Lucky Players

[Fred T. Jane]

They were great during the postseason, but that defense was historically bad during the regular season. The 2006 Colts arguably had the worst defense to win a Super Bowl ever.

But that was my point. I thought the topic was about players who didn't do much other than hop along for the ride on the way to championship(s). You can't say that the 2006 Colts defence was just along for the ride during this past postseason, hence my point.

[CC97]

Jose Canseco on the 2000 New York Yankees

[OB33]

They were great during the postseason, but that defense was historically bad during the regular season. The 2006 Colts arguably had the worst defense to win a Super Bowl ever.

But you have to remember that several players on the Colts D were injured for most of the regular season, most notably Bob Sanders (points to sig) who only played 4 games before the playoffs. Don't forget in 2005 the Colts had a top 10 defense that keyed that 13-0 run they had. As long as the Colts can stay healthy, and get Freeney re-signed to a long-term deal the Colts should be able to get back to that same level next year. [/homer]

[DDR]

Steve Kerr added another dimension to the Bulls' arsenal when he was on the floor. He was money behind the arc, and forced teams to open up the middle of the court. He played a similar role to John Paxson on the Bulls teams of the early '90s. Frank Thomas is a Hall of Famer and one of the better hitters of this generation. Granted, he didn't factor into the Series win much beyond a nice surge in the middle of the year before he went down again, but this topic is about average players that "got lucky" by being on a Championship team. That description just doesn't fit Frank Thomas. Those are the only two I'll go to bat for, since they're the only two I saw consistently up close.

[ColeJ]

my personal favorite

Roman Turek from the 99* Stars Cup team

poor turek.

one of my favorite players ever. i'm not sure i'd consider him "lucky"...

he was one of the best backup goalies i've ever seen. he just had bad luck as a #1.

[illwauk]

I'll go with Trent Dilfer as the epitome of this, with Brad Johnson coming in second. Both average players at best who QBed Super Bowl-winning teams.

There's a loooong list of QB's in that category:

Jim McMahon (and the other 9 guys on the 85 Bears O' not named Walter Payton)

Jeff Hostetler

Joe Theismann

Mark Rypien

Terry Bradshaw (he's a slight notch above everyone else on the list, but not enough to justify 4 rings)

I'll stop short of adding Jim Plunkett and Doug Williams. Plunkett because no one really stood out on the 1980 Raiders (they just worked great as a team unit) and Williams because I think people forget just how good he was before he got injured.

[infrared41]

Terry Bradshaw (he's a slight notch above everyone else on the list, but not enough to justify 4 rings)

Yeah, Bradshaw rode a "lucky streak" all the way to the Hall of Fame.

[The_Admiral]

Steve Kerr was lucky to have been on the Bulls (and Spurs, too), but it's not as if he just coasted to titles with his thumb up his ass. He was a legitimate piece of the puzzle. Give him his due.

I think Bradshaw and McMahon have been overrated due to their very colorful personalities. If we don't take that into consideration, suddenly they don't look like such great players. It's weird like that.

Frank Thomas

The subtitle is "average players on great teams," so Frank Thomas does not qualify. He was lucky to have gotten a ring with the 2005 White Sox, of which he was not a large part, but we're talking about a first-ballot Hall of Famer here.

[FiddySicks]

Steve Kerr was lucky to have been on the Bulls (and Spurs, too), but it's not as if he just coasted to titles with his thumb up his ass. He was a legitimate piece of the puzzle. Give him his due.

I think Bradshaw and McMahon have been overrated due to their very colorful personalities. If we don't take that into consideration, suddenly they don't look like such great players. It's weird like that.

Frank Thomas

The subtitle is "average players on great teams," so Frank Thomas does not qualify. He was lucky to have gotten a ring with the 2005 White Sox, of which he was not a large part, but we're talking about a first-ballot Hall of Famer here.

Yeah true. Your correct, hes far from Average, my bad. I meant he was lucky to still be with that team and get a ring for not contributing (Not his fault, he was hurt).

[DEAD!]

Steve Kerr was lucky to have been on the Bulls (and Spurs, too), but it's not as if he just coasted to titles with his thumb up his ass. He was a legitimate piece of the puzzle. Give him his due.

I think Bradshaw and McMahon have been overrated due to their very colorful personalities. If we don't take that into consideration, suddenly they don't look like such great players. It's weird like that.

Frank Thomas

The subtitle is "average players on great teams," so Frank Thomas does not qualify. He was lucky to have gotten a ring with the 2005 White Sox, of which he was not a large part, but we're talking about a first-ballot Hall of Famer here.

Yeah true. Your correct, hes far from Average, my bad. I meant he was lucky to still be with that team and get a ring for not contributing (Not his fault, he was hurt).

oh yeah, the irony, the Big Hurt was hurt...? *groan*

[rams80]

With football's salary cap leading to such unbalanced teams, it can be an entire team's offensive or defensive unit.

Offense: 2000 Ravens

Defense: '99 Rams, '06 Colts

I feel compelled to mention that many of the players on the '99 Rams defense had exceptional years that season. *cough* Todd Lyght, Mike Jones, D'Marco Farr *cough*. The Rams were really the beneficiaries of a proverbial "perfect storm" on defense that year. Sure, that collectively only elevated the defense to "slightly above average", but it wasn't like they were horrible that year either.

Ron Harper immediately came to mind when I saw this topic.

Mark Rypien

Forgot about him...Man, he sucked. Living proof that winning Super Bowl MVP means jack-diddly in evaluating ones career.

[NJTank]

Terry Bradshaw (he's a slight notch above everyone else on the list, but not enough to justify 4 rings)

Yeah, Bradshaw rode a "lucky streak" all the way to the Hall of Fame.

And those two Super Bowl MVPs too.

[pcgd]

SI had a MLB players poll about "What player gets the most out of the least amount of talent?" in this week's issue...

The winner?

David Eckstein...with a whopping 77%! Can't remember 2nd place but they only had 3%.

Not completely related but semi related...

[DEAD!]

Mark Rypien

Forgot about him...Man, he sucked. Living proof that winning Super Bowl MVP means jack-diddly in evaluating ones career.

Mark Rypen 1, Dan Marino 0

[ninersdd]

Larry Brown of the Cowboys in 96

[Nate15]

Luis Sojo, Ramiro Mendoza

[The_Admiral]

SI had a MLB players poll about "What player gets the most out of the least amount of talent?" in this week's issue...

The winner?

David Eckstein...with a whopping 77%! Can't remember 2nd place but they only had 3%.

What a backhanded compliment! He's no Darin Erstad, though. He doesn't ground out to third. He grinds out to third.

[Coast2CoastAM2006]

my personal favorite

Roman Turek from the 99* Stars Cup team

poor turek.

one of my favorite players ever. i'm not sure i'd consider him "lucky"...

he was one of the best backup goalies i've ever seen. he just had bad luck as a #1.

some others you can add from that team, Jon Sim and Blake Sloan.

I'll go with Trent Dilfer as the epitome of this, with Brad Johnson coming in second. Both average players at best who QBed Super Bowl-winning teams.

There's a loooong list of QB's in that category:

Jim McMahon (and the other 9 guys on the 85 Bears O' not named Walter Payton)

Jeff Hostetler

Joe Theismann

Mark Rypien

Terry Bradshaw (he's a slight notch above everyone else on the list, but not enough to justify 4 rings)

I'll stop short of adding Jim Plunkett and Doug Williams. Plunkett because no one really stood out on the 1980 Raiders (they just worked great as a team unit) and Williams because I think people forget just how good he was before he got injured.

Why stop at Doug Williams why not add Timmy Smith to that.

As for Simms and Jeff Hostetler, well in fairness The Tuna believed that a bus driver is all you need to win. Thats why he used Simms and Hostetler in NY, used deadsow with the patriots, Vinny with the Jets and most recently his line of bus drivers Q, Henson, Vinny, Deadsow, and Romo.

i miss hostetler, he used to be a favorite of mine when the Giants had something of a respectable team. Sad to see him vanish from football.

[Frenchie]

Steve Smith from the Edmonton Oilers, puts the puck in his own net to lose the Cup for his team, but gets a shot the very next year and rides his hall of fame team to a Cup that they shouldve had the year before if not for him.

NOT the same at all... actually, I'd say it's the opposite.

Most UNLUCKY player... One of the Best D-man made one little mistake... I blame FUHR for that goal... he wasn't hugging the post...

my personal favorite

Roman Turek from the 99* Stars Cup team

Similarly, GLENN HEALY 1994 Rangers...

If I hear hime mentioned that damn ring on the air one more time, I'm going to lose it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[illwauk]

Terry Bradshaw (he's a slight notch above everyone else on the list, but not enough to justify 4 rings)

Yeah, Bradshaw rode a "lucky streak" all the way to the Hall of Fame.

Dan Deirdorf and Howie Long are also in the HOF. When a guy has been in the media long enough, he'll inevitably makes friends with other media personalities. Some of whom have influence on who gets into the hall.