Sports At Random

Puja does a study of Butkus Award Winners. Doesn’t look good for two promising Rookies, Patrick Willis and Paul Posluszny:

Both Posluszny & Willis have received a lot hype. either may have a good shot @ ROY, but as the last 2 Butkus award winners… history says a long illustrious career is probably not in the cards:

1985 Brian Bosworth - “the Boz” nuff said.
1986 Brian Bosworth
1987 Paul McGowan - never made it to the NFL
1988 Derrick Thomas - HOF-caliber career was cut short, possibly by his failure to wear a seatbelt. The one guy on this list who might make the Hall w/ his resume to date.
1989 Percy Snow - “Snow was more of a natural bust, when you consider the hype he generated at Michigan State as the country’s best linebacker. Snow crashed a moped in training camp in 1991 and was never the same player. His career flamed out after only three active seasons with just one start in his final two.”
1990 Alfred Williams - good career: 9 seasons, 60 sacks, 1 time Pro Bowler
1991 Erick Anderson - his biography from his current job at AndersonBrothersFootball says he ” was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in 1992 where he played for three years before signing on with the Washington Redskins in 1995,” but the NFL says he played played 10 games over 2 seasons.
1992 Marvin Jones - solid 10 year career
1993 Trev Alberts - injuries sidelined him after fewer than 30 games. Later ’sacked’ by ESPN for playing hooky
1994 Dana Howard - played 2 years then off to the Amsterdam Admirals
1995 Kevin Hardy - ^Howard’s Illini teammate played 9 solid seasons before chronic injuries got the better of him
1996 Matt Russell - career consisted of 1 NFL game
1997 Andy Katzenmoyer - played less than 2 years before neck injuries ended his career
1998 Chris Claiborne - missed a year & a half w/ severe knee injuries that forced him into permanent free agent status at age 27
1999 LaVar Arrington - knee injuries, coach’s DNP, torn achilles tendon, motorcycle accident…
2000 Dan Morgan - concussion machine. unfortunately he has been on the receiving end
2001 Rocky Calmus - nerve injury in his back affected his legs. has played 5 games since 2004, none since wk 1 2005.
2002 EJ Henderson - first 3 years were slow, but seems to be rolling now
2003 Teddy Lehman - has played 9 games in the past 2 seasons w/ ankle & foot injuries putting him on IR & PUP
2004 Derrick Johnson - so far so good, but tweaked his ankle last year…
2005 Paul Posluszny - ?
2006 Patrick Willis - ?