QB - Akili Smith - cut
 

http://www.nfl.com/teams/story/TB/8560938

yeah even this guy got a some hype.

possibly one of the biggest bust ever

possibly... but the crown king bust -Ryan Leaf.

.. I think that the media has to shoulder part of the blame on both situations... both Akili and Leaf were over-hyped by the media just to create a draft controversy that did not exist...
Couch vs Smith and Manning vs Leaf, respectively. Specially with Leaf, I think a lot of people, including the Chargers, bought into the media hype that Leaf actually was as good as if not better than Peyton...

..both Akili and Leaf had some success in the final year of their respective college careers, but I didn't think they were even close, even Couch-Smith...

call it media call it fans... its all hype and even if you believe the hype you are to blame as well, because you are feeding the monster.

You really think NFL scouts are that influenced by the media?? I don't know much about that side of things, but if they are, that is just pathetic. We need to keep our scouts away from the tv. (oh, and keep them from all leaving :?

... oh, I do...

... look at our own Dulymus... why did he drop in the draft? Because of "injury prone" status... now, if you were a scout and you actually researched Deuce's college career, you'd learned that he missed but one game due to an injury... so where did the "injury-prone" label come from?

..not from scouts doing the work they are paid to do, I tell you...

I think teams are so desperate for QB's that they talk themselves into anything. Any flash of talent and the suitors come calling. Look at A.J. Feeley, Rob Johnson, Scott Mitchell etc. They all got big deals after a few decent games subbing for thier injured starters. The Bengals franchise was in such need of a spark when they drafted Akili Smith, I think management fooled itself into thinking that a one-year wonder who played in a high powered offense was the answer. The Chargers did the same thing with Leaf as did the
Browns with Couch. They want a QB to give their franchise an image so bad they grab the first shiny thing they see and pray. The NBA does the same thing with centers.

"You really think NFL scouts are that influenced by the media??"

remember it is not the scout that pull the trigger it is the GM-type person.
also remember that often times, we the public only get what the media tells us which is not always everything.
so....
the GM is under pressure by the fans to pick the second coming of john elway and jesus christ then to take the John Q. footballlplayer. it isnt the media telling them, its what the media will say about them the next day. pretty darn middle school if you ask me but eh....

i also think, in regard to Akili and Leaf that to some extant they were not put in positions to suceed. we all know you can have all the talent in the world but with out some external force often times all that talent remains as that coveted draft word...POTENTIAL.

i have the opinion that if you can play and do well on the college level, then you can survive in the NFL. In the case of leaf, akili, sulllivan and others you need everything else to fall into place as well

The media didn't tell the Saints to draft Jamal Brown. THey didn't tell the Saints to snag a mac?

what about todd blackledge. he has to be one of the biggest busts of all time.

akili smith really looked like a good qb coming out as well as Leaf, but as far as Couch i figured he would suck as he was a system qb just like Alex Smith!!!!!!!!!!!

... I am not saying that the media tells every team who to pick..

..I am simply saying that the media creates a certain hype on certain players to manufacture themselves some pre-draft t.v. drama, and it does seem that some scouts/GMs eat it up when making decisions as to who to draft...