k19
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Intersting list I found while looking something else up. Take it for what its worth, I just thought I'd share
April 18, 2005
All-Time Undrafted Team
The greatest NFL players who weren't drafted
By Richard Cirminiello
Sometime late in the afternoon on day two of the NFL Draft, a feeding frenzy will ensue that rivals the Discovery Channel’s Shark Week. As the end of the seventh round approaches, representatives from all 32 teams will be polishing their Boiler Room sales pitches in the hopes of attracting the best of a deep pool of talent that will inevitably go the weekend undrafted. It’s from this crop of kids that depth charts will be bolstered, cheap labor can be inked and, for those who really do their homework, future gems will excavated.
For much of the 1980’s, no one was better than Washington’s Joe Gibbs and Joe Bugel at taking obscure offensive linemen and molding them into pillars of the Commander franchise. Dallas’ Tex Schramm and Gil Brandt were pure genius for three decades for their ability to consistently locate stars in the most remote galaxies. And, no matter who was at the helm, Kansas City has long been the docking station for late bloomers. They and the waves of undrafted free agents, who made the most of their opportunity, all knew two things: Not getting drafted is not a death knell. And undrafted is in no way synonymous with unwanted.
The next Priest Holmes just wants a chance. The next John Randle can’t wait to prove you wrong. The next Nate Newton looks forward to the next time he’s a free agent. History shows that greatness resides outside the confines of a seven-round draft. Now it’s up to each NFL team to find it, sign it and begin developing it in mini-camp
First Team
Offense
QB Warren Moon – Moon wound up being one of the great miscalculations in NFL scouting history. At a time when the phrase “black NFL quarterback” was an oxymoron, he generated tepid interest from the pros, and was forced to prove himself in the CFL. Six banner years with the Edmonton Eskimos created a bidding war for his services won by the Houston Oilers. In 17 NFL seasons, Moon played in nine Pro Bowls and passed his way into the league’s Top 5 all-time in touchdowns and passing yards.
NFL: Houston Oilers (10), Minnesota (3), Seattle (2), Kansas City (2)
College: Washington
RB Priest Holmes – Holmes is the quintessential late bloomer. Despite being a backup at Texas, he’s worked tirelessly to become the most dangerous offensive player in the NFL and a fantasy football idol. Holmes’ tenure in Kansas City qualifies as one of the great four-year stretches for a back in league history. In 2003, he ran for 1,420 yards, caught 74 passes and scored 27 touchdowns, breaking Marshall Faulk’s single-season record.
NFL: Baltimore (4), Kansas City (4)
College: Texas
RB Kimble Anders – No one except Kansas City wanted Anders out of Houston. The Chiefs asked him to move to fullback, and all did was become a three-time Pro Bowler and one of the most prolific pass-catching backs the game has ever seen. Anders won the starting running back job in 2000 at the age of the 32, and on the very day he galloped for 142 yards against Denver, suffered a career-ending tear to his Achilles’ tendon.
NFL: Kansas City (10)
College: Houston
WR Rod Smith – Hall of Fame football players just don’t hail from Division II Missouri Southern State, but that’s exactly where Smith is headed. After 10 years and a pair of 100-catch seasons in Denver, he’s still going strong as the Broncos’ most consistent receiver. Smith has hauled in 59 career touchdown passes and currently ranks No. 20 all-time in NFL receptions.
NFL: Denver (10)
College: Missouri Southern State
WR Drew Pearson – Following a smooth transition from pass thrower to pass catcher at Tulsa, Pearson went on to become one of the most clutch receivers in NFL history and a member of the league’s all-decade team for the 1970’s. He was named All-Pro three times and topped 1,000 yards receiving twice in an era when the forward pass was not nearly as popular as it is today. Pearson’s 1975 “Hail Mary” reception to beat Minnesota embodied his Cowboy career.
NFL: Dallas (11)
College: Tulsa
TE Paul Coffman – Coffman generated almost no interest coming out of Kansas State, but that couldn’t deter him from making the Green Bay roster, and quickly establishing himself as one the game’s most reliable tight ends in his second year. He finished his Packer career with 322 catches and 39 touchdowns to earn induction into the organization’s Hall of Fame in 1994.
NFL: Green Bay (8), Kansas City (2), New Orleans (1)
College: Kansas State
OL Jim Langer – Langer should serve as inspiration for every kid whose name doesn’t get called during draft weekend. From an obscure Jackrabbit middle linebacker to a pillar on three Miami Super Bowl teams, he honed his skills as a center, played in six Pro Bowls, didn’t miss a down in the Dolphins’ unbeaten 1972 season and was a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 1987.
NFL: Miami (10), Minnesota (2)
College: South Dakota State
OL Jay Hilgenberg – Brother Joel, father Jerry and uncle Wally were all drafted, yet ironically, Jay turned out to be the best of the Hilgenberg clan in the pros. He anchored the Chicago line for more than a decade, playing in seven Pro Bowls before getting traded to Cleveland on the heels of a holdout. Hilgenberg was also a regular on the All-Madden team for what that’s worth.
NFL: Chicago (11), Cleveland (1), New Orleans (1)
College: Iowa
OL Nate Newton – Newton is a rags-to-riches-to-rags story if there ever was one. After getting cut by Washington in 1983, he used the USFL’s Tampa Bay Bandits as a launching pad for a Hall of Fame-caliber career during the heart of Dallas’ dynasty in the 1990s. The engaging Newton, however, is currently serving time in Louisiana for drug trafficking.
NFL: Dallas (13), Carolina (1)
College: Florida A&M
OL Larry Little – A poor fit with San Diego, Little blossomed into one of the game’s most complete linemen shortly after getting traded to Miami. He was a fixture at right guard in the Dolphins’ power running attack and a warrior for head coach Don Shula. He played in five Pro Bowls and three Super Bowls en route to being inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1993.
NFL: San Diego (2), Miami (12)
College: Bethune-Cookman
OL Doug Smith – Somewhat overshadowed throughout his career by Jackie Slater in Los Angeles, Smith reeled off six straight Pro Bowl seasons from 1984-1989. He was an integral member of a terrific Ram line that opened holes for Eric Dickerson and Greg Bell in the 1980s.
NFL: Los Angeles Rams (14)
College: Bowling Green
K Nick Lowery – Nearly two decades after six teams pink slipped him, the man with more lifetime kicks than Bruce Lee finally walked away from the NFL with a treasure chest of records. Lowery finished with 1,711 points, the NFL record for field goal accuracy and the game-winning points in all three of the Pro Bowls he attended.
NFL: New England (1), Kansas City (14), New York Jets (3)
College: Dartmouth
Defense
DL John Randle – Boy, did a lot of scouts and general managers swing and miss on this relentless and menacing tackle. Randle was a force, and he wasn’t too shy to remind you of that. Seven times in his illustrious 11-year stint in Minnesota, he represented the Vikings in Hawaii. Randle’s 136.5 career sacks, unheard of for an interior linemen, ranks him No. 6 on the NFL’s all-time list.
NFL: Minnesota (11), Seattle (3)
College: Texas A&I
DL Coy Bacon – Quick enough to get after the quarterback and massive enough to be an inside run-stopper, Bacon was a handful wherever he lined up. In 1976, before sacks were an official NFL statistic, he had 22…in a 14-game season. Bacon was named to the Pro Bowl three times, but had to cut his teeth with the semi-pro Charleston (WV) Rockets before even getting his first NFL opportunity with Los Angeles.
NFL: Los Angeles Rams (5), San Diego (3), Cincinnati (2), Washington (4)
College: Jackson State
DL Joe Nash – Once Nash made the Seattle roster in 1982, there was no getting rid of him. Not that anyone in the organization wanted to. In 15 years with the Seahawks, his blue collar work ethic at the nose became a source of consistency along the defensive line. Nash has played more games and made more tackles by a lineman than any other player in franchise history.
NFL: Seattle (15)
College: Boston College
DL Greg Kragen – Kragen was an unheralded mainstay in the middle of those three Denver teams that lost Super Bowls from 1987-1990. Over 13 seasons, he drew a starting assignment in five championship games, including one as an original member of the Carolina Panthers.
NFL: Denver (9), Kansas City (1), Carolina (3)
College: Utah State
LB Jessie Tuggle – Dubbed “The Hammer” for his jarring hits, Tuggle made the unlikely journey from Valdosta State to the height of the NFL during his 14 seasons in Atlanta. Considered by most to be too small for the NFL, his 1,830 tackles and five fumble recoveries for touchdown are tops in team and league history, respectively. Tuggle, who had his No. 58 retired in 2003, was a member of five NFC Pro Bowl rosters.
NFL: Atlanta (14)
College: Valdosta State
LB Sam Mills – The small linebacker from the small Division III school made a large impact on the NFL for 12 years. It didn’t happen overnight, however. Before becoming a star in New Orleans, Mills was cut by Cleveland and Toronto of the CFL, and spent three seasons with the Philadelphia/Baltimore Stars of the USFL. Five Pro Bowls and 1,319 tackles later, he was elected to the Saints and Panthers’ Halls of Fame.
NFL: New Orleans (9), Carolina (3)
College: Montclair State
LB Rufus Porter – When Seattle plucked Porter from the ranks of the undrafted, he was essentially an afterthought, a warm body to bring to camp. After making his mark on special teams, he wound up sticking around long enough to cash NFL paychecks for a decade and play in a pair of Pro Bowls. Although he struggled against the run, Porter was a terror blitzing the quarterback.
NFL: Seattle (7), New Orleans (2), Tampa Bay (1)
College: Southern
DB Willie Brown – From humble beginnings, Brown wasted little time planting the seeds of a Hall of Fame career. He was already one of the AFL’s best corners by the time he was dealt from Denver to Oakland, but it was with the Raiders that his star really began to shine. Brown’s 54 regular season interceptions paved the way to Canton, but it was in the postseason that he was at his best. In 17 playoff games, he had seven picks, returning three for scores.
NFL: Denver (4), Oakland (12)
College: Grambling
DB Donnie Shell – Shell was a model of perseverance, beating the odds when he arrived in Pittsburgh from South Carolina State, and waiting three years before earning a starting job. When he finally got the nod in 1977, Shell would be a fixture in the Steeler secondary for more than a decade. He played in five Pro Bowls, owns four Super Bowl rings and retired as the only strong safety in league history with more than 50 interceptions.
NFL: Pittsburgh (14)
College: South Carolina State
DB Emmitt Thomas – In 1965, Thomas was playing quarterback and receiver at tiny Bishop College in Dallas. A little more than a year later, he was a cornerback in the inaugural Super Bowl. The following season, he’d begin a run of five All-Pro selections over an eight-year span. Thomas is No. 9 on the all-time interceptions list with 58, highlighted by a league-leading dozen in 1974.
NFL: Kansas City (13)
College: Bishop
DB Willie Wood – A scrambling quarterback at USC, Wood had to practically grovel for a tryout with Green Bay in 1960. It paid off, and so did his switch to free safety. By 1962, he was named All-Pro, an annual occurrence that took place until he retired after the 1971 season. Wood won five championships with the Packers and was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1989.
NFL: Green Bay (12)
College: USC
P Sean Landeta – No man in the history of the NFL has punted the ball more times than Landeta. He’s hopped around the NFL for an entire generation, and could be back for a 21st season in 2005. Landeta has a 43.5 yard punting average, good for 12th on the all-time list, and has been invited to a pair of Pro Bowls when he was in New York.
NFL: New York Giants (8½), Los Angeles Rams (1½), St. Louis Rams (4), Tampa Bay (1), Green Bay (1), Philadelphia (4)
College: Towson
Second Team
Offense
QB Kurt Warner – One of the most unlikely heroes in professional sports history, Warner was named NFL and Super Bowl MVP just a few years after wallowing in the Arena League.
NFL: St. Louis Rams (6), New York Giants (1)
College: Northern Iowa
RB Tony Richardson – A valuable, yet underappreciated fullback, Richardson earned his first Pro Bowl invite in 2003.
NFL: Kansas City (10)
College: Auburn
RB Ronnie Coleman – A starter in Houston before Earl Campbell arrived, Coleman compiled more than 4,000 total yards and 22 touchdowns during the Luv Ya Blue days.
NFL: Houston Oilers (8)
College: Alabama A&M
WR Wayne Chrebet – Even with a recent freefall in production, Chrebet ranks No. 55 all-time in pass receptions.
NFL: New York Jets (10)
College: Hofstra
WR JT Smith – A safety when he arrived in the league, Smith went on to catch 544 passes in his 13-year career and become one of the game’s most dangerous punt returners.
NFL: Kansas City (7), St. Louis Cardinals (3), Phoenix (3)
College: North Texas
TE Marcus Pollard – The original Antonio Gates, Pollard was a power forward at Bradley before wisely trying his hand at football.
NFL: Indianapolis (10)
College: Bradley
OL Bob Young – Young was an underrated guard, who played 16 years in the NFL and ended the 1978 and 1979 seasons in the Pro Bowl.
NFL: Denver (5), Houston Oilers (2), St. Louis Cardinals (8), New Orleans (1)
College: Howard Payne
OL Joe Jacoby – An original member of the famed Hogs offensive line, Jacoby participated in four consecutive Pro Bowls from 1983-1986.
NFL: Washington (13)
College: Louisville
OL Mark Tuinei – The late Tuinei came to Dallas as a defensive lineman and retired 15 years as one of the most celebrated offensive lineman in the franchise’s storied history.
NFL: Dallas (15)
College: Hawaii
OL Kent Hull – The anchor of the offensive line in all four Buffalo Super Bowls, Hull was inducted into the organization’s Wall of Fame in 2002.
NFL: Buffalo (11)
College: Mississippi State
OL Jeff Bostic – Bostic is reason No. 37 why Joe Bugel is the best offensive line coach in NFL history. Signed as a long snapper after getting cut by Philadelphia, Bostic was the ‘Skins’ starting center for 13 years.
NFL: Washington (14)
College: Clemson
K Adam Vinatieri – One of the most accurate kickers in NFL history, Vinatieri has booted the game-winning field goal in two of the last four Super Bowls.
NFL: New England (9)
College: South Dakota State
Defense
DL Jim Burt – Burt was neither the biggest nor the fastest member of those great Giant defenses, but he was the inspirational leader and a bull in the middle of the run defense.
NFL: New York Giants (8), San Francisco (3)
College: Miami
DL Rich Jackson – One team’s trash is sometimes another team’s treasure. Oakland had no use for Jackson at linebacker, so Denver picked him up, moved him to end and watched him play in four straight All-Star games.
NFL: Oakland (1), Denver (6)
College: Southern
DL Keith Willis – On a franchise that boasts all-time greats such as Joe Greene and L.C. Greenwood, Willis fourth in Pittsburgh history with 59 sacks.
NFL: Pittsburgh (9), Buffalo (1), Washington (1)
College: Northeastern
DL Adewale Ogunleye – Two huge seasons in Miami, capped by an AFC-leading 15 sacks in 2003, paved the way for Ogunleye to receive an enormous pay raise that made him one of the NFL’s richest players.
NFL: Miami (3), Chicago (1)
College: Indiana
LB Larry Izzo – Izzo is a modern-day Bill Bates, making his living as one of the best special teams players in the NFL. He made the Pro Bowl in 2000 and 2002.
NFL: Miami (4), New England (4)
College: Rice
LB Bob Swenson – Swenson was an unheralded five-year starting outside linebacker during the height of the Orange Crush hysteria of the late 1970’s.
NFL: Denver (8)
College: California
LB London Fletcher – At 5-9, Fletcher continues to defy logic much the way Sam Mills did two decades ago. He’s had well over 100 tackles in each of the last six seasons, including a Buffalo franchise record 209 in 2002.
NFL: St. Louis Rams (4), Buffalo (3)
College: John Carroll
DB Deron Cherry - A free agent punter when he arrived in Kansas City, Cherry blossomed into a six-time Pro Bowler and one of the most decorated Chiefs in team history.
NFL: Kansas City (11)
College: Rutgers
DB Cliff Harris – Harris is Exhibit A that no organization has been better than Dallas at taking kids off the beaten path and coaching them into stars. From tiny Ouachita in Arkansas, “Captain Crash” played in six Pro Bowls and five Super Bowls.
NFL: Dallas (10)
College: Ouachita Baptist
DB Everson Walls – Dallas’ four-time Pro Bowl cornerback is the only player in NFL history to lead the league in interceptions three different years.
NFL: Dallas (9), New York Giants (3), Cleveland (1)
College: Grambling
DB Cornell Green – Dallas took a flier on Green, an All-American basketball player, and he repaid the franchise with 13 years of service, five Pro Bowls and 34 interceptions.
NFL: Dallas (13)
College: Utah State
P Dave Jennings – The fourth most active punter in NFL history, Jennings was named All-Pro in five of his 14 seasons in New York.
NFL: New York Giants (11), New York Jets (3)
College: St. Lawrence
) were undrafted. I think if Willie Wood played in todays era he's have to change his name