NFL Draft Results: The 10 Worst Moments in Draft History
The NFL Draft is one of the most exciting and anticipated weekends in the football calendar year.
Every year there are risers, faller, gems, busts and unexpected twists.
Things don't always happen as planned, which occasionally makes for some awkward, uncomfortable moments.
Here are 10 of the worst moments in NFL Draft history.
10. John Elway Refuses Baltimore
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John Elway's Hall of Fame career didn't really start out on the right foot.
In the 1983 Draft, it actually started off pretty poor. He was drafted with the first-overall pick by the Baltimore Colts.
Elway, who had played in the minor-league with the Yankees, threatened to join the organization full-time if he was not traded.
Baltimore reluctantly traded him and the rest is history.
However, behind the two Super Bowl victories and Hall of Fame honors, Elway will always be remembered for the way he entered the league.
9. Ricky Williams the Most Valuable Player
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In the history of the NFL Draft, there has never been a player more valuable than Ricky Williams.
To say the New Orleans Saints were desperate may be an understatement.
In order to acquire the Heisman Trophy winner, Mike Ditka made a trade with the Washington Redskins to pick Ricky Williams fifth overall in the 1999 draft.
What did the Saints give up?
They traded every pick they had in the 1999 draft, along with their first and third round selections in the 2000 draft.
The Saints went 3-13, Ditka was fired and Williams played only three years in New Orleans.
8. The Fall of Brady Quinn
3 of 10Many experts thought that Brady Quinn would be the third selection of the 2007 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns.
Quinn wasn't selected third. He wasn't selected fourth, fifth or even sixth.
He was taken 22nd overall, and with every passing selection the cameras zoomed in on Quinn to catch his reaction.
The fall was painful to watch.
At the end of the day, it was the right move. Quinn remained in Cleveland for only three years. He is now listed as the number three quarterback on the Broncos roster.
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7. Vikings Miss Their Pick
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The 2011 NFL Draft wasn't the first time that a team has missed their pick.
In the 2003 draft, a communication problem caused the Minnesota Vikings to miss seventh overall selection.
When it happened, the Jaguars jumped in to announce their selection of Byron Leftwich. Carolina quickly followed with the selection of Jordan Gross.
The Vikings finally announced their pick at ninth overall. Luckily, they got the player they wanted in Kevin Williams, who turned out to be a future Pro Bowler.
6. Cedric Benson Breaks Down
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Cedric Benson had some character concerns heading into the 2005 NFL Draft.
When he was selected fourth overall by the Chicago Bears, Benson was overcome with emotions.
When speaking of team interviews, Benson said that it was “like I had murdered somebody or something. It was like no appreciation or respect for me putting myself in the position to be sitting in front of the guy in front of me. I just thought it was a slap in the face.”
When Suzy Kolber asked him a simple question about who the real Cedric Benson was, he broke down in tears.
The NFL Draft turned into an episode of The View.
5. The Fall of Aaron Rodgers
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The fall of Aaron Rodgers wasn't quite as painful as the Brady Quinn fall, but the implications were much more severe.
Rodgers conducted himself in a more mature manner during the plummet, making it less painful to watch.
However, it was the worst decision for the 23 teams that let him fall to the Packers at the 24th overall selection.
The worst decision was that of the 49ers, who considered taking Rodgers with the first overall pick. They decided instead to take Alex Smith.
4. Bill Tobin Has Enough of Mel Kiper Jr.
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Mel Kiper Jr. has never been one to back away from giving his opinion. In the 1994 NFL Draft, it started some controversy.
The Colts selected linebacker Trev Alberts with the fifth overall selection. Mel Kiper voiced his opinion on how the move was not a smart one for the team.
When ESPN got Colts GM Bill Tobin on the phone, he responded with his own opinion.
“Who in the hell is Mel Kiper, anyway? I mean, here’s a guy who criticizes everybody, whoever they take. In my knowledge of him, he’s never even put on a jockstrap, he’s never been a player, he’s never been a coach, he’s never been a scout, he’s never been an administrator, and all of a sudden, he’s an expert. Mel Kiper has no more credentials to do what he’s doing than my neighbor, and my neighbor’s a postman and he doesn’t even have season tickets to the NFL.”
Tobin was fired after the 1996 season. Trev Alberts retired at only 26-years-old.
I guess Kiper was right.
3. Bo Jackson Decides on Baseball
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John Elway threatened to play baseball, Bo Jackson actually did.
Jackson was selected as the first-overall pick in the 1986 draft by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The team gave Jackson the opportunity to choose between his baseball career and football. He chose baseball.
Can you really blame him though? The Buccaneers were pretty awful.
The following year the Buccaneers forfeited his rights and the Raiders drafted Jackson in the seventh round.
2. Donovan McNabb Feels the Brotherly Love
9 of 10What do you think of when you hear Philadelphia Eagles? More than likely, the "disrespectful" fans.
I grew up in Philadelphia. I'm a fan of all the major sports teams. No moment has disgusted me more than when Donovan McNabb was drafted in 1999.
This wasn't because I didn't like McNabb, it was because of the boos that reigned down when the pick was made.
This moment has come to define Philadelphia sports fans.
It's one that will always be remembered. Thanks Philadelphia.
1. We Want Football
10 of 10There isn't much I can say that will do this video justice.
"We want football"
"I hear you"
This may have been the best or worst moment in NFL Draft history depending on which side you are watching from.
The fans, angry with commissioner Roger Goodell, let him know how they feel about the NFL Lockout and the recent changes he has made with the league.
Goodell hears them, but will he listen?
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.png?w=600 "NBA Fans Rip Pistons After Magic Go Up 3-1")
.jpg?w=600 "Raw Results and Grades 🔠")