Once upon a time, these players had it all. Talent, fame, and fortune. The chance to earn millions of dollars playing a kid’s game, in one of the most popular sports leagues on the planet. Simply put, they had an opportunity that most of us could only dream of. And for one reason or another, they threw it all away.
Here is our list of 15 NFL players who ended up throwing away their careers.
15. Aaron Hernandez
The New England Patriots dynamic duo of Aaron Hernandez and Rob Gronkowski was an absolute nightmare for opponents. While Gronkowski resembled more of the classic smash-mouth tight end, Hernandez was athletic enough to line up at almost any position on the field. Even the best defensive coordinators in the NFL struggled to come up with a game plan for stopping Hernandez and Gronkowski. But eventually, Hernandez’s checkered past — starting with his days as a member of the University of Florida Gators — caught up with him. In June of 2013, Hernandez was arrested and charged with first-degree murder, in addition to five gun-related charges, in the death of Odin Lloyd. To their credit, the Patriots released Hernandez within 90 minutes of his arrest. Hernandez was found guilty of all charges, and sentenced to life in prison without parole, ending any chance of him ever playing football.
14. Jason Pierre-Paul
A gifted pass-rusher who was nicknamed the “Haitian Sensation” coming out of the University of South Florida, Jason Pierre-Paul was a two-time Pro Bowl and two-time Super Bowl champion with the New York Giants. JPP was a key member of a defensive line that helped upset the New England Patriots in two different Super Bowls. Unfortunately, his production on the field was overshadowed by his incredible lack of common sense off the field. At a 4th of July party during the summer of 2015, Pierre-Paul sustained a serious hand injury while playing with fireworks at his home, blowing off large portions of two different fingers on his right hand. As a result of the accident, his right index finger was amputated (which explains the oven-mitt he’s wearing in the picture above). JPP missed half of the 2015 season, and is presently on a one-year “prove it” style contract with the Giants. Before his (foolish) injury, JPP was in line to receive a BIG pay day.
13. Jamarcus Russell
Jamarcus Russell had so much raw talent coming out of LSU that famed NFL Draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. compared him to John Elway (seems pretty ridiculous now, doesn’t it?). At 6’5 and 250lbs, Russell was a hulking athlete who could throw the football as far as anyone on the planet. Lane Kiffin, who was the head coach of the Oakland Raiders at the time (the team that eventually drafted Russell), said that his talents were “straight out of a videogame,” and called Russell “a scout’s dream.” But the biggest roadblock to Russell’s success would be his own character and work ethic. He simply never put in the work required to be a successful NFL quarterback, often spending more time enjoying the millions of dollars he was earning from the Raiders. One team source described Russell as coming into training camp “incredibly overweight, every single year” — once ballooning to over 300lbs (compared to the 250lbs he was listed at in college). Upon his release from the Raiders, several teammates and coaches told stories of Russell falling asleep during team meetings, and often being the first to leave the practice facility. Not exactly the type of work ethic you expect from your franchise quarterback. Russell is widely known as one of, if not the, biggest bust in NFL draft history.
12. Greg Hardy
Few people remember what a truly gifted football player Greg Hardy was, or could have been. As a freshman in college, he was named an All-American, after leading the SEC with 10 sacks. In his first four seasons in Carolina, between 2010 and 2013, he had 33 sacks After the 2013 season, he was even named to the NFL Network’s Top 100 players (ranked #53). But during the offseason after his breakout year in 2013, Hardy was arrested for assault during a domestic violence incident, where he allegedly grabbed his ex-girlfriend, threw her onto a couch with a pile of assault rifles, and strangled her while shouting his intention to kill her. Not exactly your typical Prince Charming… In 2014, Hardy played only one game for the Panthers, before he was placed on the commissioner’s exempt list while his domestic violence case played out. After signing with the Cowboys during the 2015 season, he scoffed at the idea of using the time away from football for any type of personal reflection and growth. Hardy even went as far as making inappropriate sexual comments about Tom Brady’s wife, when the Cowboys were set to play the Patriots. Even the three-ring circus that is the Dallas Cowboys organization had enough of Hardy after a series of inappropriate tweets, frequent tardiness to meetings, and his poor influence on younger teammates. Hardy is out of football at present, and basically an NFL pariah.
11. Ryan Leaf
Ryan Leaf was such an athletically gifted quarterback that people legitimately debated whether he should be taken before Peyton Manning in the 1998 NFL Draft. Leaf stood 6’5, weighed almost 240lbs, was a tremendous athlete for a player his size, and had a rocket launcher for an arm. He was a First-Team All American in college, and finished third in the Heisman Trophy voting in 1997. But even in his pre-draft interviews, the signs were there that he enjoyed the fame and fortune of being a “star” quarterback, more than he enjoyed winning football games. He once stated that if he were to be the first quarterback taken in that draft, he would spend a week partying in Las Vegas with his friends (which he ended up doing anyway, even though he wasn’t selected first). He thought he was too good for the mandatory NFL rookie meetings, skipping them and earning a fine for it. When he performed poorly during his rookie year, he lashed out at teammates and even the media (as evidenced by his famous “Knock it off!” outburst at San Diego Union Tribune reporter Jay Posner). Leaf refused to accept criticism, even though he spent a lot of time on the golf course, while other quarterbacks on the Chargers would gather to watch film. The Chargers ended up releasing Leaf just three seasons after drafting him. In 21 career starts, Leaf threw 14 touchdowns and 36 interceptions. Since retiring from the NFL, Leaf has struggle to stay on the right side of the law. He has been arrested at least five times, and has served a few stints in prison.
10. Plaxico Burress
Heading into the 2008 season, Plaxico Burress was a Super Bowl champion, and the top receiving option for the New York Giants. At 6’5 and 232 lbs, he had the size of a professional basketball player, giving him the ability to consistently win in “jump ball situations.” Besides his towering frame, Plax also had remarkable agility for a receiver with his size. That’s why the Giants were comfortable giving him a five-year, $35 million contract extension prior to the start of the 2008 season. But, three months after signing the extension, Burress suffered a self-inflicted gunshot wound in his right leg, after the gun he had in his sweatpants accidentally fired. Burress turned himself in to police to face charges of criminal possession of a handgun, because he didn’t have a license for his firearm. New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg didn’t care that Burress was a “celebrity” — and actually urged that Burress be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Burress was released by the Giants, and sentenced to two years in prison.
9. Albert Haynesworth
Albert Haynesworth parlayed his 2008 NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award into a seven-year, $100 million contract with the Washington Redskins. At the time, it was the largest contract ever given to a defensive player. Haynesworth was an absolute force on the football field. Once described as “a brutal run-stopper” who could also singlehandedly collapse the pocket on opposing passers as well. But once Haynesworth got his money in Washington, he completely mailed it in. He was scorned by the local media and fans for routinely taking plays off, sometimes literally laying on the ground untouched until the play was over. When Mike Shanahan became the Redskins head coach in 2010, he handed Haynesworth a $20 million roster bonus, with the understanding that Haynesworth would play nose tackle in the 3-4 scheme Shanahan preferred. Haynesworth took the money, cashed the check, and then started a feud with the team and the coach through the media, stating his refusal to play nose tackle, and eventually coming into training camp badly out of shape. After that season, the NFL Network called the signing of Haynesworth the “worst free-agency move of last decade” — and that might have been an understatement.
8. Michael Vick
Michael Vick was one of those athletes with once-in-a-generation talents. He ran the 40 yard dash in less than 4.35 seconds, had one of the strongest arms in the NFL, and one of the fastest releases the league had seen since the days of Dan Marino. He was supposed to be an evolutionary version of Randall Cunningham, and the most lethal dual-threat quarterback in the history of the NFL. With all the fortune and fame Vick earned in the NFL, he should have bought some new friends. Members of his inner circle were arrested multiple times by the police for things like selling drugs or burglary. Eventually, it was an investigation of drug charges for one of his cousins that ultimately led the police to discover “Bad Newz Kennels,” Vick’s disgusting dogfighting venture that he financed and directly participated in. As part of these illegal dogfighting activities, Vick admitted that his colleagues killed dogs who did not perform well, with Vick himself hanging or drowning as many as eight dogs. For the illegal interstate gambling charges, as well as the state-level animal cruelty charges, Vick spent almost two years in federal prison. But no amount of jail time can wash the blood from his hands.
7. Johnny Manziel
Johnny Manziel may go down as the biggest public trainwreck in the history of the NFL (which is really saying something, considering the guys on this list). The nation was captivated by his reckless, run-and-gun style of play while at Texas A&M. But his habit of throwing the rules to the wind on the field, followed him off the football field. After he won the Heisman Trophy in 2012, you couldn’t go more than a few days without hearing about Manziel’s latest buffoonery on SportsCenter. Whether it was oversleeping during training (reportedly because of being hungover), getting kicked out of fraternity parties, allegedly receiving payments in exchange for autographs, or eventually (and sadly) being brought up on domestic violence charges after an altercation with his (then) girlfriend, both Texas A&M University, and then the Cleveland Browns, couldn’t part ways with Manziel fast enough.
6. Aldon Smith
During the 2011 NFL Draft, some experts thought the 49ers may have “reached” when they took Aldon Smith with the 7th overall pick. From a talent standpoint, they were dead wrong. Smith finished with 13 sacks his rookie year, breaking Hall of Famer Charles Haley’s team record for most sacks by a rookie. In his second season (2012), he had 17.5 sacks, and was named to both the Pro Bowl and the All Pro First Team. After that? It all went downhill. Three games into the 2013 season, Smith was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence and possession of marijuana, and subsequently entered a rehabilitation facility. He ended up missing much of the 2013 season, and was then suspended for nine more games in 2014 (for violating the NFL’s substance abuse and personal conduct policies). In 2015, after another DUI arrest, the 49ers were forced to release Smith — arguably their best player. To make matters worse, he was suspended for another year by the NFL in November of 2015. Once seen as the NFL’s next elite pass rusher, Smith is now an afterthought in NFL circles.
5. Ray Rice
Heading into 2014, all signs pointed to Ray Rice enjoying a bounce-back season with the Baltimore Ravens. After playing below his usual standards in 2013 (because of nagging injuries) he looked healthy and primed to pick up where he left off. In his four seasons with the Ravens between 2009 and 2012, Rice averaged almost 2,000 total yards per season, and was one of the NFL’s elite running backs. His stellar performance on the field earned him a trip to the Pro Bowl in both 2012 and 2013. But right before the 2014 season began, video evidence of Ray Rice’s assault on his then fiancée (now wife), led to Rice first being suspended for two games, but then eventually having his contract terminated by the Ravens amidst the public outcry due to the brutal nature of the video. The footage showed Rice and Palmer getting into a verbal — and then physical — altercation, which ended with Rice punching Palmer and knocking her out cold, and then dragging her unconscious body out of the elevator. Even though Rice was reinstated by the NFL, no team has been willing to give him a second chance.
4. Rae Carruth
There is a special place in hell for people like Rae Carruth...With his incredible vertical speed, he was supposed to be the deep threat that, coupled with Kerry Collins strong arm, could attack defenses vertically. He showed some of that promise early in his career, being named to the All-Rookie team in 1997. But he only played in about seven games for the remainder of his NFL career, first because of injuries, and then because of his legal troubles. In November of 1999,near Carruth’s home in Charlotte, North Carolina, Cherica Adams, a real estate agent he had been casually dating, was shot four times by a friend of Carruth. After the shooting, Adams somehow managed to call 911 and told police that Carruth blocked her vehicle with his vehicle, while another man shot her. Carruth was eventually found guilty of conspiracy to commit murder, having allegedly hired the man to kill Adams because she was pregnant with Carruth’s child and refused to have an abortion. The unborn child survived the shooting, but suffered permanent brain damage from the incident. Unfortunately, Adams died less than a month after the shooting. Carruth is currently serving his jail sentence in North Carolina, and is expected to be released in 2018.
3. Vince Young
Vince Young is the embodiment of Jay-Z’s famous line: “fame is the worst drug known to man.” He single handedly stopped the championship “three-peat” of the USC Trojans. He became the third overall pick in the 2006 NFL Draft. He went on to win the NFL’s Offensive Rookie of the Year award in 2006. He set the NFL record for most rushing yards by a rookie quarterback. He appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated magazine six different times, and was even put on the cover of the Madden NFL 08 video game. But as the laws of physics state: what goes up, must come down. For Young, it started with a bunch of nagging injuries and friction with his coach Jeff Fisher. Eventually, his selfish and entitled behavior forced the Titans to release him after the 2011 season. He signed with the Philadelphia Eagles, and called them a “Dream Team” just days after inking his new deal (as their backup quarterback, no less). After totally stinking up his one season in Philadelphia, they released him. He bounced around three more NFL teams before calling it quits in 2014. Although Young didn’t commit any horrible crimes (like some of the players on this list) his foolish behavior cost him a once promising NFL career.
2. Lawrence Phillips
Lawrence Phillips had as much talent as any running back could ever ask for, but he took every opportunity he could to ruin his career. He was such a gifted player that St. Louis Rams head coach Dick Vermeil drafted Phillips with the sixth overall pick in the 1996 NFL Draft, even after he brought so much scrutiny to his University of Nebraska football team after assaulting his ex-girlfriend while in college. Less than two seasons after Vermeil drafted him, Phillips decided to skip meetings and practices as protest for Vermeil benching him due to poor performance. After the Rams released him, he signed with the Dolphins, but they also cut him after two games when he pleaded no contest to assaulting another woman in Florida. The 49ers gave him another chance, but quickly regretted it after he famously (and carelessly) whiffed on the block that ended up being the hit that ended Steve Young’s career. They also waived him later that season.
1. Joseph Randle
Former Cowboys running back Joseph Randle is no stranger to run-ins with law enforcement. From relatively common offenses (marijuana possession), to incredibly weird offenses (shoplifting cologne and underwear at a mall), to very disturbing offenses (assaulting an officer and domestic violence). Once a promising young player, running behind one of the best offensive lines in the NFL, Randle is currently out of the league, and there’s little chance of that changing. After all, which franchise wants to take the risk of signing a guy who has been arrested 7 times over the past two years...?
Here is our list of 15 NFL players who ended up throwing away their careers.
15. Aaron Hernandez
The New England Patriots dynamic duo of Aaron Hernandez and Rob Gronkowski was an absolute nightmare for opponents. While Gronkowski resembled more of the classic smash-mouth tight end, Hernandez was athletic enough to line up at almost any position on the field. Even the best defensive coordinators in the NFL struggled to come up with a game plan for stopping Hernandez and Gronkowski. But eventually, Hernandez’s checkered past — starting with his days as a member of the University of Florida Gators — caught up with him. In June of 2013, Hernandez was arrested and charged with first-degree murder, in addition to five gun-related charges, in the death of Odin Lloyd. To their credit, the Patriots released Hernandez within 90 minutes of his arrest. Hernandez was found guilty of all charges, and sentenced to life in prison without parole, ending any chance of him ever playing football.
14. Jason Pierre-Paul
A gifted pass-rusher who was nicknamed the “Haitian Sensation” coming out of the University of South Florida, Jason Pierre-Paul was a two-time Pro Bowl and two-time Super Bowl champion with the New York Giants. JPP was a key member of a defensive line that helped upset the New England Patriots in two different Super Bowls. Unfortunately, his production on the field was overshadowed by his incredible lack of common sense off the field. At a 4th of July party during the summer of 2015, Pierre-Paul sustained a serious hand injury while playing with fireworks at his home, blowing off large portions of two different fingers on his right hand. As a result of the accident, his right index finger was amputated (which explains the oven-mitt he’s wearing in the picture above). JPP missed half of the 2015 season, and is presently on a one-year “prove it” style contract with the Giants. Before his (foolish) injury, JPP was in line to receive a BIG pay day.
13. Jamarcus Russell
Jamarcus Russell had so much raw talent coming out of LSU that famed NFL Draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. compared him to John Elway (seems pretty ridiculous now, doesn’t it?). At 6’5 and 250lbs, Russell was a hulking athlete who could throw the football as far as anyone on the planet. Lane Kiffin, who was the head coach of the Oakland Raiders at the time (the team that eventually drafted Russell), said that his talents were “straight out of a videogame,” and called Russell “a scout’s dream.” But the biggest roadblock to Russell’s success would be his own character and work ethic. He simply never put in the work required to be a successful NFL quarterback, often spending more time enjoying the millions of dollars he was earning from the Raiders. One team source described Russell as coming into training camp “incredibly overweight, every single year” — once ballooning to over 300lbs (compared to the 250lbs he was listed at in college). Upon his release from the Raiders, several teammates and coaches told stories of Russell falling asleep during team meetings, and often being the first to leave the practice facility. Not exactly the type of work ethic you expect from your franchise quarterback. Russell is widely known as one of, if not the, biggest bust in NFL draft history.
12. Greg Hardy
Few people remember what a truly gifted football player Greg Hardy was, or could have been. As a freshman in college, he was named an All-American, after leading the SEC with 10 sacks. In his first four seasons in Carolina, between 2010 and 2013, he had 33 sacks After the 2013 season, he was even named to the NFL Network’s Top 100 players (ranked #53). But during the offseason after his breakout year in 2013, Hardy was arrested for assault during a domestic violence incident, where he allegedly grabbed his ex-girlfriend, threw her onto a couch with a pile of assault rifles, and strangled her while shouting his intention to kill her. Not exactly your typical Prince Charming… In 2014, Hardy played only one game for the Panthers, before he was placed on the commissioner’s exempt list while his domestic violence case played out. After signing with the Cowboys during the 2015 season, he scoffed at the idea of using the time away from football for any type of personal reflection and growth. Hardy even went as far as making inappropriate sexual comments about Tom Brady’s wife, when the Cowboys were set to play the Patriots. Even the three-ring circus that is the Dallas Cowboys organization had enough of Hardy after a series of inappropriate tweets, frequent tardiness to meetings, and his poor influence on younger teammates. Hardy is out of football at present, and basically an NFL pariah.
11. Ryan Leaf
Ryan Leaf was such an athletically gifted quarterback that people legitimately debated whether he should be taken before Peyton Manning in the 1998 NFL Draft. Leaf stood 6’5, weighed almost 240lbs, was a tremendous athlete for a player his size, and had a rocket launcher for an arm. He was a First-Team All American in college, and finished third in the Heisman Trophy voting in 1997. But even in his pre-draft interviews, the signs were there that he enjoyed the fame and fortune of being a “star” quarterback, more than he enjoyed winning football games. He once stated that if he were to be the first quarterback taken in that draft, he would spend a week partying in Las Vegas with his friends (which he ended up doing anyway, even though he wasn’t selected first). He thought he was too good for the mandatory NFL rookie meetings, skipping them and earning a fine for it. When he performed poorly during his rookie year, he lashed out at teammates and even the media (as evidenced by his famous “Knock it off!” outburst at San Diego Union Tribune reporter Jay Posner). Leaf refused to accept criticism, even though he spent a lot of time on the golf course, while other quarterbacks on the Chargers would gather to watch film. The Chargers ended up releasing Leaf just three seasons after drafting him. In 21 career starts, Leaf threw 14 touchdowns and 36 interceptions. Since retiring from the NFL, Leaf has struggle to stay on the right side of the law. He has been arrested at least five times, and has served a few stints in prison.
10. Plaxico Burress
Heading into the 2008 season, Plaxico Burress was a Super Bowl champion, and the top receiving option for the New York Giants. At 6’5 and 232 lbs, he had the size of a professional basketball player, giving him the ability to consistently win in “jump ball situations.” Besides his towering frame, Plax also had remarkable agility for a receiver with his size. That’s why the Giants were comfortable giving him a five-year, $35 million contract extension prior to the start of the 2008 season. But, three months after signing the extension, Burress suffered a self-inflicted gunshot wound in his right leg, after the gun he had in his sweatpants accidentally fired. Burress turned himself in to police to face charges of criminal possession of a handgun, because he didn’t have a license for his firearm. New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg didn’t care that Burress was a “celebrity” — and actually urged that Burress be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Burress was released by the Giants, and sentenced to two years in prison.
9. Albert Haynesworth
Albert Haynesworth parlayed his 2008 NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award into a seven-year, $100 million contract with the Washington Redskins. At the time, it was the largest contract ever given to a defensive player. Haynesworth was an absolute force on the football field. Once described as “a brutal run-stopper” who could also singlehandedly collapse the pocket on opposing passers as well. But once Haynesworth got his money in Washington, he completely mailed it in. He was scorned by the local media and fans for routinely taking plays off, sometimes literally laying on the ground untouched until the play was over. When Mike Shanahan became the Redskins head coach in 2010, he handed Haynesworth a $20 million roster bonus, with the understanding that Haynesworth would play nose tackle in the 3-4 scheme Shanahan preferred. Haynesworth took the money, cashed the check, and then started a feud with the team and the coach through the media, stating his refusal to play nose tackle, and eventually coming into training camp badly out of shape. After that season, the NFL Network called the signing of Haynesworth the “worst free-agency move of last decade” — and that might have been an understatement.
8. Michael Vick
Michael Vick was one of those athletes with once-in-a-generation talents. He ran the 40 yard dash in less than 4.35 seconds, had one of the strongest arms in the NFL, and one of the fastest releases the league had seen since the days of Dan Marino. He was supposed to be an evolutionary version of Randall Cunningham, and the most lethal dual-threat quarterback in the history of the NFL. With all the fortune and fame Vick earned in the NFL, he should have bought some new friends. Members of his inner circle were arrested multiple times by the police for things like selling drugs or burglary. Eventually, it was an investigation of drug charges for one of his cousins that ultimately led the police to discover “Bad Newz Kennels,” Vick’s disgusting dogfighting venture that he financed and directly participated in. As part of these illegal dogfighting activities, Vick admitted that his colleagues killed dogs who did not perform well, with Vick himself hanging or drowning as many as eight dogs. For the illegal interstate gambling charges, as well as the state-level animal cruelty charges, Vick spent almost two years in federal prison. But no amount of jail time can wash the blood from his hands.
7. Johnny Manziel
Johnny Manziel may go down as the biggest public trainwreck in the history of the NFL (which is really saying something, considering the guys on this list). The nation was captivated by his reckless, run-and-gun style of play while at Texas A&M. But his habit of throwing the rules to the wind on the field, followed him off the football field. After he won the Heisman Trophy in 2012, you couldn’t go more than a few days without hearing about Manziel’s latest buffoonery on SportsCenter. Whether it was oversleeping during training (reportedly because of being hungover), getting kicked out of fraternity parties, allegedly receiving payments in exchange for autographs, or eventually (and sadly) being brought up on domestic violence charges after an altercation with his (then) girlfriend, both Texas A&M University, and then the Cleveland Browns, couldn’t part ways with Manziel fast enough.
6. Aldon Smith
During the 2011 NFL Draft, some experts thought the 49ers may have “reached” when they took Aldon Smith with the 7th overall pick. From a talent standpoint, they were dead wrong. Smith finished with 13 sacks his rookie year, breaking Hall of Famer Charles Haley’s team record for most sacks by a rookie. In his second season (2012), he had 17.5 sacks, and was named to both the Pro Bowl and the All Pro First Team. After that? It all went downhill. Three games into the 2013 season, Smith was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence and possession of marijuana, and subsequently entered a rehabilitation facility. He ended up missing much of the 2013 season, and was then suspended for nine more games in 2014 (for violating the NFL’s substance abuse and personal conduct policies). In 2015, after another DUI arrest, the 49ers were forced to release Smith — arguably their best player. To make matters worse, he was suspended for another year by the NFL in November of 2015. Once seen as the NFL’s next elite pass rusher, Smith is now an afterthought in NFL circles.
5. Ray Rice
Heading into 2014, all signs pointed to Ray Rice enjoying a bounce-back season with the Baltimore Ravens. After playing below his usual standards in 2013 (because of nagging injuries) he looked healthy and primed to pick up where he left off. In his four seasons with the Ravens between 2009 and 2012, Rice averaged almost 2,000 total yards per season, and was one of the NFL’s elite running backs. His stellar performance on the field earned him a trip to the Pro Bowl in both 2012 and 2013. But right before the 2014 season began, video evidence of Ray Rice’s assault on his then fiancée (now wife), led to Rice first being suspended for two games, but then eventually having his contract terminated by the Ravens amidst the public outcry due to the brutal nature of the video. The footage showed Rice and Palmer getting into a verbal — and then physical — altercation, which ended with Rice punching Palmer and knocking her out cold, and then dragging her unconscious body out of the elevator. Even though Rice was reinstated by the NFL, no team has been willing to give him a second chance.
4. Rae Carruth
There is a special place in hell for people like Rae Carruth...With his incredible vertical speed, he was supposed to be the deep threat that, coupled with Kerry Collins strong arm, could attack defenses vertically. He showed some of that promise early in his career, being named to the All-Rookie team in 1997. But he only played in about seven games for the remainder of his NFL career, first because of injuries, and then because of his legal troubles. In November of 1999,near Carruth’s home in Charlotte, North Carolina, Cherica Adams, a real estate agent he had been casually dating, was shot four times by a friend of Carruth. After the shooting, Adams somehow managed to call 911 and told police that Carruth blocked her vehicle with his vehicle, while another man shot her. Carruth was eventually found guilty of conspiracy to commit murder, having allegedly hired the man to kill Adams because she was pregnant with Carruth’s child and refused to have an abortion. The unborn child survived the shooting, but suffered permanent brain damage from the incident. Unfortunately, Adams died less than a month after the shooting. Carruth is currently serving his jail sentence in North Carolina, and is expected to be released in 2018.
3. Vince Young
Vince Young is the embodiment of Jay-Z’s famous line: “fame is the worst drug known to man.” He single handedly stopped the championship “three-peat” of the USC Trojans. He became the third overall pick in the 2006 NFL Draft. He went on to win the NFL’s Offensive Rookie of the Year award in 2006. He set the NFL record for most rushing yards by a rookie quarterback. He appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated magazine six different times, and was even put on the cover of the Madden NFL 08 video game. But as the laws of physics state: what goes up, must come down. For Young, it started with a bunch of nagging injuries and friction with his coach Jeff Fisher. Eventually, his selfish and entitled behavior forced the Titans to release him after the 2011 season. He signed with the Philadelphia Eagles, and called them a “Dream Team” just days after inking his new deal (as their backup quarterback, no less). After totally stinking up his one season in Philadelphia, they released him. He bounced around three more NFL teams before calling it quits in 2014. Although Young didn’t commit any horrible crimes (like some of the players on this list) his foolish behavior cost him a once promising NFL career.
2. Lawrence Phillips
Lawrence Phillips had as much talent as any running back could ever ask for, but he took every opportunity he could to ruin his career. He was such a gifted player that St. Louis Rams head coach Dick Vermeil drafted Phillips with the sixth overall pick in the 1996 NFL Draft, even after he brought so much scrutiny to his University of Nebraska football team after assaulting his ex-girlfriend while in college. Less than two seasons after Vermeil drafted him, Phillips decided to skip meetings and practices as protest for Vermeil benching him due to poor performance. After the Rams released him, he signed with the Dolphins, but they also cut him after two games when he pleaded no contest to assaulting another woman in Florida. The 49ers gave him another chance, but quickly regretted it after he famously (and carelessly) whiffed on the block that ended up being the hit that ended Steve Young’s career. They also waived him later that season.
1. Joseph Randle
Former Cowboys running back Joseph Randle is no stranger to run-ins with law enforcement. From relatively common offenses (marijuana possession), to incredibly weird offenses (shoplifting cologne and underwear at a mall), to very disturbing offenses (assaulting an officer and domestic violence). Once a promising young player, running behind one of the best offensive lines in the NFL, Randle is currently out of the league, and there’s little chance of that changing. After all, which franchise wants to take the risk of signing a guy who has been arrested 7 times over the past two years...?
Last edited by a moderator:
