Top 10 Draft Busts In Saints History: #3 Kevin Hardy

by Jon Banks on Apr 13, 2011 2:00 PM CDT

Starting April 4th and continuing through April 29th, Canal Street Chronicles will be counting down the top 10 draft busts and then the top 10 draft successes in Saints history. Feel free to to use these posts as a springboard for discussion about how awful or how great each draft pick turned out.

I want you to imagine a few things different about the 2011 NFL Draft. Imagine the Saints had the 7th overall pick and were going to take the guy that you really wanted. Now imagine that the player does not even play for the Saints, and moves on to another team before the season even starts.

In case you were wondering, that was defensive tackle Kevin Hardy. Hardy was the 7th overall pick from Notre Dame in the 1968 NFL Draft, and he never played a down for the Saints. He played for three different teams (Niners, Packers & Chargers) over four seasons before washing out, but can never give the Saints that first round pick back. Hardy was a horrible selection...and yet he's still only third on our list.

There are only two people left and I have a feeling people know which two busts they are.

Are You Smarter Than The Experts?
Correctly predict the first 32 picks of the 2011 NFL Draft and you’ll win $10,000,000!
BEST ROUND EVER IN PRIMETIME
Enter at facebook.com/BudLight
Here We Go

Enjoy Responsibly ©2011 Anheuser-Busch, Inc., Bud Light® Beer, St. Louis, MO. ©2011 NFL Properties LLC. All NFL-related trademarks are trademarks of the National Football League. No Purchase Necessary. Contest open to U.S. residents (except CA) 21+. Contest begins 12AM CDT on 4/1 and ends 5:59:59PM CDT on 4/28. See Official Rules for complete details. Void where prohibited.

Tweet Comment 12 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Read More: kevin hardy, New Orleans Saints

Comments

Sullivan and Erxleben … and that’s a coin toss. I’d probably go Sullivan #1, being that he cost us two first rounders in the trade up. Erxleben also punted for several years. 58 games played to 36 for Sullivan. This is like trying to choose between a peanut butter enema and a lobotomy.

"I was not on the boat in question" -Darren Sharper

by coldpizza on Apr 13, 2011 2:12 PM CDT reply actions

Exactly my thoughts

Canal Street Chronicles-A place of great Saints news and information. Oh and the stuff I write!

by Jon Banks on Apr 13, 2011 2:21 PM CDT up reply actions

I concur

In Breesus' name we play

by Breesus Christ Superstar on Apr 13, 2011 5:03 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions

Here’s my stab at the Top 10 draft successes:

1. Willie Roaf – Rd 1, Pick 8 (1993)
2. Rickey Jackson – Rd 2, Pick 51 (1981)
3. Morten Andersen – Rd 4, Pick 86 (1982)
4. Stan Brock – Rd 1, Pick 12 (1980)
5. Pat Swilling – Rd 3, Pick 60 (1986)
6. Wayne Martin – Rd 1, Pick 19 (1989)
7. Jim Wilks – Rd 12, Pick 305 (1981)
8. Eric Martin – Rd 7, Pick 179 (1985)
9. Derland Moore – Rd 2, Pick 29 (1973)
10. Jim Dombrowski – Rd 1, Pick 6 (1986)

I know Deuce McAllister is a sentimental favorite, but “all-time Saints leading rusher” should not automatically be equated to “success”. Rd 1, Pk 23 (2001). That said, he wouldn’t be too much further down my list. Also, Danny Abramowicz is the biggest steal in team history, imo. Rd 17, Pk 420 (1967). I just don’t know how much weight you’re putting on value. Archie Manning also deserves mention for sheer longetivity. Rd 1, Pk 2 (1971).

"I was not on the boat in question" -Darren Sharper

by coldpizza on Apr 13, 2011 2:59 PM CDT reply actions

My plan was to try and do non first round picks.

Because, in my mind, first rounders should be a success. And I would find non-first rounders and lump them all in a pile and pick the most successful from there. I thought about weighting them based on round, but then you’d get someone like Colston high up on the list when he shouldn’t be there, at least not yet.

Canal Street Chronicles-A place of great Saints news and information. Oh and the stuff I write!

by Jon Banks on Apr 13, 2011 3:25 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs

That was my thinking too Jon

Guys like Colston et al

Wanna say something? Sign up! It's free!

by Dave Cariello on Apr 13, 2011 3:52 PM CDT up reply actions

non-first rounders

1. Rickey Jackson – Rd 2, Pick 51 (1981)
2. Morten Andersen – Rd 4, Pick 86 (1982)
3. Pat Swilling – Rd 3, Pick 60 (1986)
4. Jim Wilks – Rd 12, Pick 305 (1981)
5. Eric Martin – Rd 7, Pick 179 (1985)
6. Derland Moore – Rd 2, Pick 29 (1973)
7. Frank Warren – Rd 3, Pick 57 (1981)
8. Dave Waymer – Rd 2, Pick 41 (1980)
9. Tommy Myers – Rd 3, Pick 74 (1972)
10. Hoby Brenner – Rd 3, Pick 71 (1981)

Jahri Evans is getting close to this Top 10, though he’s going to have to play better than he did last season in order to crack it. Four from the Class of ’81, not including George Rogers. Hell of a job Bum Phillips did in his first year, imo.

"I was not on the boat in question" -Darren Sharper

by coldpizza on Apr 13, 2011 4:16 PM CDT up reply actions

I won't include Evans or Colston.

I don’t want to compare guys who finished their career to guys in the middle of their career.

Canal Street Chronicles-A place of great Saints news and information. Oh and the stuff I write!

by Jon Banks on Apr 13, 2011 5:03 PM CDT up reply actions

Well hopefully in the middle of their 20 year careers.

Canal Street Chronicles-A place of great Saints news and information. Oh and the stuff I write!

by Jon Banks on Apr 13, 2011 5:03 PM CDT up reply actions

A Top 10 of 4th round and below picks? I’ll give it a whirl:

1. Morten Andersen – Rd 4, Pick 86 (1982)
2. Jim Wilks – Rd 12, Pick 305 (1981)
3. Eric Martin – Rd 7, Pick 179 (1985)
4. Joe Federspiel – Rd 4, Pick 90 (1972)

Jahri Evans – Rd 4, Pick 108 (2006)
5. Joel Hilgenberg – Rd 4, Pick 97 (1984)
6. Danny Abramowicz – Rd 17, Pick 420 (1967)
Marques Colston – Rd 7, Pick 252 (2006)
7. Bob Pollard – Rd 11, Pick 262 (1971)
8. Gene Atkins – Rd 7, Pick 179 (1987)
9. Johnnie Poe – Rd 6, Pick 144 (1981)
10. Ernie Jackson – Rd 7, 164 (1972)

I went ahead and slotted Evans and Colston just to illustrate where I’d rank them, if including current players.

"I was not on the boat in question" -Darren Sharper

by coldpizza on Apr 13, 2011 5:30 PM CDT up reply actions

bumping the 4s (has he lost his mind?!)

1. Jim Wilks – Rd 12, Pick 305 (1981)
2. Eric Martin – Rd 7, Pick 179 (1985)
3. Danny Abramowicz – Rd 17, Pick 420 (1967)
(current player) Marques Colston – Rd 7, Pick 252 (2006)
4. Bob Pollard – Rd 11, Pick 262 (1971)
5. Gene Atkins – Rd 7, Pick 179 (1987)
6. Johnnie Poe – Rd 6, Pick 144 (1981)
7. Ernie Jackson – Rd 7, Pick 164 (1972)
8. Toi Cook – Rd 8, Pick 207 (1987)
9. Tony Elliott – Rd 5, Pick 114 (1982)
10. Dave Lafary – Rd 5, Pick 118 (1977)

Dare I go lower?

"I was not on the boat in question" -Darren Sharper

by coldpizza on Apr 15, 2011 7:30 AM CDT up reply actions