Ghost stars of training camps past

Bobhaze said:
Who are the ghost stars of training camps past? Players who were little known long shots to make the team that were praised as “having a great camp”, made some plays in pre-season games, then faded into history in either a year or two.

Here are just a few of the names of training camp heroes of the past whose star burned out quickly:
  • Bo Morgan, RB (1997-98)
  • Jeff Ogden, WR (1999)
  • Woody Dantzler, RB (2002)
  • Ross Tucker, G (2002)
  • Phillip Tanner, RB (2012-14)
  • Terrance Copper, WR (2004)
  • Losaka Polite, RB (2004)
  • Skyler Green, WR (2005)
  • Isiah Stanback, WR 2007)
  • Kevin Ogletree, WR (2009)
  • Lucky Whitehead, WR (2015)
  • Rico Gathers, TE (2016-17)
  • Lance Lenoir, WR (2017)
  • Jaquan Hardy, RB (2021)
  • Dennis Houston, WR (2022)
  • Ryan Flournoy, WR (2024)
All of these guys had “a great camp” and most if not all faded quickly into the roster history books. Whose name will eventually be added as one of the “Ghost stars of training camps past” this year? Who did I forget from the past?
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I like this topic. The one guy I was disappointed never seemed to really get a shot after manhandling people in pre season was Rico Gathers. I remember him making a catch with 2 defenders all over him... he was just a big , athletic man... but for whatever reason he just never seemed to get a shot. BUt yea... lots of Camp All Pros up there that never did squat once the games counted.
 
Reid1boys said:
I like this topic. The one guy I was disappointed never seemed to really get a shot after manhandling people in pre season was Rico Gathers. I remember him making a catch with 2 defenders all over him... he was just a big , athletic man... but for whatever reason he just never seemed to get a shot. BUt yea... lots of Camp All Pros up there that never did squat once the games counted.
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Reid I remember what an athletic specimen Rico was. Former basketball player at Baylor. Hadn’t played any college football so he was always going to be a developmental project.

And he looked impressive in TC and PS games. But that was mostly against 3rd or 4th string camp guys that weren’t going to make most NFL teams’ final 53. Once Rico was facing top NFL talent he often looked lost. He was also apparently not that committed to being in great shape.

He still could have developed into at least a situational weapon. But in the end I’m not sure he had the desire and commitment needed. He was one of those natural great athletes who lacked the drive to work harder to maximize his ability.
 
MarcusRock said:
Can't remember if he had a good camp or not but people were plenty excited about the safety Akwasi Owusu-Ansah, or AOA as he was known.
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I don’t believe he had a good camp.

I think we were all excited to draft a play making safety finally and he flamed out. I think he was moved between safety and corner
 
SlammedZero said:
Oh man, I remember the Rico Gathers hype train. :laugh:

Fun list! Forgot about some of those names, like Terrance Copper.
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Yes lol. Rico had the athletic ability to be a good pass catching tight end but he couldn’t learn the mental aspect of the game at all
 
Kevinicus said:
Danny Amendola...a ghost as far as the Cowboys are concerned, because they cut him. Not a ghost in the league as he did alright for himself.
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This one was very frustrating imo and he ended up having a good career
 
Bobhaze said:
Who are the ghost stars of training camps past? Players who were little known long shots to make the team that were praised as “having a great camp”, made some plays in pre-season games, then faded into history in either a year or two.

Here are just a few of the names of training camp heroes of the past whose star burned out quickly:
  • Bo Morgan, RB (1997-98)
  • Jeff Ogden, WR (1999)
  • Woody Dantzler, RB (2002)
  • Ross Tucker, G (2002)
  • Phillip Tanner, RB (2012-14)
  • Terrance Copper, WR (2004)
  • Losaka Polite, RB (2004)
  • Skyler Green, WR (2005)
  • Isiah Stanback, WR 2007)
  • Kevin Ogletree, WR (2009)
  • Lucky Whitehead, WR (2015)
  • Rico Gathers, TE (2016-17)
  • Lance Lenoir, WR (2017)
  • Jaquan Hardy, RB (2021)
  • Dennis Houston, WR (2022)
  • Ryan Flournoy, WR (2024)
All of these guys had “a great camp” and most if not all faded quickly into the roster history books. Whose name will eventually be added as one of the “Ghost stars of training camps past” this year? Who did I forget from the past?
Click to expand...
Jalen Brooks looked like a late-round find a couple of years ago, but hasn't really done anything in the regular season since then. I believe we also thought we had something in CB Eric Scott, but now then ended up cutting him last year.

A lot of these late-round picks show why they were selected in the draft but also why they weren't taken until the late rounds. It's tough to succeed in the NFL.
 
A few names

- Mark “Nacho” Nzeocha
- Ken Bishop
- Isaiah Land
 
We have always had coaches that have seemed very slow to play the unknowns. Amendola is a prime example, showed plenty of promise with us but he got cot, who the hell did we keep in his place?! Also Dantzler, you telling me that we could not have put him to good use? The guy was multi talented at multi things.
 
Bobhaze said:
Who are the ghost stars of training camps past? Players who were little known long shots to make the team that were praised as “having a great camp”, made some plays in pre-season games, then faded into history in either a year or two.

Here are just a few of the names of training camp heroes of the past whose star burned out quickly:
  • Bo Morgan, RB (1997-98)
  • Jeff Ogden, WR (1999)
  • Woody Dantzler, RB (2002)
  • Ross Tucker, G (2002)
  • Phillip Tanner, RB (2012-14)
  • Terrance Copper, WR (2004)
  • Losaka Polite, RB (2004)
  • Skyler Green, WR (2005)
  • Isiah Stanback, WR 2007)
  • Kevin Ogletree, WR (2009)
  • Lucky Whitehead, WR (2015)
  • Rico Gathers, TE (2016-17)
  • Lance Lenoir, WR (2017)
  • Jaquan Hardy, RB (2021)
  • Dennis Houston, WR (2022)
  • Ryan Flournoy, WR (2024)
All of these guys had “a great camp” and most if not all faded quickly into the roster history books. Whose name will eventually be added as one of the “Ghost stars of training camps past” this year? Who did I forget from the past?
Click to expand...
I thought WR Brandon Smith deserved a spot on the 53 back in 2021. He wasn't the fastest receiver but he had good size and showed the ability to get open. We did keep him on the practice squad but I thought he'd go on to at least be on a roster somewhere. He went on to appear in one NFL game and play one snap, but he did get some playing time with the DC Defenders in the XFL and UFL.
 
Kevinicus said:
Danny Amendola...a ghost as far as the Cowboys are concerned, because they cut him. Not a ghost in the league as he did alright for himself.
Click to expand...
Amendola….the pride of the Woodlands HS near Houston and a former Texas Tech Red Raider. My son and I have season tickets to Tech games and Amendola was always one of my favorites.

Followed in the footsteps of Wes Welker. Considered too small, not fast enough but both those guys were tough as nails and just great football players. Sometimes great football players don’t have the great measureables.
 
Bobhaze said:
Amendola….the pride of the Woodlands HS near Houston and a former Texas Tech Red Raider. My son and I have season tickets to Tech games and Amendola was always one of my favorites.

Followed in the footsteps of Wes Welker. Considered too small, not fast enough but both those guys were tough as nails and just great football players. Sometimes great football players don’t have the great measureables.
Click to expand...
Yeah, I think the Cowboys probably regret cutting him over that preseason fumble, They overreacted, and he turned out to be a solid consistent player, not great ,but the Cowboys could have used his services...
 
blueblood70 said:
Yeah, I think the Cowboys probably regret cutting him over that preseason fumble, They overreacted, and he turned out to be a solid consistent player, not great ,but the Cowboys could have used his services...
Click to expand...
May have indirectly affected their decision to stick with Cole Beasley even after he decided to leave camp abruptly. Didn't want to repeat the Amendola mistake.
 
Bobhaze said:
Who are the ghost stars of training camps past? Players who were little known long shots to make the team that were praised as “having a great camp”, made some plays in pre-season games, then faded into history in either a year or two.

Here are just a few of the names of training camp heroes of the past whose star burned out quickly:
  • Bo Morgan, RB (1997-98)
  • Jeff Ogden, WR (1999)
  • Woody Dantzler, RB (2002)
  • Ross Tucker, G (2002)
  • Phillip Tanner, RB (2012-14)
  • Terrance Copper, WR (2004)
  • Losaka Polite, RB (2004)
  • Skyler Green, WR (2005)
  • Isiah Stanback, WR 2007)
  • Kevin Ogletree, WR (2009)
  • Lucky Whitehead, WR (2015)
  • Rico Gathers, TE (2016-17)
  • Lance Lenoir, WR (2017)
  • Jaquan Hardy, RB (2021)
  • Dennis Houston, WR (2022)
  • Ryan Flournoy, WR (2024)
All of these guys had “a great camp” and most if not all faded quickly into the roster history books. Whose name will eventually be added as one of the “Ghost stars of training camps past” this year? Who did I forget from the past?
Click to expand...
Haha.

Great post Bob.

When i started to read i thought "oh boy here we go. Bob wants to create a good mood. A post that proofs thoses posts we had in recent days about this guy or that one who will surprise everybody. And therefore we will be such a great team because we are so lucky and we have a great FO and blah blah....Bobs going to color everything rosy."

But this one is just the oposite. Good stuff that keeps things in perspective.

Thanks a lot Bob. We need more of that.
 
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