GP
Go Texans!
Okoye and Jackson make the Top 25 Most Worthless list, which is based on the author's conceptual stats of playing time, expectations, and salary.
And....
Ouch.
So, here we go … This list of the 25 worst players in the league accounts for playing time, expectations, and salary. It focuses on the 2010 season without forgetting about those who sucked in 2008 and 2009; in other words, C.C. Brown, you can't hide in Detroit.
25. Laurence Maroney, running back, free agent
24. Dimitri Patterson, cornerback, Eagles
23. Aaron Maybin, linebacker, Bills
22. Amobi Okoye, defensive tackle, Texans
21. T.J. Houshmandzadeh, wide receiver, Ravens
Maroney spent most of his time in New England on the training table or working on his dreads, but the Broncos still dealt a fourth-round pick (getting a sixth-rounder in return) for a guy who promptly gained 74 yards on 36 carries. Then he got arrested for marijuana possession after a Rick Ross concert, which would only have been worse if Rick Ross actually made the arrest.
Patterson was a last resort at cornerback forced into action by injuries; teams avoided Asante Samuel and spent the second half throwing at the guy who the Philadelphia Inquirer politely noted " … is better suited to special teams.” … The 11th overall pick in the 2009 draft, Maybin was supposed to be a hybrid pass rusher who could play in a 3-4 or a 4-3. He's got zero sacks, was a healthy scratch at times in 2010, and the first entry that comes up as an auto-fill when you type his name into Google is "Aaron Maybin bust." … Okoye, the league's youngest draftee at age 19 in 2007, was supposed to form the core of a great defensive line alongside Mario Williams. Williams became a great pass-rusher, but Okoye's still all athleticism and promise. … In addition to this inexplicable drop in the playoff loss to the Steelers, Houshmandzadeh could only catch 53 percent of the passes thrown to him despite running some of the shortest routes in the league. And the Seahawks paid him virtually all of his $7 million in guaranteed salary to go away.
And....
10. Darius Butler, cornerback, Patriots
9. Jeremy Trueblood, offensive tackle, Buccaneers
8. Levi Brown, offensive tackle, Cardinals
7. David Jones, cornerback, Jaguars
6. Kareem Jackson, cornerback, Texans
Butler began the season as a starter by allowing teams to go 26-of-35 for 253 yards in two games against him (plus two pass interference calls). He got benched and came in for three plays the following game, allowing a completion and missing a tackle before disappearing again. It took him six weeks to get any playing time after that. … Trueblood consistently ranked among the league leaders in sacks allowed at right tackle, but the Bucs finally wised-up and benched him after an injury last season. … The Cardinals had no such luck with Brown, who made it through all 16 games. One comment upon close observation of Brown: "[Brown] struggled with outside rushers all day, which is a problem considering he's an offensive tackle." … The Jaguars benched struggling corner Derek Cox for Jones after a poor start. Jones promptly helped Reggie Wayne to a 15-catch, 196-yard game. The Jags stuck with him for several more terrible performances before making him a healthy scratch for the second half of the season. … Even the best cornerbacks usually look pretty bad as rookies, but Jackson allowed a league-worst 11.1 yards per pass attempt last season. If there's ever a Sporcle quiz on matching a receiver's name to the back of his jersey, Jackson will ace it.
Ouch.