Johnny Manziel isn’t alone in being a high-profile athlete to fail to live up his hype. There have been plenty of athletes in sports who were gifted only to botch their futures.
Art Schlichter
Art Schlichter was a local hero in Ohio. Could do no wrong in high school and went to Ohio State. Then everything went awry. Numerous gambling issues and multiple prison stints for different crimes.
Ryan Leaf
Ryan Leaf was drafted being Peyton Manning by the San Diego Chargers. The Washington State star could not duplicate his college heroics in the NFL and ran into incident after incident with drugs and alcohol abuse. I felt like everybody was wrong,” he told WBUR. “I felt like I was the victim. I felt like it was everybody else’s problem, not mine. That’s how drug addicts behave. And I was a drug addict long before I ever took a drug.” He served 32 months in prison at one point. Leaf has gotten his life together.
Justin Blackmon
Justin Blackmon was drafted fifth overall out of Oklahoma State in 2012 by the Jacksonville Jaguars. Numerous DUI incidents led to his career lasting 20 games. He has not played since 2013.
Maurice Clarett
Another Buckeye makes the list. Maurice Clarett had star written all over him when he arrived in Columbus. Troubles beset the running back and he would up never playing a down in the NFL.
Aaron Hernandez
A superstar in the making as a tight end with the New England Patriots. It all seemed to be going his way. A $40 million contract. And then, it all collapsed. A murder trial. Numerous reports of other incidents. Another trial and an acquittal. And suicide days later.
Freddy Adu
At age 14, Freddy Adu was the first pick in the 2004 MLS Draft. He was going to be the face of the sports in the United States, if he wasn’t already. The Washington Post described his career best: He was destined for superstardom. Instead, he ended up bouncing around the planet like mislabeled luggage: 12 teams in eight countries, plus countless tryouts and promising leads that never panned out.
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Lawrence Phillips
Talented and troubled running back out of Nebraska was a high draft pick of the St. Louis Rams in 1996. Never could get out of his own way or that of the law. He was alleged to have killed a cellmate in prison. Never made it to a trial as it was ruled Phillips had hanged himself in his cell after being found unresponsive.
Michael Vick
The face of the Atlanta Falcons. Michael Vick had incredible speed and a fantastic arm. Then, he was caught up in a dog-fighting ring that landed him in prison. He played for other teams after being released but the highlights never were quite the same.
Jeremy Mayfield
NASCAR is dangerous enough without the fear of one of the competitors being high while in a race. He posted five wins in the Cup series, the top level of the sport. In 2009, he was suspended for a positive meth test. Never made it back to the big time.
Len Bias
The Boston Celtics made Len Bias the No. 2 overall pick out of Maryland in 1986. The forward was going to be the next great star of the storied franchise. Days later, he was dead of a cocaine overdose.
Gilbert Arenas
Gilbert Arenas was a star in the NBA. He had major game. Then, he became involved in an incident with guns with a Washington Wizards teammate, Javaris Crittendon, in late 2009. He wound up being suspended eventually and never regained his stature. Crittendon, on another note, wound up pleading guilty to voluntary manslaughter after a shooting in Georgia.
Doc Gooden
Doc Gooden was on his way to a Hall of Fame career. He was a world champ on the 1986 Mets. However, cocaine problems ruined what was an almost surefire ticket to Cooperstown. He was able to pitch for the Yankees later in his career. After baseball, there has been more troubles with drugs.
Mike Tyson
The most feared man on the planet until he lost to Buster Douglas in 1990. Tyson wound up in prison after being convicted of rape in 1992. He actually regained the heavyweight title after being released. Then, he bit Evander Holyfield’s ear and wound up being knocked out in later fights. Wound up declaring bankruptcy before getting his life together.
Roy Tarpley
Another person from the talented and troubled 1986 NBA Draft class. Tarpley was chosen seventh overall by the Dallas Mavericks out of Michigan State. Numerous alcohol related suspensions led to him being banned from the league and never achieving the heights expected.
Lance Armstrong
Mr. Tour de France turned into a Tour de Farce as it was revealed he was a serial PED abuser.
Chris Benoit
Chris Benoit was one of the biggest Superstars in WWE. At WrestleMania XX in 2004, he won the World Heavyweight Championship. Three years later, Benoit killed his wife and son before committing suicide at their home in Georgia.
