We're defining success differently. I'm talking about success from the team's perspective. Calvin Hill has probably made some strides in getting those players righted off the field, but most of those players never developed meaningful careers here. The team also decided to let go, or not re-sign, many of those players because simply couldn't get it together well enough to justify their presence.
Deion was never considered a trouble maker, other than wanting a lot of cash and wanting to play two sports. Haley, by his own admission, didn't turn himself around until well after his career was done and it was his ex-wife who pointed him in the right direction. He was still a good pickup, obviously, but he was a pro bowler before he came here. Seifert has admitted he never should have let him go. But most, if not all, of his career pre-dated Hill anyway. TO was always a high performing player who had trouble with authority figures (various QB's and coaches, but mostly QB's). Tony is probably one of the most easy going guys in the NFL, and TO still found ways to have issues with him. He didn't get in major trouble with any team including this one; he was just a drama queen. However, being a drama queen led to the same ending here that he had elsewhere.
Most of those other players never became consistent, focused contributors here. Pac Man was gone after one dismal season. His acquisition wasn't a success for this team. Maybe he benefited from whatever counseling he got here, but some of that improvement could also be expected with age. Tank stayed out of jail but was never a consistent contributor here. Underwood and Spellman were also inconsistent, and actually one of them did melt down after joining the team, though it may have been shortly after they were let go. McClain? After his career was near an end, he ramped up his effort and then...? It's hard to tell with him. We also had a guy begin a career selling weed while he was here, even though he was caught elsewhere. If the rumors are true about the team letting Hardy go due to issues with the coaching staff, then that's another attempt that didn't really pan out. That's another guy who's gone after a year due to off the field issues, and it's not like he was a regular contributor to the police blotter during a much longer stint in Carolina. Other than Dez, the only guys who contributed much on the field were the guys who had already established themselves as pro bowlers before coming here. They already had the drive and focus necessary to play at a high level in this league.
Most teams would look at that history and say, ok, if a guy is an all pro already, then it's probably worth it to sign him and work with him, but otherwise we're unlikely to reap much from signing guys who have trouble staying focused or out of trouble.
