http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/5566384

discusses how unlikely the Texans taking Mario over Reggie Bush is to Bowie-Jordan of the 1984 NBA Draft, like the way a couple of people have been saying.

Quote :

"Mario Williams is no Sam Bowie It's been four days since I saw the story pop up on the ticker during the Cavs-Wizards playoff game last Friday night. "The Houston Texans agree to terms with N.C. State DE Mario Williams." Like you, I couldn't believe that the Texans would be passing on the most exciting offensive football player I'd ever seen in college, only to sign some defensive lineman from a 7-5 team. I was shocked. However, if what I'm still seeing on TV, reading, or hearing about Mario Williams going number one is any indication, apparently the entire world's still in recovery. Thousands of experts have chimed in with their two cents about Mario Williams and Reggie Bush. "This is like Michael Jordan and Sam Bowie!" "This is like the 1984 NBA Draft!" "This is like ... well I don't know what it's like, because I don't want to sound like the other 90 people that just said it, but why did Houston do this?" Relax. It's nothing like Jordan-Bowie. I'd buy this scenario if you guarantee me that Reggie Bush will immediately touch the ball 30 times a game for the next 10-to-15 years. You can't. I'd buy it if you convince me that Mario Williams, like a Sam Bowie, had knees that were re-constructed more times than the so-called "next" Guns N' Roses album. I'm afraid this Jordan-Bowie = Mario-Reggie argument holds little weight. Sorry. You still wanna tell me about 1984? Fine. Let's talk 1984. In 1984, let's picture Reggie White never joining the USFL. Instead, let's pretend that Reggie White entered the NFL draft, for what would've been his rookie season. Then, let's envision a struggling NFL franchise passing on Reggie White for that past season's Heisman Trophy-winning running back. This Heisman Trophy-winning RB happened to be the star cog of the "most explosive college offense of all-time". This "can't miss" running back's team, much like Reggie Bush's, was upset in the national championship game. Picture that the entire USFL never even existed in 1984. Then, picture an NFL team selecting Mike Rozier one pick ahead of Reggie White. Now what would you say about the Texans picking Mario Williams? On the flip side, we'll say that White was picked over Rozier. If you remember, much like Williams, White gained most of his national prominence during his final college season at Tennessee. The stats back that up. On the other hand, Rozier was extremely productive at Nebraska, a big-time, big-name star. Not at the level of Bush, but still, I can imagine what some of our same "experts" now would be saying back then... "You're gonna take Reggie White over Rozier? What was Tennessee's record last year?" "Mike Rozier sells tickets. How's a city gonna get excited about Reggie White?" "Sure, this Reggie White guy had 15 sacks this season, but where was he the rest of his college career? He only had 17 sacks the other three years." "FOUR of White's sacks this year came against, get this ... The Citadel." Face it, had Reggie White been passed on for Mike Rozier in the 1984 NFL draft, possibly making THAT one of the huge draft mistakes of all-time, then you wouldn't still sweat Mario Williams leapfrogging Reggie Bush. Mario Williams isn't guaranteed to be Reggie White, but he's got a huge upside, similar to White's at the time. Also, it's far less ridiculous to suggest that Williams will achieve a Reggie White-like career than to suggest Bush is going to be the Michael Jordan of football. Reggie White was the Michael Jordan of defensive lineman. I'm not saying that Reggie Bush will turn out to have a Mike Rozier-type career; they're two completely different types of backs. If you want to compare Bush to a Nebraska legend, we'll compare him to legendary Husker wingback Johnny Rodgers. Also a first-round selection, Rodgers was one of the more electrifying multiple offensive threats in college history. However, he starred in Canada, only because that was back when the CFL got talented Americans by offering more money (not by being safe haven from NFL drug bans, like now, right Ricky?). Rodgers came back to the states, and wound up tearing up his knee with the Chargers, and was out of pro football before age 30. The point is, you never know. So, I won't sit here and speculate that Reggie Bush's career will wind up as unlucky as Johnny Rodgers'. That'd be just as curious as continuing to mention Mario Williams in the same breath as Sam Bowie's."

5/3/2006 12:09:46 AM

good post, i hope mario rocks the house

5/3/2006 12:16:15 AM

it'd be sweet if he'd come in and clock Vince Young when the Texans and Titans play, as well as clock Reggie Bush when the Saints and Texans play. gg Mario on getting drafted #1, now just go prove all of the haters, saying you weren't worthy of the #1 pick, wrong.

5/3/2006 12:19:29 AM

i never really liked the texans before...i never liked any texas team, but ill pay attention to this team just cause mario is such a beast...i hope he is the next reggie white

[Edited on May 3, 2006 at 12:22 AM. Reason : drunk, had to correct]

5/3/2006 12:21:44 AM

He was a good fit/pick for them. Those guys are focused on stopping Peyton Manning, and that makes all the sense in the world.

5/3/2006 12:22:31 AM

werent they ranked last in either defense or sacks last year...it seems to make sense to draft him

5/3/2006 12:23:38 AM

^Yes I think they were.

They made a smart football move. They KNOW Mario will have a good career that could last 15 years.

Nobody even knows if Bush can hold up at RB or play WR in the NFL. Even the best RBs don't last.

5/3/2006 12:55:51 AM

^ The avg RB doesn't last. The best do last. Curtis Martin, Bettis, and Tiki Barber for example. Maybe they don't have careers as long as QBs or linemen, but they can play into their 30s.

5/3/2006 1:17:45 AM

Even better article on Mario Williams (scroll down to Atlanta's pick).

5/3/2006 10:55:22 AM