SI: The Most Botched NFL Draft Pick Ever

[Phoenix]

Great read. As we get ready for tomorrow and the following days, let us harken back to 1982 and shake our collective heads in sheer stunned amazement.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/longform/nfl-draft-82/index.html?eref=sihp


The Most Botched
NFL Draft
Pick Ever
One ill-fated 1982 phone call jump-started the NFL's longest run of ineptitude. The bizarre and calamitous story of Booker Reese only got worse from there

BY DON BANKS


Bad calls, as Ken Herock well knew by that point in his personnel career, were just part of the process when it came to the annual crapshoot known as the NFL draft. But nothing in his long and mostly successful run as a club executive in the league would ever rival the chaos and slapstick execution that unfolded in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ war room during the first round of the team’s pivotal 1982 draft.

A team picking the wrong guy happens all the time in the draft. But a team picking the wrong guy? Saying one name into the phone to your club’s representative at draft headquarters in New York City, only to hear another name called from the podium seconds later on national television by NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle? When has an on-the-clock team ever blundered quite like that in the history of the league’s collegiate player pick-fest?

 

[WV Cowboy]

Who was it that didn't get the name of their pick turned in in time and lost that rounds pick?

 

[OhSnap]

They’d give you a game ball—and fortunately you didn’t get too many in Tampa Bay—but you’d get your check that week and you’d get dinged for 40 or 50 bucks for the ball.

Thats good stuff.

 

[big dog cowboy]

Saying one name into the phone to your club’s representative at draft headquarters in New York City, only to hear another name called from the podium seconds later on national television by NFL commissioner

Maybe that is what happened when we drafted Greg Ellis instead of Randy Moss.

 

[WV Cowboy]

Maybe that is what happened when we drafted Greg Ellis instead of Randy Moss.

I wish, .. but sadly no, .. that was a conscious decision.

 

[joseephuss]

I can't believe they actually put Desmond Howard as a player the Bucs missed on.

Dallas wasn't the only team to pass on Moss.

 

[JD_KaPow]

Who was it that didn't get the name of their pick turned in in time and lost that rounds pick?

Nobody. If you don't pick within your window, you're still allowed to pick at any time. Other teams are free to jump in front of you, though, until you do.

The Vikings didn't get their pick in on time in 2003 and ended up picking 9th instead of 7th.The Ravens dropped from 26 to 27 in the same way in 2011.

The year before, it appeared that the Cowboys passed on their pick (it was actually a trade to KC) and Minny tried to jump in front, but the league ruled that KC got the pick in on time after all. The Vikings were mad, because KC took their guy, Ryan Sims. Minny ended up with Bryant McKinnie and came out ahead on the deal, as it turned out.

 

[WV Cowboy]

Nobody. If you don't pick within your window, you're still allowed to pick at any time. Other teams are free to jump in front of you, though, until you do.

The Vikings didn't get their pick in on time in 2003 and ended up picking 9th instead of 7th.The Ravens dropped from 26 to 27 in the same way in 2011.

The year before, it appeared that the Cowboys passed on their pick (it was actually a trade to KC) and Minny tried to jump in front, but the league ruled that KC got the pick in on time after all. The Vikings were mad, because KC took their guy, Ryan Sims. Minny ended up with Bryant McKinnie and came out ahead on the deal, as it turned out.

That must be what I was thinking about, .. I wasn't sure.

Thanks.

 

[Pessimist_cowboy]

Greg Ellis had almost 90 sacks for us . He was a very good draft pick .

 

[burmafrd]

Greg Ellis had almost 90 sacks for us . He was a very good draft pick .

The moss homers refuse to admit that while it might have been fine for a couple of years, Moss has shown his true colors too often. Just like TO. And frankly our team was too far gone to win another.

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

The moss homers refuse to admit that while it might have been fine for a couple of years, Moss has shown his true colors too often. Just like TO. And frankly our team was too far gone to win another.

Early on, Moss could have changed that offense. Could have stolen one.

Meh... 20 yearssssss

 

[TellerMorrow34]

Early on, Moss could have changed that offense. Could have stolen one.

Meh... 20 yearssssss

Could have but wouldn't have.

I've mentioned this before but I really don't believe Dallas would have gotten the same guy that was motivated to destroy the league like he did.

Being passed on lit a fire under Randy Moss that made him want to make everyone pay. He also went to the perfect situation where he had a guy like Cris Carter to mentor him, show him how to work hard, and to help keep him out of off the field trouble. Something that young man desperately needed at that time.

If he'd gone to Dallas he'd have gone where he wanted/believed he was going. The same fire isn't there and while Michael Irvin certainly could have taught him how to work hard he wouldn't have been teaching Randy how to stay out of trouble off the field. Moss would have been right into the thick of stupid off the field junk with Michael and it would have likely led to Moss being in loads of trouble.


Definately worked out absolutely the best for Moss.

 

[Rockport]

Great article. Thanks for posting. Evidence that Kelly might be on to something by drafting only college grads.

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

Could have but wouldn't have.

I've mentioned this before but I really don't believe Dallas would have gotten the same guy that was motivated to destroy the league like he did.

Being passed on lit a fire under Randy Moss that made him want to make everyone pay. He also went to the perfect situation where he had a guy like Cris Carter to mentor him, show him how to work hard, and to help keep him out of off the field trouble. Something that young man desperately needed at that time.

If he'd gone to Dallas he'd have gone where he wanted/believed he was going. The same fire isn't there and while Michael Irvin certainly could have taught him how to work hard he wouldn't have been teaching Randy how to stay out of trouble off the field. Moss would have been right into the thick of stupid off the field junk with Michael and it would have likely led to Moss being in loads of trouble.


Definately worked out absolutely the best for Moss.

You don't know that and neither do I.

I just choose to believe we could have gotten a year or two out of him before he turned into sh*thead mode.

 

[joseephuss]

You don't know that and neither do I.

I just choose to believe we could have gotten a year or two out of him before he turned into sh*thead mode.

A year or two out of him was still not enough to get Dallas a Superbowl.

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

A year or two out of him was still not enough to get Dallas a Superbowl.

We'll never know.

 

[burmafrd]

You don't know that and neither do I.

I just choose to believe we could have gotten a year or two out of him before he turned into sh*thead mode.

take a good look at Moss's life story and tell me with a straight face that he could have stayed out of trouble with us at that time.

 

[CanadianCowboysFan]

Early on, Moss could have changed that offense. Could have stolen one.

Meh... 20 yearssssss

Hell put him on the 1998 team and no way we lose to the Cardinals in the playoffs. We might not have won a SB that year but we would have been better than 10-6 that is for sure.

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

take a good look at Moss's life story and tell me with a face that he could have stayed out of trouble with us at that time.

See below

Hell put him on the 1998 team and no way we lose to the Cardinals in the playoffs. We might not have won a SB that year but we would have been better than 10-6 that is for sure.

Yes. He gave us a chance.

 

[casmith07]

Who was it that didn't get the name of their pick turned in in time and lost that rounds pick?

Nobody lost it, but in the 90s the Vikings passed.