25 NFL Players That Blew Golden Opportunities in 2011

Each and every NFL season, we can sit back and play the role of "Monday morning quarterback."

What exactly is that? Well, it's someone that takes a look at a situation that has already happened and claims what could have gone differently.

Well, right now, I'm going to be a huge Monday morning quarterback, as I am going to be presenting to you 25 NFL players that blew golden opportunities in 2011.

Do you think Michael Vick and Philip Rivers are on here? You bet they are!

Chad Ochocinco

Chad Ochocinco? More like Chad Ocho-stinko.

You'd figure that through 15 weeks of the NFL regular season, Ochocinco would have far more than just one touchdown in his first season with Tom Brady. Well, Ochocinco has been that much of a non-factor for the Patriots in 2011.

Ochocinco has played in 13 games for the Pats, and he's reeled in only 14 passes for 261 yards and one score.

Chris Johnson

Well, at least Chris Johnson had his big payday, because he's blown the opportunity to be considered an all-time great in 2011.

An all-time great? Yeah, you heard me right. He isn't called "CJ2K" for nothing.

Johnson held out all of training camp and the entire preseason and failed to rush for 100 yards in a game until Week 10.

Josh Freeman

Josh Freeman had a ton of hype around him entering 2011, but he has fallen flat on his face.

Just a year ago, Freeman posted a stellar 95.9 quarterback rating while throwing 25 touchdowns and six interceptions, but he has been absolutely putrid thus far for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Freeman is completing 61.3 percent of his passes while tossing 13 touchdowns and being picked off 18 times.

Braylon Edwards

Let's face it: The San Francisco 49ers aren't a great passing team.

However, Braylon Edwards could have changed that—if he was on the field and more productive.

In eight games this season, Edwards has caught only 14 passes and has yet to score a single touchdown.

Peyton Hillis

Can you say "Madden curse?"

No, wait—can you say "fraud?"

I think fraud is more like it.

Peyton Hillis has been pathetic this season for the Cleveland Browns after rushing for 1,177 yards a year ago. In eight games this season, Hillis has accumulated only 445 yards while scoring three touchdowns and averaging only 3.5 yards per carry.

Curtis Painter

Curtis Painter should never start at quarterback in the NFL ever again. Period.

Painter had a shot to prove to the league that he's a legitimate starting quarterback, but instead he's proven that he's not even a reliable backup.

In nine games this season for the Indianapolis Colts, Painter has completed 54.3 percent of his passes while throwing only six touchdowns and a pathetic nine interceptions.

Albert Haynesworth

Albert Haynesworth had a real good shot at turning his career around with Bill Belichick in the New England Patriots' 4-3 defensive system.

Well, Haynes was cut midway through the season after playing in six games for the Patriots while recording three tackles and no sacks.

Now, Haynesworth is a producing a bit more but is currently playing for the lousy Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Kerry Collins

Hey, at least Kerry Collins got paid—but he fell flat on his face.

Collins came out of retirement to play for the Indianapolis Colts this season, as he appeared in three games while completing 49.0 percent of his passes before suffering a season-ending concussion.

The 38-year-old could have won a few games this season with Indy but was just an irrelevant factor in their performance.

Joe Flacco

Joe Flacco is having the worst season of his NFL career. I mean, he looks like a rookie out there.

Flacco could have turned some heads this season by proving that he's a legitimate franchise quarterback; instead, he's completing only 57.3 percent of his passes.

In 14 games, Flacco has an 80.0 quarterback rating while throwing 17 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.

Chad Henne

Poor Chad Henne. He will never get his chance to shine.

Henne's career is likely done as a Miami Dolphin, as he cannot find a way to stay healthy and produce at a high level.

The Michigan product appeared in four games this season for the Dolphins, and he completed only 57.1 percent of his passes for 868 yards, four touchdowns and four interceptions.

Michael Vick

Is Michael Vick worth $100 million? I don't think so.

Thus far in 2011, Vick has been absolutely putrid for the underachieving Philadelphia Eagles. You may think that I'm being a bit extreme, but Vick was signed to be the quarterback of the future and to be the team's best player. He has failed to live up to that potential.

Playing in 11 games thus far for the Eagles, Vick is slowly reverting to the style he had back with the Atlanta Falcons, as he's completing less than 60 percent of his passes while throwing 13 touchdowns and matching that total with interceptions.

Roy Williams

Many believed that Roy Williams could actually flourish in Mike Martz's offensive system in Chicago, as the Bears don't have a true No. 1 wide receiver. That obviously has yet to happen.

Williams has caught only 27 passes and just one touchdown in 13 games this season for the Bears and appears to be just a complete waste of talent.

Devin McCourty

Entering 2011, Devin McCourty had high expectations placed on him, as he was coming off a Pro Bowl rookie season.

When you watch McCourty play for the NFL's worst defense in the New England Patriots, you can definitely tell that he's now a liability. In nearly every single game played this season, the opposing offense has been targeting McCourty's side every time, which is rather alarming, as he is supposed to be New England's No. 1 cornerback.

McCourty is still in just his second year in the league, but he blew an opportunity to be considered an elite cornerback this season.

Blaine Gabbert

Many believed Blaine Gabbert was the best quarterback in the 2011 draft class; however, that certainly has not been the case this season.

Gabbert was picked 10th overall, much later than most experts predicted, so only one could assume that he would do whatever it took to prove to the world that he should have been the first quarterback selected.

Entering the regular season, Gabbert was named the team's starting quarterback as the Jacksonville Jaguars parted ways with David Garrard, and he's blown the opportunity to shine. He's posted a 65.6 quarterback rating in 13 games this season for the Jags, as he's completing only 50.6 percent of his passes.

Rex Grossman

Rex Grossman had a golden opportunity coming in 2011—he was named the Washington Redskins' starting quarterback.

Being named the starter in Washington may be the only good thing that has happened to Grossman this season, as he's posted a 71.4 quarterback rating while throwing 13 touchdowns compared to a horrendous 18 interceptions.

Knowshon Moreno

One could wonder how Knowshon Moreno is even considered for this list. Well, for starters, he's one hell of a talent and could really be flourishing in the Denver Broncos' run first, run all the time offensive attack right now.

Moreno played in only seven games this season prior to tearing his ACL.

Philip Rivers

Entering 2011, Philip Rivers was on the verge of being considered an elite quarterback. That has changed in a big way.

Now, Rivers is just an above-average passer, as he's posting the worst stats as a starter in his career.

In 14 games this season for the San Diego Chargers, Rivers has a 89.4 quarterback rating with 23 touchdowns compared to his dreadful 17 interceptions.

Thomas Jones

The minute that Jamaal Charles went down with a season-ending torn ACL, many believed that Thomas Jones could pick up the slack, as he's been a very productive running back over the years.

Well, let's put it this way: Jones has been an epic fail in 2011.

The 33-year-old is averaging only 3.0 yards per carry while failing to score a single touchdown in 14 games this season for the Kansas City Chiefs.

I think it's time to hang up the cleats, Thomas.

Kevin Kolb

Kevin Kolb had so much hype around him entering last offseason, as he was the most sought-after quarterback on the market, but he's been one major disappointment for the Arizona Cardinals thus far.

Kolb has failed to stay healthy, as he's played in only nine games this season while completing only 57.7 percent of his passes and throwing nine touchdowns and eight interceptions.

As of right now, the Cards are rolling with quarterback John Skelton, who is 5-1 as the team's starter this season.

Sam Bradford

Poor Sam Bradford.

Just a year ago, he was considered the next elite quarterback, but now in 2011, he's just another guy.

Bradford has been so nonproductive this season that it's rather amusing. In 10 games for the St. Louis Rams this season, he has thrown just six touchdowns while matching that total in interceptions.

It's amazing how badly Bradford is suffering from the infamous "sophomore slump."

Robert Mathis

For a guy that's playing in a contract year, you'd figure that he'd be producing much more than he is right now.

Robert Mathis has blown a huge opportunity for a major payday next offseason, as he's tallied only seven sacks in 14 games for the Indianapolis Colts.

Mathis was once considered a top-tier pass-rusher but is simply average as of right now.

Ryan Fitzpatrick

Man, I kind of feel bad for Ryan Fitzpatrick.

Immediately after being locked up long-term with a contract extension, Fitzpatrick's performance took a major dip downwards.

The Harvard product really had a golden opportunity to not only prove that Ivy League guys can play in the NFL, but that he's a legitimate franchise quarterback at the professional level. Fitzpatrick has been an interception machine this year, as he's been picked off 19 times in 14 games for the Buffalo Bills.

Corey Liuget

Corey Liuget has been so nonproductive. That's all I can say.

The rookie out of Illinois was thrown into the mix as a starting defensive end for the San Diego Chargers, but he has failed to make the most of it.

In 13 games this season, Liuget has only one sack and 16 tackles.

Colt McCoy

Colt McCoy came into 2011 as the Cleveland Browns' starting quarterback and had a huge opportunity in front of him: prove that he's the quarterback of the future for the Browns.

I do cut McCoy some slack, as Cleveland's offensive firepower is laughable, but he has yet to make anyone feel confident in the Browns organization that he's the real deal and that they can put a long-term investment in him.

While playing in 13 games this season, McCoy has posted a 74.6 quarterback rating while completing only 57.2 percent of his passes for 14 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.

Mark Sanchez

Is Mark Sanchez the answer for the New York Jets? I don't think so. That's right now, at least.

In my opinion, Sanchez has been holding back the Jets over the past three seasons.

Sanchez came into 2011 with two years of starting experience under his belt, but he is still making rookie mistakes, and the Jets coaching staff has yet to develop any real trust in the USC product.

In 14 games this season for the Jets, Sanchez is completing a pitiful 56.9 percent of his passes but has thrown 23 touchdowns while being picked off 13 times.