Top 10 Eagles NFL Draft Busts: #1 Jerome McDougle

by JasonB on Apr 15, 2011 12:00 PM EDT in Philadelphia Eagles News

It was all downhill from here for Jerome McDougle

We have finally reached #1 on the list of the top 10 draft busts of the Andy Reid era and while I've cautioned a few times over the course of this list that you shouldn't put too much stock in where a guy is on the list... that's not the case with #1. Even though I had Bryan Smith above Freddie Mitchell, I'm totally fine with anyone saying they should be switched. It's really just a matter of opinion, but bust #1 is not.

Jerome McDougle - 2003 - 1st round 15th overall pick

More than any guy on this list, McDougle was a victim of circumstance. Specifically he more bad luck with injuries than any Eagle I can remember. So it's hard to say whether he ever had the talent to be a success in the NFL or not, but really it doesn't matter. You either do succeed in this game or you don't and Jerome most certainly did not. Fair or unfair, the ability to stay healthy in the NFL is almost just as important a "talent" as scoring a TD or sacking the QB.

After being taken with the 15th overall pick, McDougle spent five seasons with the Eagles and registered three sacks. For his career, he actually averaged less than one tackle per game played.

Just in case you forgot just how often McDougle was injured, take a look at his almost unbelievable injury history after the jump.

In his rookie season, 2003, he was injured in the final preseason game against the Jets and missed eight games of the regular season. At the time it was said that he had injured his ankle, hip and knee.
In 2004, he was diagnosed with an irregular heartbeat and missed a game only to return and sprain his knee, causing him to miss the final four games of the season.
In 2005, just days before he was to report to training camp McDougle was shot in the abdomen during a robbery attempt in Miami, Florida. Complications from emergency surgery cost him the entire 2005 season.
In 2006 he fractured two ribs in preseason and missed the first three games of the year. In his return, he committed 30 yards of penalties in one play to set the Tampa Bay Bucs up for a 62 yard game winning FG in October.
In 2007, he tore his triceps in preseason and missed the entire year.
In 2008 he was cut after a fairly impressive preseason and picked up by the Giants. However, he never really played with New York, who released him after the season and he's been out of the NFL since

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Comments

Man, he’s sure had some rough luck, but no doubt that he’s #1.

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by PhiladelphiaEagles on Apr 15, 2011 12:04 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

Hands down. Just a completely wasted pick.

by 92-74-99-96 on Apr 16, 2011 11:31 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

McDougle really was a shame. Think of it this way — Brandon Graham is already guaranteed to be less of a bust than McDougle, even if he never suits up again. At least Graham has started a few games.

Still, the hit in that picture is one that I’ll never forget.

by Rujasu on Apr 15, 2011 12:33 PM EDT reply actions

i really wanted to give him some bonus points for that sack on eli (in the picture), but….i just cant.
5 years. less than 1 tackle per game played???? OMG. thats pathetic! more pathetic than i thought!

i was really pulling for him that last preseason. thinking he might finally stay healthy and the light just went on for him. sadly it wasnt enough and that was that. in hindsight – it was the right move and i’m glad he’s gone.

by RogerPodacter on Apr 15, 2011 12:34 PM EDT reply actions

Holy crap, I completely forgot he was a big part of that Matt Bryant FG in Tampa.

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by JimmyK on Apr 15, 2011 12:35 PM EDT reply actions

I thought he was going to be cut immediately after that game. Seriously, that was one of the worst things I’ve ever seen by a football player. Getting a penalty is one thing. But losing 30 yards in one play to set up the game-losing play, because you couldn’t reign in your temper? I mean, that’s unfathomably stupid.

In five years, his net result was essentially minus-1 wins and minus-$$$$. They would have been better off picking no player with the #15 pick.

by Rujasu on Apr 15, 2011 1:03 PM EDT up reply actions

Worst thing was that the first penalty was a travesty. He got called for a facemask that wasn’t… but obviously he just compounded the problem.

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by JasonB on Apr 15, 2011 4:38 PM EDT up reply actions

Ah, good point. Thing is, even if the penalty had been legit, that wouldn’t have been a big deal. If that had cost the Eagles the game itself, it wouldn’t have made anyone happy, but penalties do happen. Even good players get them. But it’s the total loss of composure and professionalism in such a vital situation that was really damning. They could have won the game, and all he had to do was bite his tongue.

by Rujasu on Apr 15, 2011 4:57 PM EDT up reply actions

Victor Ab......or however you spell his name

I’m beginning to think he is just as unlucky with the injuries. It seems like all I hear about is how he’s got a new injury from working out, or preseason game or soemthing like that. It seems like the guy can’t catch a break to play a full season. I was always excited to see what he could do if he could get into the rhythm of the season but it seems like that may never happen.

by slandog on Apr 15, 2011 12:44 PM EDT reply actions

Yup, reading or hearing his name still makes me throw up in my mouth a little.

by The Reddgie on Apr 15, 2011 12:55 PM EDT reply actions

I wonder if Kolb makes another teams “Worst Trade” lists in the future….

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by GreenInBaltimore on Apr 15, 2011 1:33 PM EDT reply actions

Didn’t he also tear himself up hopping over a fence or was that someone else?

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by goodfella46er on Apr 15, 2011 2:40 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

That was JR Reid

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by JasonB on Apr 15, 2011 4:39 PM EDT up reply actions

Ah ok. Thanks!

"This is one of the top 10 biggest bonehead trades in the history of the NFL."
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by goodfella46er on Apr 15, 2011 6:14 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

i will always be thankful for this....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lv7DTI-kTzA

"Eagles fans are a passionate group who love their team," said McNabb, "if not the actual players. It's not like winning a Super Bowl before the first month of the season is the hardest thing they've ever asked of me. That'd be all those times they asked me to go kill myself."

by greenbean#twoOH on Apr 15, 2011 2:53 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs

Hahaha. I couldn’t help but watch that over and over again.

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by bdawk4ever on Apr 15, 2011 4:09 PM EDT up reply actions

thanks for this it made my day.

and also it had the reggie bush hit on the right, which had to be watched multiple times.

i wish we still had corners who could hit.

by eagsfanMBG22 on Apr 15, 2011 4:55 PM EDT up reply actions

Remember the 2006 Tampa game

When this asshole kicked the Refs penalty flag. Puting tampa in FG range. To win the game. What a fucking moron!!!!!!!

by greenage on Apr 15, 2011 3:25 PM EDT reply actions

Figured this had to be #1. It’s a “what might have been without the injuries” thing.

Never argue with an idiot. They'll bring you down to their level and then beat you with experience.

by wildcatlh on Apr 15, 2011 3:25 PM EDT reply actions

total speculation here

But, one of the classes I had last year talked about steroid hormones, and we went into some detail of what goes on with it(structure, reactions, characteristics, etc). Well, one of the worst side effects is that your tendons don’t have a chance to strengthen enough when you are on steroids. This is because the type of tissue, and the blood supply. This results in really weak and imbalanced joints.

My teacher, who is a freaking super smart, said that he knows for a fact that most of these sports injuries are because of the imbalances on these joints because of them using steroids. And as a PHD chemist, he said that it would be no problem at all to cycle around those tests in the off-season. Especially in college.

I think this happens to a lot of players in the league, and because of the way he was playing in college, which was almost super human, I am saying that I think this guy was doing it and paid the price. Too many injuries for it to be a coincidence.

But again, speculation.

by topcat6 on Apr 15, 2011 3:49 PM EDT reply actions

Im pretty sure that was JR Reid speaking about the fence thing which sucked because I felt like everytime he returned a kick he was 1 step away from takin it to the house.

by justinkali24 on Apr 15, 2011 4:43 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

Oh I didn’t see jasonb reply to that im new to the site well with an account anyway

E A G L E S EAGLES

by justinkali24 on Apr 15, 2011 4:45 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

He is surely a bust, but he had a huge role in one of our favorite games.

He teamed with Mark Simoneu(!) to make the 4th down stop at the end of the first half of the 4th-and-26 game. What the hell McDougle was doing on the field in that situation I’ll never understand, but these two have to be the unlikeliest heroes in Eagles history.

by Tracer Bullet on Apr 15, 2011 5:46 PM EDT reply actions

I don't consider him a bust

More than any guy on this list, McDougle was a victim of circumstance.

For this exact reasons (and others I’ve explained more than once on these boards)

To me a bust is someone who never lives up to his potential for lack of effort, talent, being a bad fit, etc.

Getting injured and then shot doesn’t really make me regret the pick, it makes me disappointed at the guy’s luck.

I realize by my definition Ki-Jana Carter was not a “bust” either.

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Still waiting for the Eagles to Bring It Home For Jerome

by D3Keith on Apr 16, 2011 7:06 PM EDT reply actions