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Al's windiest whiffs on draft day, all time. The Genius' 14 biggest draft day busts.

In typically sappy reverse order:

14: Eldridge Dickey, #1, 1968, a black QB, whom Al tried to turn into a WR. Prodded by Ron Wolfe, Al took Stabler #2. The lefty was deemed not ready for the pros, was sent home, told to lift, to throw. Official historical rosters have Snake making the team NOT until 1970---but I happen to know he was on the team at least part of 69. But, Dickey. I know he never threw a pass as a Raider. He caught 1 ball for 34 yards. There is a famous NFL Film, a play of Eldridge Dickey in S&B (oldtimers will recall)---the context would be a bio praising Al for going with a black guy. The play sure looks like a QB scramble R, a nice run, good yards---at home, heading S, towards the Black Hole. But I know he never played QB. End around? But he never had a carry. I've concluded this is probably preseason footage, Dickey at QB.

13: Rodger Bird, #1, 1966. A size/speed SS, who really could hit. An excellent PR in S&B, in 67 he broke the pro record, set in 1927, for net PR yards in a year. But a bust SS. The reason Bird is such a big bust is cuz: the year before NY went nuke in the NFL/AFL bidding war, paying Broadway Joe the then unheard of 400G per. Bird was Al's $400,000 answer to Namath. But the answer was wrong.

12: Charles Philyaw, 1976. I know, I know, he was a #2. I know, Jeb Blount. But you're not listening. Philyaw is Al's most FAMOUS bust. If you look at Al's top picks preceding 76: Schuh, Upshaw, Thoms, Chester, Tatum, Siani, Guy, Lawrence, Colzie. And his 2's and 3's and lowers: Biletnikoff, Svihus, Gus Otto, McCloughan, Banaszak, Stabler, Shell, Charlie Smith, Atkinson, Hubbard, Irons, Cline, Villipiano, CD, Bob Moore, Horace Jones, Vella, Branch, Dalby, Dr Death, Monte Johnson, Ghost, VE. When Al used his highest 76 lottery (his #1, as well as 77's #1, went to GB for Stork) on Philyaw---there was more TALK of that bust than any before or since. I'm interested if oldtimers concur. He was extremely tall and huge, a DE. Famously dumb. Famously asked Madden why VE got to put his first name on his jersey.

11: Derrick Gibson, #1, 01. What's worse, a high draftee who never plays? Or one who occupies, maybe 3 years, one of your only 11 spots on the field and stinks?

10: Matt Stinchcomb, 99. He came with a bum shoulder. I don't know if he never healed or, if he did, then he stunk. But it's one of those two. He barely played for us.

9: Phillip Buchanon, 02: Even as PR he played the same. FLASHES of brilliance crackling (rarely) thru a general gloom of stupidity, backward play, me-first hot-doggishness, and overhype.

8: Bob Buczkowski, 86. See #10.

7: Patrick Bates, 93. Didn't even show. Suddenly decided he didn't want to play. Changed his mind, later, sorta. Appeared in a few games, badly.

6: Todd Marinovich, 91.

5: Monte Jackson, an all pro CB as a Ram, one year, when he led the league in int's. Jackson was a total bust in OK. Bought at the price of two #1's, 78's and 79's, from Georgia Frontierre. Sposed to be the starter, but we had rookie unknown Henry Williams, a one year Raider, starting CB (opposite Hayes) in 79---and that's about all the History says about mysterious, insignificant Henry Wms. A few game logs would say just a little more. I remember him, I remember hearing him a lot, a lot said about our rookie starting CB. I don't remember seeing him much. In 80, that magic year, Les was having ANY CB's all time year. And ex Ram Duane O'Steen was RCB. Monte Jackson, on the team, wasn't even Nickel, ex Giant Odis McKinney was.

4: Jay Schroeder. The draft pick, the technical bust, was fat, slow LT John Clay, 1987. After a fat, slow year in S&B, Clay was sent to SD for superstar, perennial all pro LT Jim Lachey, who was just a kid at the time, who forced SD's bonehead move with a holdout. Lachey played one game in S&B, the 88 opener. The opportunity arose to get the QB who had it all, sposedly. For a half decade or so, we were just quality QB play away from being pretty good.

3: Pyew Moss, trade 05. He quit in 06. The WHOLE TEAM quit in 06. Poisoned the entire franchise.

2: Mark Wilson, #1, 1980. We were just a QB away for another half decade. Tuff, tall, long, lean and lanky. Slow windup. Passes often a quarter second late. Very sackable. Played hurt a lot. Threw a nice bomb, tho often a tad late. Choke artist. I remember a huge play in LA vs DN, 3rd and goal, maybe 7 or 8 yard line---all knew if we make this play, we likely win, and if not, not. Wilson's got Marcus uncovered R flat. Problem is pass rush is so close. QB backpedaling---he has one instant to flick that precious pigskin to safety. He held the ball. He's scared if he tries to throw---the threat to him is D forcing a fumble if he starts that slow arm. We lost. Missed postseason. No way Gannon's holding that ball when he gets Orange Crushed into sod.

1: Sonny Bishop, a G. Al did not draft Bishop, he traded his 1963 #1 to Red Vest Stram, of all people, which is why it hurt so bad. Vest picked with that lotto big Buck Buchanan, HOF DT, probably first ballot, all time supergreat, who killed us. Bishop wasn't bad, tho he was with us. The LG had been with Al in SD, how he got to KC I don't know. In 64, Al got something out of it, after all, swapped Bishop to HU for Billy Cannon, who busted bad as Clem's lead blocker in 64, then began in 65 that long slow transition to TE, where Cannon did not start til 67. Bishop, meanwhile, was an Oiler G for much of the decade, a solid player.

Professor Eyepatch