Tyrone Wheatley, RB, University of Michigan.
What were your thoughts on this pick? I remember being excited. Mostly because had he come out in '94 he probably would have been a top 5 pick. His senior year was not as strong.
The internet was in its infancy and word on the bulletin boards at the time was Reeves wanted Rashaan Salaam and lost a power struggle with Young. Wheatley came into camp late after a contract holdout. I remember meeting Reeves at training camp at Farleigh Dickinson that year and asking when Wheatley would be in camp and he gave me a nasty look.
Wheatley never really got a shot with Reeves. DO you think he would have been different with a different head coach? He had a couple good seasons with Gruden in Oakland and lasted 10 seasons in the league.
Did you like the pick? Why was he a bust? Talent? Coaching?
Wheatley apparently had a poor attitude and work ethic, and didn't do the extra he needed to excel with the Giants.
I remember worrying that Amani Toomer was in the same situation......Michigan skill player who seemed to take a few seasons to "get it" and also was in the doghouse.
Toomer made it, Wheatley didn't.
had a decent year or two with Raiders IIRC. But never was much
Same. Wheatley didn’t fail due to lack of ability. Dayne was the epitome of a great college player who wasn’t going to cut it at the next level. The Tim Tebow version at RB. I’m today’s NFL he'd be lucky to get picked before the last day
But I also thought Butch Woolfolk would be THE Giant workhorse of the 80's, and I thought Dave Young would be an All Pro, and I thought Dave Brown would prove ALL the critics wrong.
So yeah, Wheatley was one of many pieces that didn't fit from Hampton's demise until they finally realized Tiki Barber was NOT a platoon back.
At the time I was pumped. He was pretty awesome at Michigan and Hampton was slowing down.
What do I know, I liked Dayne, another Gianty pick.
What do I know, I liked Dayne, another Gianty pick.
I was excited about Wilson until the fumbles. Don't want to jinx Saquon but his ball security isn't talked about enough IMO. Maybe that's because nobody else wants to jinx him either. ;)
What do I know, I liked Dayne, another Gianty pick.
I'm more excited that you are posting more. The chances of you outing yourself as Dupe furhter increase by every post.
Yeah, if I remember he pulled a muscle in his ass his first day of camp when he finally showed up
His nickname in the lockerroom was "Enigma" because he was such a standoffish weirdo towards everyone else
I hated Wheatley when he was here. Total east-west runner. Drove me nuts. Then I saw him play with Oakland. Power right up between the tackles. Like what? I recall reading something where he made a crack about Reeves or Fassel or both always using him on sweeps so the defense knew what was coming when he got the ball.
I don't usually give credence to the "guy was not used right" complaints but in this case I came to believe there was something to it.
The fact that he became a coach hardens me in that regard. The lazy underachiever types don't usually go into coaching. And most busts don't last 10 years in the league. Add to that that we know Reeves didn't want him and maybe it was more us than him.
Couple decent years in Oakland but whatever.
More of an example of why team's don't need to necessarily pick running backs early in drafts...
Lou
I remember watching him play and thinking "he's not putting in 100%, more like 80%"
Once he was traded to Oakland, he put forth 100%...it was like night and day, problem was at that point, he was out of shape.
The guy ruined his own career because of his attitude. He could have been great.
But boy did he stink.
I recall the China Doll deal.. he sucked
We picked another Butch Woolfolk, actually.