Why don't the No. 1 overall picks play like it?

[Wolf]

I was going to put this in the draft thread, but It was interesting as far as YKW and Mario

The Texans appear to have learned from the mistakes made with Carr, who never recovered psychologically from the early beatings he took playing behind a lousy offensive line.

Houston coach Gary Kubiak said the team took steps to insure similar damage wasn't done to defensive end Mario Williams, the first player taken in 2006. Williams toiled through an injury-plagued rookie season and the Texans were criticized because the players chosen immediately behind him (New Orleans running back Reggie Bush and Tennessee quarterback Vince Young) made an instant splash.

Kubiak said it took a collective effort by the Texans -- including assistant coaches and the team's media relations department -- to help Williams "keep it all in perspective."

"There's so much pressure on No. 1 picks," said Kubiak, whose team signed Williams to a six-year, $54.5 million contract with $26.5 million in guarantees. "There's a lot of money in their pockets and lot of people tugging on them. They're probably going to a team that's not very good. Trying to get him to hang on until he becomes a complete pro is the responsibility of a lot of people."

Today, nobody is saying Bush or Young would have been a better choice after Williams registered 14 sacks in 2007.

"He took a lot of bullets playing when he wasn't 100 percent (healthy)," Kubiak said. "I just think in his mind he went through it all and came out of it very confident of who he is now. You don't ever know if they're going to come out of it because it's a hell of a battle."

It's also one the Texans hope they are never forced to wage again because of a poor record.

"Someone has to pick first," a laughing Smith said. "We do tons and tons of research, gather data, evaluate and do as much as we can do. But at the end of the day, it's still not an exact science."

[Wolf]

sorry I left off the link

http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/8057300/Why-don't-the-No.-1-overall-picks-play-like-it??CMP=OTC-K9B140813162&ATT=5

[OzzO]

Pfft - if 1st (overall or 1st round) picks weren't paid like 7 year vets - there probably wouldn't be as much pressure. When teams gotta drop a load on potential, their hand is usually forced to see immediate results.

... and this is for any team, not just us and HWSNBN aka YKW and Mario.

[Kaiser Toro]

I am not surprised this is a Fox story with the first line being absolutely false. Most likely written by an intern for a blowhard columnist who straddles television, radio and print.

The Texans appear to have learned from the mistakes made with Carr, who never recovered psychologically from the early beatings he took playing behind a lousy offensive line.

[4Texans]

Originally Posted by Kaiser Toro

I am not surprised this is a Fox story with the first line being absolutely false. Most likely written by an intern for a blowhard columnist who straddles television, radio and print.

Exactly! DC never had the "Psych" to begin with.

[ATXtexanfan]

Originally Posted by OzzO

Pfft - if 1st (overall or 1st round) picks weren't paid like 7 year vets - there probably wouldn't be as much pressure. When teams gotta drop a load on potential, their hand is usually forced to see immediate results.

... and this is for any team, not just us and HWSNBN aka YKW and Mario.

amen brother, odd how nba rookie deals are so small yet there second deals are a burden.

[Ole Miss Texan]

I agree with rookies (top of first specifically) get paid way too much.

I've always thought there have been a lot of 'busts' at the top of the draft because towards the top, teams are looking for super athletes, with super measurables with the highest upside.

This causes guys that are sound football players to get pushed down the board because they run their 40 yd dash 1/10 of a second slower or their vertical is 3 inches shorter, etc. Guys like Demeco Ryans get pushed down because teams are TOO focused on upside/measurables/athletics for the first round and are willing to give up on some of technique/football IQ/football skills.

This is where I think Miami did a good job in choosing Long. Really either Long would have been great. I don't think Jake Long was the best player in the whole draft, but they know (think) he's going to be an extremely solid football player. Guys like Vernon Gholston/Darren McFadden are much better athletes but that doesn't make them better football players. With the top pick and $30 million + guaranteed, you can't afford a bust. I think because of the rookie salaries at the top, teams may be turning more and more to 'safer' picks than they have in the past.

[adam]

I would say it's because no player is as great in their rookie season as the media makes number one overall picks appear. Expectations for these kids are outside the realm of reality.

[Wolf]

Originally Posted by 4Texans

Exactly! DC never had the "Psych" to begin with.

or "Intangibles"

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/new...-make-the-man/

[Double Barrel]

Too much money is being thrown at potential. These guys have never played a down of pro football, but they come into their first training camps the highest paid player on the team.