seattle Seahawks on August 12, 2006 at Qwest Field in Seattle Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)

In Burnett's case, I think it was just a matter of not fitting into the defensive system, or maybe he just needed a little time to develop. Either way, Burnett was quiet as a church mouse in four years (2005-2008) in Dallas and didn’t start to flourish until he reached the sunny side of San Diego.

Martellus Bennett

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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - NOVEMBER 14: Martellus Bennett #80 of the Dallas Cowboys runs against the New York Giants on November 14, 2010 at the New Meadowlands Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

Bennett is quickly becoming a bust due to his lack of focus and failure to capitalize on his athletic ability. Since his rookie season of 2008, it seems as if Bennett has had more concern regarding his Twitter account and rapping than catching passes and throwing blocks.

Don’t get me wrong, Burnett isn’t necessarily there yet, but one more year of disappointing play will signal the end of his tenure in Dallas.

Markus Steele

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PHILADELPHIA, PA - JANUARY 02: Gerald Sensabaugh #43 of the Dallas Cowboys intercepts a pass intended for Jason Avant #81 of the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on January 2, 2011 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty

Steele was such a bust that I couldn't find a picture of this cat.

Steele emerged from the school of the great Ken Norton Jr., USC, and that does not stand for South Carolina, sir. Steele failed to live up to his name, as he has 45 career tackles in three seasons (2001-2003) and his career ended up like the Raven, never more.