Connect with us
Home » news » five of the most unique nfl draft prospects in the history of the nfl draft

News

Five of the most unique NFL Draft Prospects in the history of the NFL Draft

The NFL Draft has selected a NBA Champion, MLB Hall of Famer, Olympic Gold Medalist, Singer/Song Writer and draftee who made “The U” famous

Bo Marchionte

Published

on

The final pick of the 2015 NFL Draft belongs to the Arizona Cardinals.  Players with unique backgrounds and eventual intriguing futures will hear their names called even if the future success resides somewhere else besides the NFL. Below is a look at five of the more interesting draft picks in NFL history that turned out to be successful either on or off the field of football.

1967 NFL Draft

11th Round

Selection by Dallas Cowboys: Pat Riley

Most people are familiar with Miami Heat team president Pat Riley as he was one of the most successful coaches in NBA history before stepping into upper management. Riley has been part of eight NBA championships. Five total with the Los Angles Lakers (in 1972 as a player) and another four as the team’s head coach (1982, 1985, 1987, and 1988). Riley has won three more championships with the Heat as head coach (2006) and as the team president (2012-13). Riley played his collegiate career at Kentucky and starred as a dual-threat athlete. He was selected by the San Diego Rockets in the 1st round of the 1967 NBA Draft, and was also drafted by Cowboys to play receiver that same year. Riley never took a snap in Dallas but became one of the most successful NBA figures of the course of his basketball career.

 

1973 NFL Draft

17th Round

Selection by Minnesota Vikings: Dave Winfield

The last pick spent by the Minnesota Vikings in 1973 NFL Draft was used on eventual Hall of Fame inductee to Cooperstown, not Canton, Dave Winfield. His professional career spanned over two decades (1973-95) amongst six different teams that included the San Diego Padres, New York Yankees, California Angels, Toronto Blue Jays, Minnesota Twins and Cleveland Indians, but none on an NFL roster. Winfield was a force both on the basketball court and baseball diamond in college playing at Minnesota. He was also drafted by the Atlanta Hawks of the NBA and the Utah Stars of the ABA. How good was Winfield as an athlete? He never played college football, but still had his name written on a draft card to be selected.

 

1983 NFL Draft

2nd Round

Selection by Cleveland Browns: Ron Brown

The first pick the Cleveland Browns used in 1983 turned out to be gold. The Arizona State receiver they drafted, Ron Brown, never played a down for Cleveland but went on to win a gold medal in the 4 x 100 meters relay at the 1984 Summer Olympics. Following his Olympic gold, Brown spent eight years in the NFL playing for the Los Angeles Rams and Raiders. He was a one-time All-Pro and first-team All-Pro as a kick returner for the Los Angeles Rams in 1985 leading the league with a 32.8 yard return average (28 returns for 918 yards and three touchdowns). It is also worth mentioning Dallas Cowboys Bob Hayes, drafted in the seventh round in 1964, won one Super Bowl ring and two gold medals at the 1964 Summer Olympics, in Tokyo.

 

1998 NFL Draft

1st Round

Selection by the New Orleans Saints: Kyle Turley

Turley was selected with the seventh overall pick in the 1998 NFL Draft and was named All-Pro once in his career (2000).  Turley became infamous for the helmet throwing incident (2001) after his quarterback Aaron Brooks had his neck twisted in a vicious facemask penalty by New York Jets Damien Robinson. After an ensuing brawl that was incited by the offensive guard, he proceeded to fling his helmet to the Heaven’s and eventually was ejected out of the game. Turley retired after eight seasons and decided to chase his other life passion of writing and playing music. He moved to Nashville, Tennessee and started Gridiron Records. His debut album, “Anger Management”, was released by Gridiron Records in 2010. He sings about Cowboys owner-general manager Jerry Jones. During the cut “Fly’N Helmets.” Turley sings “I love Jerry Jones. I wanted to be a Cowboy, but he’d rather have crooks from video games and fire the great Tom Landry.” Other choice lyrics from the song include, “”F*** Mike Martz, I never liked him anyway. I shoulda stayed my A** in New Orleans.” Well worth a listen if you have the time.

 

1956 NFL Draft

21st Round

Selection by Washington Redskins: Howard Schnellenberger

Schnellenberger was an All-American (AP, 1955) tight end at Kentucky. He was also the instrumental piece and lighting rod to one of the most prolific and successful college football programs in the history of the sport. Prior to his arrival at the University of Miami the Hurricanes were a down-and-out program that was close to being dropped by the school. The aftermath included a nickname “The U” that is on equal footing when identifying the Miami Hurricanes football program, thanks in part to the 251st pick of the 1956 NFL Draft.

Bo Marchionte is an NFL writer for Football Insiders and has covered the NFL for over a decade. His background includes being staff for the Texas vs. The Nation All-Star game as a talent evaluator for player personnel along with an internship scouting with the Toronto Argonauts and Winnipeg Blue Bombers for the Canadian Football League. Bo’s draft background includes working for the NFL Draft Bible and currently owns and operates College2Pro.com. He has done radio spots on NBC, Fox Sports and ESPN and their affiliates in different markets around the country. Bo covers the Pittsburgh Steelers and Pittsburgh Panthers along with other colleges in the northeast.

Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

News

Buccaneers admit mistake, boot Aguayo

Avatar

Published

on

In the NFL, it’s always better to admit a mistake than to compound it. For the Buccaneers, the decision to burn a 2016 second-round pick on kicker Robert Aguayo has proven to be a mistake. The Buccaneers made the definitive admission of their error on Saturday, cutting Aguayo. He exits with $428,000 in fully-guaranteed salary [more]

Source: Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk

Powered by WPeMatico

Continue Reading

News

Did Bucs put too much pressure on Aguayo?

Avatar

Published

on

After the Buccaneers surprised everyone by taking a kicker with the 59th overall pick in the draft, G.M. Jason Licht explained the move by heaping superlatives on the player. “I was very excited along with my staff and coaches about Roberto for a very long time,” Licht told PFT Live in May 2016. “It’s not [more]

Source: Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk

Powered by WPeMatico

Continue Reading

News

Broncos holding their breath on Derek Wolfe

Avatar

Published

on

Only two days after losing Billy Winn for the year with a torn ACL, the Broncos are now sweating out another potentially serious injury along the defensive line. Via multiple reports, Broncos defensive lineman Derek Wolfe was carted off the field during practice on Saturday. It’s being described as a right ankle injury by coach [more]

Source: Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk

Powered by WPeMatico

Continue Reading

The NFL On Twitter


Insiders On Facebook

Trending Now

Copyright © 2021 Insider Sports, Inc