this post was submitted on 09 Nov 2023
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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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[–] Mandingo_magnet@alien.top 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Deebo samuel is who i thought jalen hurd would be coming out of baylor. Dude was a 6'5 RUNNING BACK with alvin kamara at Tennessee, then became a wr at baylor and led the team with almost a 1k yards receiving ahead of denzel mims in his first year playing wr .

Another would be bryce love. Sucks cause he looked like a god in college.

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[–] _Goose_@alien.top 2 points 1 year ago (2 children)

As a huge Arkansas fan I was so stoked about the 2008 draft with THREE running backs drafted into the NFL.

They all fizzled out due to injury. I think McFadden would've done better anywhere else other than Oakland first off.

Felix Jones hamstring exploded everytime he got hit.

And Peyton Hillis had to exit before he became a vegetable.

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[–] speghettiday09@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

Delvin breaux

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

I would've liked to see what Marcus Lattimore could've done in the NFL especially being that she was drafted to the 49ers. I think RG3 would've had a special career. Andrew Luck was taken too soon

[–] TimePayment911@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Todd Gurley was unstoppable until his knees stopped.

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

That was a wild year. Dude had a recordbreaking season, then disappeared in playoffs. Then videos of him limping during the offseason started floating around and it was all downhill from there.

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[–] Red_Jester-94@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Josh Gordon is definitely one. I've thought that Tim Couch could've been good if he hadn't been taken by the Browns. Of course, picking a Browns QB pick in the last 20 or so years is basically cheating at this question.

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[–] GriddyUp420@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago (7 children)

I really thought RGIII was going to be big

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[–] Davy257@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago (7 children)

There’s something buttersweet about the guys who hung it up early for their health, Kuechly and Luck come to mind, lots of respect for them but damn I wish I could have seen a few more seasons from each of them

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

Jason Verrett

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

Robert Edwards…if only he’d stayed off that beach

[–] chainer9999@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago (16 children)

While he had a good career, I really want to know if Carson Palmer could have been legitimately great had he not torn his knee up that fateful day.

Another one: Jahvid Best. Dude was electric, but concussions took him down. He found life as a track and field star, but I'll always wonder about what could have been.

[–] Heisenbread77@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

The Lions were 5-0 when Best had his career ended. He was electric and losing that type of a player derailed our season and we puttered to a first round exit.

[–] xshogunx13@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

David Wilson was another RB I thought was gonna be really good but then I think his neck got injured and he couldn't play anymore

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[–] chicknsnadwich@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago (6 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.

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

Justin Blackmon

[–] After-Walrus-4585@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

Andrew Luck

Aldon Smith for sure

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

Bo Jackson. He was a highlight reel in the short time he played.

[–] Wheelznlegman88@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

Dorial Green-Beckham. Wide receiver from Missouri

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

Kellen winslow Jr before butch Davis wrecked his leg and before Kellen fucked his leg up in the motorcycle accident....and then raping grandmas.

Dude had easy hall of fame potential.

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

Jamarcus Russell. Just kidding.

[–] FreedomKid7@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

Jadaveon Clowney has had a decent career, but if he was a motivated mature guy I think he could have been a hall of fame level edge or Dlineman.

[–] Bruser_209@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago (15 children)

Aldon Smith. But he let off field troubles ruin his career.

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Billy Sims. I remember him as a kid and was awesome until he got hurt early in his career…then phhhft! It’s over. It’s why don’t begrudge anyone trying to get paid; their careers could end at anytime…

[–] BuffaloKiller937@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

Side question, does anyone remember what happened to Dwayne Jarrett? Receiver out of USC, I thought he was going to be the next big superstar. Seems like he just vanished.

[–] L480DF29@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago (7 children)

Safety Nick Collins, neck injury ended his career. Was a 3x all pro.

Sean Taylor, my favorite safety ever. Killed by pieces of shit in his home.

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

I don’t want to bag on him because he did have a solid career, but a fully engaged and motivated Bryant McKinnie could have been a generational talent at LT. The dude was a freak of nature. He had enough talent to get by on talent alone but didn’t have the drive to take his game to the next level.

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[–] Oopiku@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago (2 children)

You just had to bring up Blackmon, didn't you? He was so freaking good, and in 2013 he was looking like the top WR in the league through those first four games.

One that comes to mind is Robert Edwards with New England. RB who ran for over 1000 yards his rookie year. Then the NFL had a Rookie flag football game before the pro bowl. Same year Peyton Manning was a rookie. He blew his knee out in the game, and it was baaad. I think he came back a few years later but didn't do much.

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

Justin Blackmon had all the talent in the world. In the few games he played, he was a dominant receiver. Go back and watch him against Stanford when he played for OK St. So much potential and big play ability

Substance abuse issues eventually cost him what could have been a great and lucrative career.

[–] kwatcha69@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago (3 children)

I really feel bad for Dobbins. His talent and running style was perfect for Baltimore. It's hard for me to think of anyone else who's gotten fucked over that hard by injuries. His career basically never got started. And it's not like he's "injury prone" really. Just two brutal freak injuries. Hope he can pull a D'Onta Foreman and still find work somewhere eventually. But I feel bad knowing we only ever got a small sample of what he could do, and how much it could have added to those ravens teams.

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[–] DONNIENARC0@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago (17 children)

I was always a huge Bob Sanders fan. He did succeed with a SB, two first team all-pros, and a DPOY award, but his prime/career was cut horribly short from injuries. He only played above 6 games twice in his career, and racked up all those accolades listed above in those two seasons alone.

[–] zco22@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

He was a walking hit stick. Such a shame because he was so much fun to watch but yeah that play definitely took a toll on his body

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

There was a time that Bob Sanders was the hardest hitting safety in football, that's probably what caused his short career unfortunately.

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[–] Tigercat92@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I’m convinced that Ki-Jana Carter would have been a star. Third carry of first preseason game and he blows out his knee

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Aldon Smith, Josh Gordon, Henry Ruggs

[–] DasSmoosh@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago (3 children)

Joe Delaney - Chiefs running back in the early 80’s. Ran for 1100 yards as a rookie, got hurt during the strike shortened 1982 season, then died while saving a kid from drowning before the 1983 season.

[–] bobo3981@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

Damn. A real hero.

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

I was watching the jets game the other day and heard Breece Hall as Priest Holmes for a second…

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

Priest Holmes

[–] polish_my_grappel@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Tony Boselli. I know he eventually made it to the HOF, but I don't think people realize how dominant he was in the years he was healthy.

3x First Team All American

3x First Team All Pac-10

Morris Trophy Winner

1st Overall in the 95 NFL Draft

PFWA 1995 All-Rookie Team

3x 1st Team All Pro

5x Pro Bowler

1990s All Decade Team

People talk about Pace, W. Jones, and Ogden as the best tackles of that era, but Boselli was just as good, if not better.

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[–] RestaurantNo6332@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago (3 children)

I know he's not liked (and for good reasons) and he kind of still had a good career? But I feel Anthonio Brown ruined his because of brain injury. The dude was one of the best if not the best for 4/5 years and I feel he could have gone on for 5 to 6 more.

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[–] ILoveYourWeed@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago (3 children)

Chris Borland, the ultimate one year wonder.

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[–] Peacefulzealot@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago (2 children)

I want to know how David Carr would have done if he didn’t get drafted by the expansion Texans.

How does he look/play if he isn’t sacked 76 times in his first year?

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[–] Macd7@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

Kijana carter

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