Sometimes a bust pick can immediately be identified. The best instance of that in the 2009 NFL Draft occurred when the Raiders used the seventh overall pick on Darrius Heyward-Bey.
Is Darrius Heyward-Bey already a bust?
When that pick happened, the NFL Draft world collectively giggled.
But, is Heyward-Bey already hurtling toward bust status, even before training camp has begun?
The case against Heyward-Bey began at his first mini-camp. He reportedly looked pretty bad, albeit against the league's top cornerback in Nnamdi Asomugha. His claim to infamy was dropping passes on three consecutive plays.
This led Heyward-Bey to utter the cringe-worthy line “I’m not in college anymore.” Yikes.
The next day, Heyward-Bey was held out of practice for fatigue and soreness. That's not good. It's not like Heyward-Bey is some 38-year-old veteran. He's a fresh, 21-year-old. Should he really suffer from fatigue? Heck, even teammate Javon Walker was free of pain following the practice.
Heyward-Bey is also suffering from a hamstring injury he suffered last month. The injury has been so problematic for Heyward-Bey that he left practice last week after just one play.
Not a good start.
It also won't help that Heyward-Bey has a mostly unproven quarterback in JaMarcus Russell and a weak-armed on in backup Jeff Garcia.
Also consider that Oakland’s first three opponents are San Diego, Kansas City and Denver, teams with pretty good cornerbacks. Or that Heyward-Bey has never been known to have great hands.
It might be too early to call Heyward-Bey a bust, but he’s certainly not off to a good start.
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