Comments on: Rashaan Salaam offers some advice on how not to be a bust

By: rskills

rskills — Wed, 02 May 2012 13:58:41 +0000

It’s funny to think back how people passionately debated who should win the Heisman, Salaam or Ki-Jana Carter. Also, who should be drafted who will be better. Figured one would’ve panned out.
Does anyone remember when Rashaan ran circles and over everyone in the XFL. Thought for sure he’d make a decent comeback then. Oops!

By: bears354

bears354 — Wed, 02 May 2012 06:42:38 +0000

I still have my Salaam jersey I got as a gift his rookie year. I really thought he was going to be something great for my Bears. Glad to see he has taken full responsibility for not living up to his potential. Also glad to see he is doing well as a businessman and not struggling like you see from many other 1st round busts.

By: drexelvol

drexelvol — Tue, 01 May 2012 19:52:25 +0000

Listen up, RGIII.

By: dcbuff

dcbuff — Tue, 01 May 2012 19:23:58 +0000

would of been nice to see him hit his potential. need more Buffs in this league

By: jimmylions

jimmylions — Tue, 01 May 2012 18:37:26 +0000

Smart things to say if he wants a fresh start somewhere.

By: dogluverssuck

dogluverssuck — Tue, 01 May 2012 18:01:54 +0000

I met him in person in a San Diego dealership.

He is a real down to Earth person. Very classy.

If he is a bust, then what do you say about guys like Reggie Bush who took this long to get 1,000 in a season.

Neither one is a bust.

By: zanderbough

zanderbough — Tue, 01 May 2012 17:26:44 +0000

Grew up in Colorado and that guy was my hero when I was 8 years old. I just didn’t understand why he wasn’t a superstar in the NFL. No I do.

By: sbowman1479

sbowman1479 — Tue, 01 May 2012 17:00:36 +0000

And next up to confess their faults: Tim Couch, Gerard Warren, Courtney Brown, Braylon Edwards, and Kellen Winslow Jr. ……… and all the front office bums from your Cleveland Browns….. I just hope we don’t at TR and BW to this list!!!

By: bunjy96

bunjy96 — Tue, 01 May 2012 16:49:57 +0000

From some of the published reports, the Bucs could have used him last year.

Maybe even this year.

By: godofwine330

godofwine330 — Tue, 01 May 2012 16:38:53 +0000

@lionsplayoffs says:
May 1, 2012 12:05 PM
Whether he intended it or not, that’s a really nice compliment to the guys who’ve been able to play into their thirties in the NFL. Doesn’t happen by accident.

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That isn’t always the answer, either. Look at T.O.. He has had a multitude of financial problems even playing into his mid 30′s. Some players/people either have the aptitude to learn the value of money – saving versus spending every cent, wrapping it up rather than have multiple kids by multiple mothers, some don’t. Some make mistakes early and later learn from them, others trip over the same rock that has been out in front of their houses for the last 20 years.

Rashaan learned, and hopefully his example can save others from a peril of being a former NFL player with less in the bank than a McDonalds employee.

By: metalhead65

metalhead65 — Tue, 01 May 2012 16:12:33 +0000

I am sure all the money he made makes up for any regrets he might have. I always thought his name translated to he who must fumble since he usually did whenever he did make a play for the bears. one of the biggest busts ever!

By: lionsplayoffs

lionsplayoffs — Tue, 01 May 2012 16:05:41 +0000

Whether he intended it or not, that’s a really nice compliment to the guys who’ve been able to play into their thirties in the NFL. Doesn’t happen by accident.

By: jbcommonsense

jbcommonsense — Tue, 01 May 2012 16:00:04 +0000

Teams should hire him to mentor their rookies/2nd year players.

By: askbri

askbri — Tue, 01 May 2012 15:47:36 +0000

Great advice, Rashaan…

Oh, well, that’s done. Feels good – Now, let’s go back and smoke another j!

By: bucforever

bucforever — Tue, 01 May 2012 15:27:02 +0000

Well said ! I am sure NFL teams have classes for rookies that cover most of what Salaam has said but from a different perspective. Maybe he should make a tell it like it is video and sell or give it to the NFL. Mostly it is about character and the dangers of too much money too soon.

By: mrgroovesd

mrgroovesd — Tue, 01 May 2012 15:21:15 +0000

Good for you Salaam for taking responsibility. He should be talking at the annual Rookie Synapse so the incoming rookies can see how you can go from Hero to Zero in a matter of seconds.

By: edsbay

edsbay — Tue, 01 May 2012 15:12:37 +0000

Have him speak at the Rookie Symposium….seems like alot of rookies could learn a lot from him.

By: 3yardsndust

3yardsndust — Tue, 01 May 2012 15:09:24 +0000

Ah, Salaam…I like him.

By: coseybedaman

coseybedaman — Tue, 01 May 2012 15:07:48 +0000

Sounds like a good, honest, classy guy. I hope we at least saved some of his money, and isnt dead broke. He seems to have a good head on his shoulders as an adult now.

By: hailvictory10

hailvictory10 — Tue, 01 May 2012 14:45:24 +0000

The Eagles will probably sign him

By: vahawker

vahawker — Tue, 01 May 2012 14:31:27 +0000

Do you ever wonder what kind of player a guy like JaMarcus Russell would have been if the salary slotting had been in place and he hadn’t gotten that big paycheck up front?
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He would have had to use the generic cough syrup instead of the name brand

By: comeonnowguys

comeonnowguys — Tue, 01 May 2012 14:30:02 +0000

I still consider Cedric Benson a much bigger bust than Salaam, even though he (briefly) turned things around in Cincy.

By: skolvikesskol

skolvikesskol — Tue, 01 May 2012 14:29:59 +0000

We miss u rashan fumble-alam.

Sincerely,

Minnesota Vikings and every other nfc north defense

By: silverhornet

silverhornet — Tue, 01 May 2012 14:22:50 +0000

The bigger the boost…

By: sparty0n

sparty0n — Tue, 01 May 2012 14:11:51 +0000

Do you ever wonder what kind of player a guy like JaMarcus Russell would have been if the salary slotting had been in place and he hadn’t gotten that big paycheck up front?

By: godofwine330

godofwine330 — Tue, 01 May 2012 14:08:12 +0000

Some good quotes from this could be taken (in case many of you have Colin Powell on the brain [I ain't reading all that...])

“The better I got, the lazier I got”

“You have to change the way you live. You have to change who you hang out with. You have to totally get focused on your game. You have the athletic ability, but if you don’t put the work behind it, nothing will come from it.”

“I had no discipline. I had all the talent in the world,”

All good, valid points. Let’s hope some of the rookies heed his advice.

By: ducksouped

ducksouped — Tue, 01 May 2012 14:02:29 +0000

His name sounds like a fish

By: blackqbwhiterb

blackqbwhiterb — Tue, 01 May 2012 14:00:18 +0000

Whatever he’s doing now for a living, I bet he’s successful at it. When you can see the problem, you can usually fix it…..

By: thepvyharvin

thepvyharvin — Tue, 01 May 2012 13:58:42 +0000

For anyone who is curious like I was,,, In yesterdays Chicago Tribune,,”These days, Salaam is back in San Diego, where he grew up, after spending time in Beijing, China, running a business that promotes mixed martial arts fights.

“I sold my percentage of the business, so right now I’m just relaxing and looking for the next venture to get into,” he said. “I’m doing pretty good right now.”

By: edavidberg

edavidberg — Tue, 01 May 2012 13:54:37 +0000

Rashaan only averaged 3.6 ypc his rookie year and he fumbled the ball 9 times. Defenders were not even trying to tackle him at the end of the year, they were trying to take the ball right out of his hands so they could return it for a touchdown. It was kind of embarrasing for him.

The way the NFL has evolved players like Salaam are weeded out at a much higher rate. Some of them still slip through the cracks though … LenDale White comes to mind.