http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/multimedia/photo_gallery/0704/gallery.nfl.draftbusts/content.6.html Thomas' failure as a pro helped solidify Jets fan's certainty that their team could do no right on draft day. Whatever intangible elements make a great NFL running back, the former Penn State star didn't have them. Thomas reached the end zone just seven times in four undistinguished seasons in New York. The Cowboys landed Emmitt Smith 15 picks after Thomas in the 1990 draft.
Man is that upsetting. 3 of them are from PSU, and Courtney Brown could easily be included on that list.
He would never square his shoulders and just hit the hole. He always tried to make just one more move and unlike college, were the players were slower than he was, in the NFL, the 300 pound linemen are just as quick as he was.
he may never have been a superstar, but he did produce, at east marginally. a bust, as far as I am concerned, does absolutely nothing compared to what was anticipated. Brady didn't do much, but it wasn't as nothing as Blair Thomas, that's for sure.
Its interesting to see how people can dominate on the college level and be amazing athletes and just turn into huge busts in the nfl. every time i think of ryan leaf i think of ace ventura: pet detective and i keep thinking hes going to have a sex change and try to kill peyton manning... and then i see him coaching high school football and my dreams get squashed.
What about Mike Haight? He couldn't even make the starting lineup of the lousy Jets team that drafted him!
I still maintain that Bruce Coslets inept coaching style did more to ruin his career then any lack of talent or ability. He was on track to be a good back until that fumble in the Bears game. After that, he was never the same. Coslet should of given him a pat on the back and told Thomas that he trusted him. Instead Coslet (who's idea of coaching was berating and yelling at his players without ever positively reinforcing them) chewed him and and put him in the doghouse. Blair lost his confidence and then it was all downhill from there.
The last sentence of this quote about Blair is very painful. "Thomas' failure as a pro helped solidify Jets fan's certainty that their team could do no right on draft day. Whatever intangible elements make a great NFL running back, the former Penn State star didn't have them. Thomas reached the end zone just seven times in four undistinguished seasons in New York. The Cowboys landed Emmitt Smith 15 picks after Thomas in the 1990 draft."
That Bears game left a complete sickness in all the hearts of Jets fans. It was truly painful to watch.
im willing to bet brown will make a 'revised' list....he should....should have been the shit.... im betting the LB outta PSU (i wont try to spell it, only his family can spell it right) wont flame out in the nfl....he should make an impact. hes a high energy guy with a nose for the ball. whatever team he goes to is gonna get a solid LB with a ton of upside. i really cant wait till draft day.....my whole house empties b/c for them its the most boring weekend on the calender....its great sitting there watching the ticker, the analysis...the picks.....I LOVE THE JETS GODDAMNIT!!!! when is training camp? im glad its baseball season...but football cant come quick enough!
I totally agree. I guess what he lacked most was mental toughness. I tought Keyshwan Johnson was headed down that same road after his rookie year with the hold out, low production (due to O'Donnell not throwing him the damn ball) and the book. But he was apparently tougher mentally than Thomas was.
Keyshawn was an all-pro in his short time with the Jets but I don't think his ego ever recovered after the Jets traded him and his level of play dropped significantly after that....Keyshawn was absolutely blind-sided by that trade
rashan salaam....he was part of that sweet trio at colorodo....salaam, young, and westbrook. they had a good offense (and were awesome to play with in 'bill walsh college football 95'. he was so good in college....im kinda shocked he wasnt on that list.....especially after the hype following his entrance into the nfl...
