JaMarcus Russell is safe because he’s still active and young. Maybe he’ll turn it around. OK, that even made us laugh. If only his game had grown like his waist. Someday he’ll top this list.
Recommended Stories
5. Rick Mirer (Seattle, 2nd, 1993) » Compared to the rest, he’s a Hall of Famer. He made 68 starts, but that only served to remind everyone how bad he was. He played for seven teams and threw 50 touchdowns to 76 interceptions.
4. Heath Shuler (Washington, 3rd, 1994) » You knew he’d be on here. He was eventually unseated by seventh-rounder Gus Frerotte. But, hey, he did win a game in Dallas. So he has that going for him. It’s better than his 15 career touchdowns to 33 interceptions.
3. Akili Smith (Cincinnati, 3rd, 1999) » Smith went one spot after Donovan McNabb, and two after another bust, Tim Couch. Smith had one good — great — year in college, but started just 17 games in four seasons and was a career 46.6 percent passer.
2. Ryan Leaf (San Diego, 2nd, 1998) » One spot behind Peyton Manning. That’s how close the Chargers were to getting a future Hall of Famer instead of a major, well, turd. Leaf’s final totals: 48.4 completion percentage, 14 touchdowns, 36 interceptions.
1. Art Schlichter (Baltimore, 4th, 1982) » At least Leaf wasn’t banned from the NFL. Fast Artie was, thanks to a gambling problem. How bad was it? His gambling debt during the 1982 strike was reportedly $700,000. And he was arrested in 1987. If only his passing numbers (career rating of 42.6) were equally inflated.
