Chris Samuels' retirement announcement inspired me to look back at the NFL draft of 2000. Samuels is the third player of the top 3 draftees to end his career on less than good terms. 1999 was the first season I watched college football with any significant interest or understanding. I had been hit by a car and was hospitalized for a week when my buddy brought the SI college football preview issue into my room. I must have read that magazine cover-to-cover 4 or 5 times. Because LaVar Arrington was on the cover, I became a Penn State fan, and still follow Linebacker U today.
I remember Courtney Brown was also at PSU that year, and there you have the genesis for this piece. As this year's NFL Scouting Combine comes to a close, the stud of the draft a decade ago has to be Jamal Lewis. Lewis carried the load for a championship team as rookie and gave the team that drafted him 6 seasons during which he averaged 1300 yards, made the Pro Bowl, was named the Offensive Player of the Year, and became the fifth member of the (now) 6-man 2,000 yard club. Brian Urlacher is a close second, due in no small part to the fact that, like Samuels, he has stayed with his first team. Urlacher has been a consumate pro and all-around team guy, a great reward for the Bears organization and the Windy City fans. Thomas Jones has had a respectable career, including a Super Bowl appearance - for his third team - and a 5 year string of 1,000+ yard campaigns.
The brutal nature of the game took its toll on this group, as six of these 11 players either missed at least one season or were forced into early retirement because of injuries. The "biggest bust" tag goes on Peter Warrick's head as the former Heisman hopeful played only 4 seasons in the NFL and is now playing football indoors. Way to go, Taylor and Warrick, you guys make Plaxico look good by comparison.
Class of 2000
1. Courtney Brown: 7 seasons, 19 sacks
2. LaVar Arrington: 7 seasons, 23.5 sacks, 3 Pro Bowls
3. Chris Samuels: 9 seasons, 6 Pro Bowls
4. Peter Warrick: 4 seasons, now playing in IFL
5. Jamal Lewis: 9 seasons, 10,000yds, Pro Bowl, Off P.O.Y., Super Bowl ring
6. Corey Simon: 6 seasons, 32 sacks, Pro Bowl, SBa
7. Thomas Jones: 10 seasons, 9,200yds, Pro Bowl, 5 consecutive 1,100yd seasons, SBa*
8. Plaxico Buress: 9 seasons, 505 rec, Super Bowl ring*
9. (a) Brian Urlacher: 9 seasons, 37.5 sacks, 17 int, 6 Pro Bowls, Def R.O.Y., Def P.O.Y., SBa
10. Travis Taylor: 7 seasons, 312 rec, DNP-Super Bowl XXXV
* indicates acheivement for team other than drafted to
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Did you hear the one about...?
Did you hear the one about the Korean couple who let their real baby girl starve to death while they were out at internet cafes playing an online game in which they nurture a virtual child?
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