Lafell going pro

Because he is a reliable, marginal player. Look how long the Raiders held on to Joey Porter. Ike Hilliard was drafted at #7 overall in '97 and never had more than 1,000 yds rec or 8 TDs in a year, and he stayed with the Giants for 8 years. Micheal Westbrook stuck around the Redskins for 7 years. JJ Stokes was with the 49ers for 8 years. Reggie Williams has been in Jax for 5 years.

These teams didn't/don't have any good WRs in years, and they couldn't/can't afford to lose what talent they had/have. Same goes for the Bills today.

A 2nd round, #36 overall pick is expected to produce more than 600 yards in a season and more than 2 TDs in a season. Calvin Johnson was a 1st rounder, but still, he had 1300+ yards in his second season, and you probably can't guess who threw most of those passes to him. Same goes for TJ Houshyomama (a 7th round pick), who had 92 rec and 900+ yds.

I won't say he's a total bust like Yatil Green, Marcus Nash or R. Jay Soward, but he's still a bust. If the NFL could go back in time knowing what they know now about Reed, no one would spend a 2nd round pick on him again (maybe a 4th or 5th). That makes him a bust.

Good discussion, by the way, and good to see another perspective.

 

Josh Reed has been on the same team for 7 years in the NFL. He's a productive member of his team. #3 WR? So what? Teams need #3 WRs & #4 WRs. Busts don't stay in the NFL that long.

Why isn't he on the trade block? They've had 7 years to trade or cut him, if they felt he wasn't doing his job. Obviously the Buffallo Bills value Josh Reed more than you.

 

Josh doesn't command a lot of money, he's a reliabel 3rd option, he's a fantastic downfield blocker and he's an asset to the locker room. All NFL teams need guys like this.

I guess you could consider him a bust in that his production isn't what you'd like to see from a 7 year veteran drafted in the 2nd round, but 7 years in the NFL is a successful career no matter what you do when you're there.

 

agreed, its nice to have a good conversation about this.

I see what you are saying, that for 2nd round money he hasnt panned out as they would have liked for him to. Being a Biletnikoff winner and all, but i still believe he has been solid considering what the Bills offensive line, and quarterback situations were. And they had no running game up until Lynch was drafted. So you essentially have a quarterback running for his life back there. I think out of the 2002 draft class he has just as many if not more catches than most of the receivers taken that year. i think only antonio bryant, donte stallworth, and atwaan randle el had more receptions, and bryant had the most with about 50 more than Reed. He hasnt been spectacular, but a bust, i just dont see it.

 

Based on his salary, I wish my career was a BUST!

It all depends on on the definition of the term. Anyway, just because you are not pro bowl does not mean you are a bust, IMHO. I think a bust is someone who does not play, or gets cut.

 

I wouldn't call him a bust. His second contract was bigger than his first, so he must have proven something to them. He has made over $2 mil in each of the last 3 years, and he has put together his best 3 year stretch, statistically. I never expected him to be a 1000 yard receiver every year. Receivers either have to be bigger or faster or both for that kind of production.

http://content.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/salaries/playerdetail.aspx?lname=reed&player=1898

Edit - Looks like those bonuses are potential, and not necessarily collected.

 

Average career in the NFL is what, 3.5 years? He is going into year 8, making $2 mill/year, and caught 50+ balls the last two seasons. Guy knows how to get open, and obviously is successful or he would have been cut long ago. He is a bust because he isn't Rice, Moss, or Owens? NFL teams really don't coddle players or tolerate lack of production. Every penny counts so I don't get the "bust" or "disappointment" talk at all.