Inspired by the NFL Network’s recent list of the 100 best players in NFL history, SI.com columnist Jeff Pearlman released his worst 100 players in league history this week.
Mr. Pearlman agrees with those of you Niners fans who always contended that Kwame Harris (No. 48) and Renaldo Nehemiah (No. 18) weren’t just bad, but historically awful. I would humbly offer, however, that Nehemiah should be swapped out for Rashaun Woods.
Nehemiah was a world-class hurdler trying to become an NFL wide
receiver. Woods, a first-round draft pick with seven career catches, was
an NFL wide receiver who was trying to become unemployed.
I was struck in reviewing the Bottom 100 by how much NFL knowledge is
required to compile such a list. Most NFL fans would agree that Jim Brown,
Joe Montana and Jerry Rice are among the greatest players in NFL
history. But how many can even place the names of Kim McQuilken, Kevin
Allen and Bob Timberlake, let alone identify them among the most
wretched players in league history?
A few thoughts on Pearlman’s bit of genius:
• I loved Johnny “Lam” Jones (No. 13) as a kid and was legitimately
bummed that he made the list. Lam was super fast (won 4×100 relay
gold medal at 1976 Olympics) and super rich (NFL’s first $2 million
player) and also (as I just found with some quick research) kind of
super awful. How did I never notice this?
• The Niners will face No. 88 on the list, Bucs defensive tackle Ryan
Sims, on Sunday. Pearlman’s scouting report: “Over nine years, the man
drafted ahead of Albert Haynesworth and John Henderson has accumulated
8.5 sacks and zero big plays. Shockingly resilient for a shockingly
subpar player.” Cool. Eager to see Sims in action.
• Five other active players made the list: Lions linebacker Bobby
Carpenter (No. 98), Lions safety C.C. Brown (No. 90), Bills defensive
end Aaron Maybin (No. 44), Jets linebacker/defensive end Vernon Gholston
(No. 26) and Steelers wide receiver Limas Sweed (No. 20).
• I can vividly recall watching Babe Laufenberg (No. 3) in action after
he replaced an injured Troy Aikman against the Eagles in 1990. I had
never seen anything like it.
• That was quite a one-two punch at Notre Dame in 1977 and ’78. Joe
Montana, the NFL Network’s No. 4 player of all time, was backed up by
Rusty Lisch, Pearlman’s pick as the worst player in NFL history.
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