A 1st rounder worse than Gholston

[BroadwayJ667]

Aaron Maybin

http://www.buffalonews.com/sports/columns/jerry-sullivan/article233377.ece

The Bills are on pace to allow 528 points this season, five points shy of the NFL record. They're last in the league against the run, last in interceptions, last in points allowed. It's shaping up to be the worst defense in the history of the franchise.

And yet, it's still too good for Aaron Maybin, who can't get on the field. Last Sunday, Maybin couldn't even get in uniform. For the first time in his brief pro career, the Bills' second-year linebacker was inactive for a regular-season game.

Maybin, back in his native Baltimore with family and friends in attendance, was reduced to standing on the sidelines in his street clothes. It was a new low, an utter humiliation for the man who was the No. 11 overall pick in the 2009 draft.

"Obviously, it was very disappointing," Maybin said Wednesday in his first comments since Sunday's game. "But the coaching staff made the decision they felt they needed to make, and we have to live with that."

It's quite possible that Maybin is the worst player in the NFL (though a case could be made for John McCargo, another former Bills' first-rounder who has been inactive all six games).

There's a good chance Maybin will be inactive again this week against Kansas City, the NFL's top rushing team. After a year and a half, he hasn't gotten better. If anything, he's regressed. Maybin has 21 tackles in 21 games. He has no sacks. This season, he's been on the field for 66 plays, with few tangible results.

The Bills gave Maybin a $15 million signing bonus after his holdout in 2009. That's not the sort of return on investment that made capitalism great. If Maybin were some seventh-round pick -- like, say, Ryan Fitzpatrick or Stevie Johnson -- he'd be long gone by now.

Coach Chan Gailey was asked if Maybin would still be here if not for his first-round draft status, and he basically tangoed around the issue.

"Oh, I ... he's done some good things," Gailey said. "He's just not producing enough right now to get on the field. He has good talent, and we work with all those guys who have talent to bring them along as football players."

Well, it's become increasingly apparent that Maybin isn't really a football player, that while he possesses the raw speed to sack Big Ten players and impress gullible NFL scouts, he lacks the athletic ability to succeed in the NFL.

So go ahead and cut him.

Really, if it's not about protecting a big investment, admit your mistake and move on. Maybin isn't going to wake up and start performing like Brian Orakpo or Clay Matthews, linebackers who were drafted later and immediately played at a Pro Bowl level. The Bills can't afford to waste another summer finding out that he's not good enough.

The guy is playing behind Antonio Coleman, an undrafted free agent who played two snaps Sunday. Maybin can't even get in on special teams. You can't trust him to run up and down the field in his lane on kickoffs?

"We've got some different personnel now," Maybin said. "It's hard for me to explain that to you."

Someone should explain how the Bills concluded Maybin could be an NFL star after he played 10 games at Penn State. Maybin wasn't even on the depth chart before that season. If a defensive end named Maurice Evans hadn't been caught with marijuana, Maybin might never have become a starter.

The Bills weren't the only NFL team that felt he could play. But they were the ones who reached for Maybin at No. 11 overall, at a time when they couldn't afford to miss on another high pick and more proven players were available.

Maybin was drafted as a defensive end and failed. The new coaches switched to a 4-3, and he can't make it at linebacker. Two different coaching staffs have decided he isn't good enough.

Hey, maybe he can play tight end.

[bitonti]

i dont support making everything about Gholston but it should be noted Derrick Harvey just got benched in Jacksonville... it just wasn't that great of a year. Similar to DRob's year, some drafts are weaker than others.

[#27TheDominator]

Jamarcus Russell was probably a worse pick than both.

[Integrity28]

There are way more busts in every draft than anything else.

"Serviceable" may be the best we get from Gholston, but that is better than "inactive" I suppose.

[T0mShane]

I thought this was gonna be another Len Bias thread.

[CTM]

I think the issue with Gholston is that there was a lot of Jets fans on these boards who wanted nothing to do with the guy prior to drafting him. When these things are debated they tend to become a focal point for years.

He's really just kind of a run of the mill the bust, certainly not in the Ryan Leaf arena of all time busts

[#27TheDominator]

I think the issue with Gholston is that there was a lot of Jets fans on these boards who wanted nothing to do with the guy prior to drafting him. When these things are debated they tend to become a focal point for years.

He's really just kind of a run of the mill the bust, certainly not in the Ryan Leaf arena of all time busts

Maybin is probably in the same kind of spot. Great athlete, boom or bust type. If they hit you look like a genius, if they don't you're an idiot.

[THE ILK]

I thought this was gonna be another Len Bias thread.

Have you no soul!?!?

[ZachEY]

i dont support making everything about Gholston but it should be noted Derrick Harvey just got benched in Jacksonville... it just wasn't that great of a year. Similar to DRob's year, some drafts are weaker than others.

There were 18 pro bowlers drafted in the first two rounds of D-Rob's draft. That's weak?

[PatsFanTX]

He's really just kind of a run of the mill the bust, certainly not in the Ryan Leaf arena of all time busts

Other than Jamarcus Russell, name another top 6 draft pick over the last 10 years who has been a bigger bust than Gholston.

[PatsFanTX]

There were 18 pro bowlers drafted in the first two rounds of D-Rob's draft. That's weak?

Damn, that's what you call pure ownage.

[dbatesman]

There were 18 pro bowlers drafted in the first two rounds of D-Rob's draft. That's weak?

He's right on the player but wrong on the principle. Harvey's a good counterexample to Gholston-bashing, but it has nothing to do with a weak draft. He was picked 2 spots lower but cost the Jags their 1st, two 3rds, and a 4th. Not to mention the Jets fans pushing for us to draft Harvey did so because of a perceived deficit of effort and passion on Gholston's part.

[SMC]

He's right on the player but wrong on the principle. Harvey's a good counterexample to Gholston-bashing, but it has nothing to do with a weak draft. He was picked 2 spots lower but cost the Jags their 1st, two 3rds, and a 4th. Not to mention the Jets fans pushing for us to draft Harvey did so because of a perceived deficit of effort and passion on Gholston's part.

This.

The Jags essentially mortgaged their whole draft for Harvey and he's a bust.

[Klecko73isGod]

Other than Jamarcus Russell, name another top 6 draft pick over the last 10 years who has been a bigger bust than Gholston.

When was Lawrence Maroney drafted?

[#27TheDominator]

He's right on the player but wrong on the principle. Harvey's a good counterexample to Gholston-bashing, but it has nothing to do with a weak draft. He was picked 2 spots lower but cost the Jags their 1st, two 3rds, and a 4th. Not to mention the Jets fans pushing for us to draft Harvey did so because of a perceived deficit of effort and passion on Gholston's part.

Right, but doesn't this indicate that the Jets could have gotten a 1st, two 3rds and a 4th for the pick instead of taking Gholston?

[dbatesman]

Right, but doesn't this indicate that the Jets could have gotten a 1st, two 3rds and a 4th for the pick instead of taking Gholston?

Unless you're trying to conserve payroll, that's not really good value.

[slats]

Other than Jamarcus Russell, name another top 6 draft pick over the last 10 years who has been a bigger bust than Gholston.

Gholston sucks, troll. This is no secret to any Jet fans. Do you think this actually scores trolling points?

But Andre Smith #6, 2009, is giving him a run for his money. Alex Smith and Pacman Jones could each make a case. Johnathan Sullivan is right there. So is Joey Harrington and Mike Williams (T).

[PatsFanTX]

When was Lawrence Maroney drafted?

15 positions later than Gholston.

[Klecko73isGod]

15 positions later than Gholston.

Andy Katzenmoyer? Hart Lee Dykes?

[PatsFanTX]

Andy Katzenmoyer? Hart Lee Dykes?

You can't say a guy is a bust when he received a career-ending neck injury.

Dykes sucked but he was still alot better than Eugene Chung who was a complete bust.

[The Crusher]

Jamarcus Russell was probably a worse pick than both.

I still think someone should have tried him at D line.

[Klecko73isGod]

I still think someone should have tried him at D line.

Nah, too fat. His knees would have never held up.

[NjJets4027]

Ryan Leaf!

[The Crusher]

Nah, too fat. His knees would have never held up.

Just give him sizzzzzyrup, he'll be fine.

[HessStation]

Wow, two pages and still no mention of Gaines Adams. May he rip.

[Greenranger]

i dont support making everything about Gholston but it should be noted Derrick Harvey just got benched in Jacksonville... it just wasn't that great of a year. Similar to DRob's year, some drafts are weaker than others.

You know we passed on Kevin Williams for D-Rob right?

[bitonti]

You know we passed on Kevin Williams for D-Rob right?

that is true, they also passed on Jonathan Sullivan... Jimmy Kennedy, William Joseph etc. it's like saying they passed on Chris Johnson to take Gholston. Well technically that's true but it doesn't change it was a weak year.

2006 the year they took Dbrick and Mangold was a pretty strong year. Last year i think time will tell was a pretty strong year. Some drafts are flat out better than others.

[Greenranger]

that is true, they also passed on Jonathan Sullivan... Jimmy Kennedy, William Joseph etc. it's like saying they passed on Chris Johnson to take Gholston. Well technically that's true but it doesn't change it was a weak year.

2006 the year they took Dbrick and Mangold was a pretty strong year. Last year i think time will tell was a pretty strong year. Some drafts are flat out better than others.

Weak year? 5 of the 7 guys that went after D-Rob are still active and are Pro Bowlers. It may have gotten weak after the first round, but the top half of the first round was fairly solid, it wasn't 1992.

[T0mShane]

that is true, they also passed on Jonathan Sullivan... Jimmy Kennedy, William Joseph etc. it's like saying they passed on Chris Johnson to take Gholston. Well technically that's true but it doesn't change it was a weak year.

2006 the year they took Dbrick and Mangold was a pretty strong year. Last year i think time will tell was a pretty strong year. Some drafts are flat out better than others.

Weak draft or not, DRob and Gholston were/are pitiful NFL players, though, regardless of where they were picked or who was picked around them. Just brutally embarrassing picks for any franchise.

[THE ILK]

that is true, they also passed on Jonathan Sullivan... Jimmy Kennedy, William Joseph etc. it's like saying they passed on Chris Johnson to take Gholston. Well technically that's true but it doesn't change it was a weak year.

2006 the year they took Dbrick and Mangold was a pretty strong year. Last year i think time will tell was a pretty strong year. Some drafts are flat out better than others.

Next you should try and convince Rangers fans that it was a weak year when Slats drafted Hugh Jessimen.

[Jbro22]

Kyle Wilson.

[PatsFanTX]

Weak draft or not, DRob and Gholston were/are pitiful NFL players, though, regardless of where they were picked or who was picked around them. Just brutally embarrassing picks for any franchise.

I wouldn't call DFat a "pitiful" NFL player.

He was pretty consistent, started all the games and gave a pretty good effort game in and game out.

What he was not, was an All-Pro caliber DT who the Jets thought they were getting after giving up two 1st's and a 4th to move up and draft him. He never played up to those expectations.

If DFat was drafted in the 2nd or 3rd round, he would have been considered a very good player in his time with the Jets.

[T0mShane]

I wouldn't call DFat a "pitiful" NFL player.

He was pretty consistent, started all the games and gave a pretty good effort game in and game out.

What he was not, was an All-Pro caliber DT who the Jets thought they were getting after giving up two 1st's and a 4th to move up and draft him. He never played up to those expectations.

If DFat was drafted in the 2nd or 3rd round, he would have been considered a very good player in his time with the Jets.

Gotta disagree with you, Tex. DRob would make one play per game where he'd tackle a back on a counter, but generally he was manhandled at the point of attack and never provided a decent pass rush. Add in the injuries and he was a complete turd.

[Joe Jets fan]

someone should come up with a all-time bust team, I just do not have the time. There would have to have two QB's, can't leave out Leif or Russel

[PatsFanTX]

Gotta disagree with you, Tex. DRob would make one play per game where he'd tackle a back on a counter, but generally he was manhandled at the point of attack and never provided a decent pass rush. Add in the injuries and he was a complete turd.

Fair enough TS, but keep in mind the guy was constantly double-teamed all the time.

I still maintain that DFat was never a liability (which would equate to "pitiful") in the Jets defense, just that he never came close to the lofty expectations the Jets/Jets fans had for him.

One last thing though, he did win "Defensive Player of the Week" one time, right bit?