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NFL players that could have been great? (alien.top)

submitted 1 year ago by Ampddaynnight@alien.top to c/nfl@nfl.community

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What player in the NFL, past or present, would you have wanted to see succeed so badly but due to injuries, off the field issues, or whatever happened just derailed their career? For me it was unfortunate to see players like Josh Gordon or Justin Blackmon have their careers end or never getting back on track because of off-field issues.

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[–] chicknsnadwich@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago (5 children)

I’ll hand in a pair of AFC North LBs

Easy answer: Ryan Shazier. Dude was a beast and seeing his career end the way it did was tragic. They had some defensive issues in the years following, who knows what could’ve been for those teams if he had been on the field.

Not so known: Zach Orr. He was a bright spot for the Ravens defense in 2016 and made 2nd team all-pro. He was forced to retire because of a spine/neck condition. I think he’s currently a part of the defensive staff nowadays, but he only got to start one season before his playing career ended.

[–] maltzy@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

I'll add a couple more

Odell Thurman - dude was all world in his only year in the NFL, looked like the next elite LB and never played another season because he was stupid.

David Pollack - looked like he was a pure playmaker after his rookie year. He was very good in the playoff game against the steelers. Gets a bone in his neck broken first game of his second season, never plays a down again.

We lost two great defenders at the same time of Palmer's injury, that felt like a curse

[–] codeklutch@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

I'd add in Sean Spence to that list. Dude was the same type of player shazier was, had one of the worst knee and ACL injuries you can have. Worse than Alex Smith's. Dude could have been special.

[–] CawSoHard@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

Scrolled to make sure Orr was mentioned he was on his way to being the next great UDFA gem of ours

[–] BigeasyBrew@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Shazier was the first one that came to mind. He was a pro bowl level ILB who could cover and we desperately needed that during the "Killer Bs" Era. We have spent every year since trying to find a stud LB and have not really had success.

[–] chewbacaflacaflame@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

Loved him as a buckeye. So sad.

[–] ImPickleRock@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

They had some defensive issues in the years following, who knows what could’ve been for those teams if he had been on the field.

we are just now recovering from that. He was the backbone of that defense.