I still don't like calling players that had career changing injuries early on bust... because it's unclear what would of happen without the injuries.

Originally Posted by: beast 

I agree with you, except for someone who's coming out of college injured and you draft him anyway. Then (no fault of the player), I'd rate the GM drafting him in the first round a bust.

Originally Posted by: macbob 

My problem with Harrell and the injury label, is that while he was often injured in college, they were often rather minor and one year and should be all healed up things. And the injury that took him out, was a HUGE back injury which happened while attempting to lift too much while in the Packers weight room...

So while it seems everyone list Harrell as a bust, I list that back injury as the real reason and it wasn't the same as his pre-draft history of injuries which were all minor ones. So I put that more on the Packers post draft, than the predraft stuff. Also rumor had it that lead to the trainers firing because the review of what happened felt like the trainers fault...

Originally Posted by: beast 

I agree. Ted got a lot of crap for taking Harrell, but I feel like a lot of it is rather unfair.

Next to the fact that he got injured, he was also a reach according to a lot of experts. If a player like that pans out, you're a genius for recognizing "hidden talent". Thinking about Clay here. If that player doesn't develop the criticism is twice as hard.

I feel like Justin had a ridiculous amount of potential. He could move for a 6'4, 315 guy. A bad pick in hindsight, but not one you can truly blame Ted Thompson for.

Originally Posted by: Rockmolder 

I agree. Ted got a lot of crap for taking Harrell, but I feel like a lot of it is rather unfair.

Next to the fact that he got injured, he was also a reach according to a lot of experts. If a player like that pans out, you're a genius for recognizing "hidden talent". Thinking about Clay here. If that player doesn't develop the criticism is twice as hard.

I feel like Justin had a ridiculous amount of potential. He could move for a 6'4, 315 guy. A bad pick in hindsight, but not one you can truly blame Ted Thompson for.

Originally Posted by: Rockmolder 

If a GM is going to "reach" for a player he is gambling and has to be prepared for the fall out if he is wrong.

Normally I give a player a pass when he is injured. Not so for Harrell. I consider him a bust even if he hurt himself in the weight room. I don't give players who don't pan out a pass if they are a tweener and can't play the position they are drafted for or the coaches catch teach them their teams schemes. Harrell failed while under the guidance of the Packers organization. Mainly because he had injury issues when they selected him. That is why he was a reach. Other teams took a pass on him because they were concerned about his history. In the first round you better be sure of the player you are taking. If you want to gamble do so in the 3rd or 4th rounds not the first.

Saying it is not Harrell's fault is like saying Ryan Leaf wouldn't have been a bust if he had a better coach. There is usually not just one reason a player fails.

Originally Posted by: wpr 

One might legitimately claim it was the incompetence of the training staff that cost Harrell his career.

Originally Posted by: nerdmann 

One might legitimately claim it was the incompetence of the training staff that cost Harrell his career.

Originally Posted by: nerdmann 

He was hurt when he was in college, he was hurt when he was drafted.
One might legitimately claim that he was just a piss poor pick.

Originally Posted by: yooperfan