So what’s your opinion as to the worst NFL import ever?
A quick ground rule: this isn’t about the worst former NFL player to play in the CFL. There’s a lot of variables that go into this, but I’d like to leave it fairly open. I’d like to say it doesn’t include folks like Christian Covington, who it seems would be more content contributing on the field rather than advising from a reserve roster role, or Chad Johnson types who just want to keep playing b/c they love competition. Here’s my top five - give me your suggestions!
5. Johnny Manziel: OK, pretty obvious. A privileged former Heisman & high draft choice who flunks out of the NFL because of his failure to take his career as a pro football player seriously flunks out b/c he refuses to take his pro football career seriously. Who’d have thought that?
4. Ricky Williams: Came up after he was suspended for weed. And so some fans gave him a pass - it’s just weed. His substandard stats allowed the league to invoke the “Ricky Williams Rule”, governing admission of suspended players.
3. Lawrence Phillips: If the CFL had virtual rosters for Madden, he’d be deleted. He had a bunch of wife-beating charges when he was signed by a desperate MTL team in 2002, was released mid-season due to his erratic behavior. Signed with CGY in 2003; released in week 7 due to poor conduct. Ends up serving some of his sentence before killing his cellmate and hanging himself.
2. Dexter Manley: The only fans of this decision were the Gleibermans. particularly Lonnie. He was declared unfit to play by everyone except Lonnie. He suffered a season-ending injury during his first playing after the coaches had quot.
1981 Montreal Alouettes: Nelson Skarbania, the craziest owner in CFL history, bought the Alouettes and decided to buy some top-;level NFL talent. The tema finished The team finished 3rd in the East. A complete failure.
I forgot that McPherson played in the NFL before coming here . Dude was one of the worst QB’s I have ever watched . So let’s throw in the already mentioned Johnny Flopball and call this our top 5 for Hamilton .
Timm Rosenbach
Will Hill
Tiquan Underwood
Don McPherson
Johnny Manziel
I remember when this clown was in college. My coworker from Nebraska defended him to the death, talking about second chances, Christian forgiveness, blah blah blah.
Funny thing is, the guy never believed in second chances or forgiveness for non-athletes.
The punter you refer to was Jon Ryan, arguably the GOAT of CFL punters in his two years in Winnipeg (2004-05). He started in the CFL and then played two years for Green Bay and 9 years for Seattle, winning a Super Bowl. And he was Canadian. In my over 50 years watching the CFL I have never seen a punter with a stronger leg or who could launch the ball 60 yards plus into a gale. I don’t think he should be judged by his last couple of years when he was nearing 40.
I must admit that I’m not crazy about the negativity of this topic thread and am not of the view that there is any kind of pattern to be found or that somehow NFL players are inferior because some didn’t excel in the CFL for various reasons, many of them mentioned obviously at the tail end of their careers when they came north or rife with drug or legal problems. If Patrick Mahomes or Josh Allen came north they would make Flutie’s performance and records look quaint.
But hey, it’s a topic that is available to start under the rules despite its negativity and overt efforts to laud the CFL over the NFL. Why not post a positive topic that lauds the fantastic CFL players that came from the NFL? I would start that uber impressive list off the top of my head with Doug Flutie. Willie Jefferson and Milt Stegall. Two GOATS and a baby GOAT at least. A kid? Willie the kid?
Just to clarify - the 1981 Alouettes was a team award, including QB Vince Ferragamo to a $300,000 contract, and WR James Scott, KR Billy “White Shoes” Johnson, RB David Overstreet & DE Keith Gary.
They also had Tom Cousineau and I believe also Fred Biletnikoff as well . All that NFL talent and they wound up with a 3-13 season for their effort…or more like lack of it .
