Heath Shuler

[Ozzu]

Alright. What's the story behind Heath Shuler? He's drafted in the first round by the Redskins in 1994 and then in 1997, he's playing for another team. I've always been fascinated by actual first-hand stories of those who watched a "bust" play and if they ever saw anything in the guy.

I mean, did he ever show anything at all? Were any of you guys excited by the things you saw and then it all just fell apart? What exactly happened?

Just curious.

Oh and I know this is a strange topic and a bit out of left field, but as I said before, it's interesting to take a trip down memory lane and hear first hand accounts of things.

[Teller]

I was covering Skins training camps for a small paper in Cumberland, MD at the time. (Their camp was in Frostburg during most of my seven years there.)


After watching a few weeks of practice in Shuler's rookie season, even I could tell that Shuler wasn't an NFL QB. Even in practice, he had kind of that "deer in headlights" look about him, and didn't have even a hint of the accuracy he seemed to have in college.

Whatsmore, I was just a small-town wannabe reporter, but Shuler always seemed nervous during interviews; even with us small-town guys.

One afternoon, after attending the morning practice, I went back to the newsroom, and my editor said something like, "Hey Jas, whatcha got for today?"

I looked back at him with a straight face and said, "I'm going to do a story on how this Gus Frerotte guy has looked better in camp than Shuler."

"You can't do that," came the answer. "Shuler's the guy here. That other guy probably won't even make the team."

Hmmm....Really? Last I heard, Gus was still around. Shuler? Not so much.

[RenegadeTK]

haha i was in elementary school when the shuler mistake began. i seem to remember him having a big win against either the colts or the broncos..... anyway, i remember being relieved was good ole gus came in to take over

[Ozzu]

As a Cowboys fan, I flat out don't remember the guy. I remember the name, but I can't honestly remember his play. Obviously, as a first round talent, he had to have something about him coming out of college that was thought to make him a viable NFL QB.

It's interesting that he seemed nervous giving interviews considering he ended up running for Congress. Weird.

[RenegadeTK]

As a Cowboys fan, I flat out don't remember the guy. I remember the name, but I can't honestly remember his play. Obviously, as a first round talent, he had to have something about him coming out of college that was thought to make him a viable NFL QB.

It's interesting that he seemed nervous giving interviews considering he ended up running for Congress. Weird.

haha.... i'd say congressman shuler would admit he gets a lot less criticism wearing a suit in DC, than he did wearing a jersey in DC

[Fergasun]

I honestly think that right now Jason Campbell in 16 starts has shown more than either of those guys did in their careers (with Washington) at least. Seriously... just go look up their stats at pro-football-reference... if there was an ExtremeSkins back then there would've been thousands of threads that said "START FRIEZ NOW! DILFER WOULD'VE BEEN BETTER!"

Just looking at that draft at the QB position. I mean the other 2 guys who played in the NFL were Jim Miller and Glenn Foley.... wow!

[Teller]

As a Cowboys fan, I flat out don't remember the guy. I remember the name, but I can't honestly remember his play. Obviously, as a first round talent, he had to have something about him coming out of college that was thought to make him a viable NFL QB.

It's interesting that he seemed nervous giving interviews considering he ended up running for Congress. Weird.

Very much so. And it's not as if Tennessee is some rinky-dink DIII school where he never dealt with the media. I was really surprised by what I saw from him personality-wise. In no way did he strike me as a leader at all.

I admit I was surprised when he was elected to Congress. I'd like to have seen one or two of his debates when he was running. I'd imagine most people in his district voted for him on name alone. Who knows though.

The only noise I've heard from him since he was elected was just this past week. He wrote a letter to the VA, requesting that the flag-folding recitation at military funerals be continued. (It includes references to God, so some people were offended.)

Other than that, he's kind of been one of 435. And from what little I saw of his personality, he's probably just fine with that.

[clietas]

Shuler was garbage! He just never seemed able to throw the ball well.He's usually scramble around and get sacked or scramble an throw a INT. I admit the Skins in those years were terrible. Terry Allen and Henry Ellard are the only real offensive weapons I can think of from those years. Tre Johnson was the only O-Linemen and I think he was drafter around the same time as Shuler. Either way the Gus Bus was starting by the Lions game. Im glad he did cause I remember we won! Drafting Shuler was a mistake even tho Trent Dilfer was the other highly rated QB.

[fuji869]

Redskins was in 1995 when he lead a ragtag Redskin Team to a 21-17 win in Texas Stadium.

The Redskins Finished of a sweep on the Cowboys as the were on there way to the Super Bowl.

[DButz65]

The only good thing i remember about him, was that he could wing the ball 80 yards, no BS, but his medium to intermediate/short passes sucked

[UltimateSkins]

I remember hearing stuff about how all his teammates hated and didn't respect him. I was only 10 years old back then so I don't remember too much, but I'm pretty sure there were a lot of issues between Heath Shuler and his teammates / coaches.

[NYskins]

He was a stud coming out of college. I was excited but he clearly didnt have it as we soon found out. One good thing did come out of it... Gus Frerotte!!!

[NYskins]

True story...

In 2000 (year), I bought a new Shuler jersey off eBay and cut his name off... I then had a Brett Conway jersey!!! ROCK ON!!!

I used to joke about it all the time. Still have it.


Brett!

[Mr. S]

I remember being excited about him coming, watching highlight clips of him on tv from college.

I find it funny that he's pretty much forgotten here at UT, while Peyton Manning is adored, even though both never won a title.

[Skins4Life28]

Maybe a UT fan could better answer this, but I saw a draft bust program on BSPN and they said one of the reasons Shuler was so bad in the pro's and so good in college was that the system he ran in college was sooooo simplified and it didn't require him to make many reads or adjustments.

My question is if that was the same system Manning had, or was it different coaching staffs?