First Stint with Chip Ganassi Racing (2002-2005):

Originally from Joplin, Missouri, Jamie McMurray was thrust into the spotlight at Talladega on October 6th, 2002. This was due to the driver of the #40 for CGR, Sterling Marlin, fractured a vertebra the week prior in a wreck at Kansas. The very next week, McMurray won his first career NASCAR Winston Cup Series race in just his second start at Charlotte. He would hold off a hard-charging Bobby Labonte after leading 96 of the final 100 laps. In 2003, McMurray would win Rookie of the Year and finish 13th in the points standings. In 2004, it was a better season for McMurray compared to 2003. However, McMurray missed The Chase for The Cup by just 15 points.

2005 was the turning point for McMurray and Chip Ganassi Racing. Despite once again missing The Chase for The Cup, McMurray finished 12th in the points standings. After the season, McMurray was released from his contract with Chip Ganassi Racing on November 7th, 2005. After Chip Ganassi and his partner, Felix Sabates, learned that McMurray signed a deal to drive for Roush Fenway Racing starting in 2006. McMurray was released from his contract at CGR. Despite this, this could be a new beginning for Jamie McMurray.

Roush Fenway Racing (2006-2009):

Initially, McMurray was slated to drive the #6 car at Roush to take over for Mark Martin. Originally, Martin announced that he was going to retire after the 2005 season but decided to return for the 2006 season. Instead, McMurray took over the #26 car, which was switched from the #97 by the departing Kurt Busch. Jack Roush had high expectations for McMurray. Unfortunately, the 2006 season was the worst in his Cup Series career. At Dover in early June, McMurray had the best car of the day and was in prime position to win. With three laps to go, McMurray was passed for the lead and the eventual win by his Roush teammate, Matt Kenseth. Despite a disappointing second-place finish, McMurray held his head high with a smile on his face. 2006 was a disappointing season for McMurray as he finished 25th in the points.

2007 was a better year for McMurray compared to 2006. At Daytona in July, McMurray beat Kyle Busch back to the line in a drag race to get his second Cup Series victory. He would go on to finish 17th in the point standings. 2008 started sour for McMurray with a string of poor finishes that found him 36th in the points early in the standings. Throughout the remainder of the season, McMurray steadily climbed back into the top 20 in the points. McMurray would finish 16th in the points in 2008. 2009 ended up being the final season for McMurray at Roush. Early in the season, he was in a prime position to win the Daytona 500 but that slipped through his fingers. Later that season, McMurray would win at Talladega, his final win for Roush. He finished 22nd in the points in 2009.

A Career Year (2010):

After 2009, Jamie McMurray didn’t know if he was going to be racing in 2010. Roush released McMurray at the end of 2009 due to NASCAR limiting teams to four full-time cars instead of five. Before the start of the 2010 season, an old friend reached out to McMurray offering him a ride for 2010. That was Chip Ganassi.  McMurray had his home for 2010 and he was going to make the most out of this opportunity. He started the 2010 season off right when, in his first start with CGR since 2005, winning the sport’s biggest race. The Daytona 500. Daytona is the world’s center of racing; it is the Super Bowl for NASCAR. Eight races later, McMurray would be in a prime position to win at Talladega, but Kevin Harvick beat him back to the line by 0.011 seconds to the line.

In July, McMurray won his second race of the season at the Brickyard 400. Currently, McMurray is one of three drivers to win the Daytona 500 and the Brickyard 400 in the same year. No driver has done it since McMurray. Currently, Chip Ganassi Racing is the only team to win the Daytona 500, the Indianapolis 500, and the Brickyard 400 in the same year. McMurray helped team owner, Chip Ganassi, achieve motorsports immortality. Ultimately, McMurray failed to make The Chase. He would finish the 2010 season 14th in points with 3 wins, 9 Top-5 finishes, and 12 Top-10 finishes. This was undoubtedly McMurray’s best season to date. It was only a matter of time to see if he could have another season like 2010.

The Return to Chip Ganassi Racing (2011-2014):

Entering 2011, Chip Ganassi had high expectations for McMurray. On January 19th, 2011, McMurray signed a multi-year contract extension with CGR. The 2011 season started on a sour note for McMurray with four consecutive finishes outside the Top 20 after Daytona. In July, at Indianapolis, McMurray’s best chance of winning slipped through his fingers. With nine laps to go, McMurray passed Paul Menard for the lead. But Menard passed McMurray back for the lead, and the eventual win with four laps to go. It was a tough season for McMurray and finishing 27th in the points did not help at all. 2012 was a rough season for McMurray as well. With a crash in the Daytona 500, that was the tone of his season. He would go on to finish 21st in the points standings.

2013 was an odd year for McMurray and NASCAR in general. With a new car for the Cup Series, it was a fresh start for everybody. Throughout the year, McMurray had very solid runs, more than he had throughout his entire career. But he failed to qualify for The Chase once again. In October of that year, McMurray won at Talladega for his first win in three years. 2014 was looking to be a better season for CGR as they brought up young rookie, Kyle Larson. In May of that season, McMurray won the All-Star Race at his best track, Charlotte. With The Chase expanding to 16 drivers starting this season, McMurray eyed 2014 as his best opportunity to make The Chase. Unfortunately, this was not the case for McMurray.

End of the Road (2015-2018):

It seems that nowadays, most athletes lose their touch. But in the curious case of Jamie McMurray, it seemed that in the final years of his career, he became more consistent with his finishing results. 2015 started solidly for McMurray. Throughout 2015, McMurray continued to post consistent results and qualified for The Chase for the first time in his career. Despite being eliminated in the Round of 16, McMurray finished 13th in the points standings. The time was ticking for McMurray to put on a show, and 2016 wasn’t his season. He would qualify for The Chase but once again, was eliminated in the Round of 16. The beginning of 2017 was a solid run for McMurray, he was fifth in the points standings after Dover. He managed to clinch a spot in The Playoffs, formally known as The Chase.

Ultimately, McMurray would be eliminated from the 2017 Playoffs in The Round of 12. 2018 would be McMurray’s worst season since 2013 due to poor finishes and poor luck. His highlight of 2018 was unfortunately barrel rolling down the back straightaway at Talladega in a practice crash. McMurray was unharmed from this crash. Whether it was the new aero package in 2018 or the Camaro being used for Chevy in 2018, McMurray couldn’t catch a break. Unfortunately, McMurray would miss The Playoffs in 2018. At the end of the season, it was announced that Kurt Busch would replace McMurray in the #1 Car starting in 2019. 2018 would be McMurray’s last full-time season in the Cup Series. McMurray would eventually announce his retirement from the Cup Series in 2018.

What is McMurray Doing Now?

After he retired from full-time Cup Series Racing in 2018, McMurray has run the Daytona 500 in years past for CGR. But outside of the Daytona 500, McMurray has not run in any other races. Currently, McMurray is an analyst for NASCAR on FOX. Specifically, McMurray is an analyst for NASCAR RaceHub. Jamie McMurray had an interesting career in the NASCAR Cup Series. For years, he was always a mid-pack runner, but people knew that if he got into the right equipment, he could contend for Championships. McMurray finished his NASCAR Career with Seven Cup Series wins, Eight Xfinity Series wins, and One Truck Series Win.

Next Week on Untapped Potential: Baseball! We hope that you enjoyed this piece and that you come back next Tuesday at 3PMEST for the next edition of Untapped Potential!

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On April 28th, 2012, Derrick Rose fell.

The raucous Chicago crowd’s cheers and jeers quickly turned to silent thoughts and prayers as the point guard writhed in pain on the baseline. Did that really just happen? Our best player injures himself in the final 90 seconds of a playoff game where victory was guaranteed? The Bulls would finish the last minute of the game en route to a win over the 76ers, but that wasn’t the story making the front page. Derrick Rose had torn his ACL and would miss the foreseeable future. Immediate questions swirled the youngster and his playing career. Where does this leave the Bulls? Is he too injury prone to be a centerpiece of a franchise? With how explosive he plays the game, would he ever be the same?

Humble Beginnings

Michael J. Lebrecht/SI

It’s Saturday, March 17th, 2007. Simeon Academy, a public school on the south-side of the Chicago, secures its second straight basketball state championship. Donning his soon-to-be-retired number 25 jersey, Simeon’s Derrick Rose has finished off his high school career on the highest of notes. Rose was raised without a father in the Englewood neighborhood of Chicago, where he confided in his mother Brenda and three older brothers. However, his upbringing did little to change the obvious: Derrick Rose could ball. He gained national attention soon after enrolling at Simeon, showcasing his otherworldly athleticism and prowess as both a scoring and playmaking point guard. Rose would finish his time at Simeon with three All-American selections and was named Illinois’ 2007 Mr. Basketball. Soon after, he announced his commitment to the University of Memphis, then led by coach John Calipari, to continue his basketball career.

You all know where the story goes from here. The freshman Rose finds immediate success at Memphis, averaging 15 points, 5 assists, and 4 rebounds per game. He receives votes for the Cousy and Wooden awards and is named to the All-American third team. Most importantly, the Rose-led Memphis Tigers cruise to an all-time NCAA record 38 wins, only marred by a loss in the national championship to Kansas. 

America was enamored with Rose all season. Calling him explosive was almost an understatement, the pure speed and unmatched leaping ability of Rose made his acrobatic finishes around the rack almost unstoppable. The term “man among boys” often gets thrown around for the brutes of the game, bullying others with their sheer size and strength. Yet I think Rose, standing at only 6’3’’ and weighing 200 pounds, gave us a new example of a man amongst boys. Defenders were left in the dust and could only observe from the ground whenever Rose slashed through opponents and soared to the basket. Needless to say, NBA scouts had this kid at the top of their draft boards all year. Rose chose to forgo his remaining eligibility at Memphis to declare for the NBA draft.

Back to Chicago and First Impressions

M. Spencer Green/AP Photo

The day of the 2008 NBA Draft lottery arrives. With Rose projected to go number one to almost any team that wins the right to select first, the night felt a lot like the Derrick Rose sweepstakes. And with how storybook his college career concluded, many felt that they saw how the night would go already. The Chicago Bulls only had a 1.7% chance of winning the number one selection and the right to draft their hometown hero. Nevertheless, the first ping pong ball out of the machine had the Bulls logo on it, and Chicago’s NBA team was going to bring Derrick Rose Home.

Surprising absolutely nobody, Rose came hot out of the gate. He was the first Bulls draftee since MJ himself to score in double digits in his first ten games. Tack on three Rookie of the Month recognitions, a Skills Challenge trophy during all-star weekend, and an eventual playoff berth, and Rose absolutely ran away with the Rookie of the Year honors. Matched up against the defending champion Boston Celtics, D-Rose notched 36 points in Game 1, tying Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s rookie record. The Bulls took the Celtics all the way to seven games, but lost in Boston to conclude the series. Rose would use the momentum from his rookie season to boost his game in year 2, receiving his first all-star selection. Averages of 21 points, 6 assists, and 4 rebounds per game propelled the Bulls to another playoff bid. Another first round exit was met with optimism, however. The Bulls front office was stacking up the roster to build around Rose and take a step forward in the 2010-2011 season. Was Rose capable of leading a championship caliber team? Could the hometown kid be the one to bring the Bulls back?

MVP

Spoiler alert: this is the year where everyone became a D-Rose diehard. In 81 games, Rose averaged 25 points, 8 assists, and 5 rebounds a night. He notched 30+ points in 23 contests, even topping the 40 mark twice. With 23 double-doubles along with his first career triple double, the stat sheet was sure to be stuffed with the name D. Rose every night the Bulls laced ‘em up. Rose was announced as an all-star starter at point guard to no one’s surprise. As the regular season wound down, an undefeated April was capitalized with a nationally televised game against the Knicks at Madison Square Garden, where Rose dazzled the crowd with high-flying dunks and savvy playmaking. Even Knicks’ coach Mike D’Antoni had to admit he was in the presence of greatness, remarking “His athletic ability is ridiculous. He’s come farther, quicker, faster than anyone expected; he’s playing at a level that not many people play.” (I told you everyone was a D-Rose fan!) The Bulls finished with a 62-20 record and captured the top seed in the East. At the center of it all was Rose himself, who at 22 years old became the youngest league MVP of all time. The kid from the south side of Chicago was now the face of the franchise he grew up rooting for.

The LeBron James led Miami Heat would vanquish Chicago’s title hopes in the conference finals. Rose had disappointed in the playoffs somewhat, shooting only 39% from the floor and under 25% from deep. Fans had no reason to panic though, the Bulls were bringing back their core guys and Rose was about to cash in on a 5-year maximum contract extension.

The Injuries Begin

As the 2011-2012 season kicked off, the Bulls kept on rolling. Rose missed some time due to some minor injuries, but that didn’t stop the point guard from another all-star selection and some MVP votes in the lockout-shortened season. A minor decrease in offensive production didn’t prevent Rose from guiding the Bulls to another finish as the top dog in the Eastern Conference. All momentum was on Chicago’s side heading into their first round matchup against the 76ers. But as we all know, that would all turn completely upside down on that fateful day, April 28th, 2012. 

Rose would sit out the entire next season much to the dismay of Chicago’s fanbase. With the Bulls making it all the way to the conference semifinals without him, many were questioning why he wouldn’t come back to help contend for a title. Regardless, Rose would return in November of 2013 but shot under 30% from the field while committing almost 6 turnovers in his first three games.

Things kept spiraling from there. Later that month, Rose would tear the meniscus in his right knee, the opposite knee from his ACL tear. The unthinkable had happened again – Derrick Rose would miss the rest of the season. After all of his setbacks, many were dismissing the former MVP as an injury prone guard who could no longer lead his team to contention. In the past three years, fans had seen him take the court less than 50 times, and was more often seen sitting quietly on the sidelines in a suit. Still, Rose was only 25 years old and had many more potential year of solid basketball ahead of him. The Bulls would stick with their guy and wait until he was 100% ready to take the floor again.

Rose Returns

Rose returned to basketball right as the NBA kicked off the 2014 regular season. Playing on some games on minutes restrictions and sitting out others as a precaution, Rose made an impact for the Bulls, albeit a smaller one than he used to. The highs were equally met by the lows: an increase in his scoring and assists was marred by a below average efficiency. In January he hit a game-winning stepback jumper against the Warriors, making up for his 13 for 33 shooting performance and career-high eleven turnovers. Yet another torn meniscus would keep him out for the majority of the late regular season, but the breaking out of Jimmy Butler as a superstar helped propel the Bulls to another playoff berth. 

For the first time since he tore his ACL on his home court in 2012, Derrick Rose would suit up for the playoffs. And to those watching him play, it looked as though that injury never happened. D-Rose averaged 21.5 points in the first round, notching a vintage performance with a 34 point Game 3. In Game 3 against the Cleveland Cavaliers in the second round, Rose hit the now-iconic bank shot at the buzzer where he finished with 30 points in the 99-96 victory. The Bulls now led the series 2-1, and the premise of a championship run was becoming more and more realistic. But despite Rose’s 31 points and clutch layup to tie the game in the final seconds, a LeBron James corner jumpshot tied up the series for the Cavaliers. With the momentum shifted, the Bulls fell in Games 5 and 6, a heartbreaking end to what felt like Rose’s first real season back playing. 

No Longer Seeing Red

Adding to his already long injury history, Rose began the season wearing a mask after a fracture to his orbital bone in his face. That sums up what it felt like to watch D-Rose play at this point. We all still saw the 6’3’’ guard that we adored for years, but something wasn’t quite the same. Flashes of his past brilliance resembling his MVP campaign came at times. But it was unsustainable for more than that. Nick Friedell admitted that “whatever the reason, Rose evolved into a different player – glimpses of brilliance were still there on certain nights, but the virtuoso performances were not”. The Bulls front office, recognizing that Derrick Rose’s best days were behind him, dealt their former franchise centerpiece to the New York Knicks. It was reported that Rose cried upon hearing the news from his agent.

We saw much of the same from Rose in 2017 with New York. He averaged solid numbers and had some sporadic breakout performances, but that was the extent of it. The relationship between him and the Knicks began to sour behind the scenes. In January, Rose flew home to Chicago to see his mom and was fined for not notifying the team. He became more vocal towards his disapproval of coach Jeff Hornacek’s offensive scheme. And once again, a torn meniscus in April held him out of games and put him back in the operating room for the fourth time in his 9 years of NBA service. The Knicks failed to come close to playoff contention, and Rose was signed by the Cavaliers in free agency for less than a tenth of what he made on his prior deal. 

No one deserves this kind of farewell. The young kid who burst onto the scene so quickly seemed to be slowly deteriorating in a long, drawn-out fashion right before our very eyes. It was more than just a player regressing to so many. An MVP winner who was the face of his hometown franchise and universally admired was now relegated to a small role on teams where it wasn’t even definitive that his presence really mattered. Another injury to his ankle in November of 2017 eventually led Rose to leave the team temporarily to question whether he desired to continue playing basketball at all. The Cavaliers eventually dealt him to the Utah Jazz in February and Rose was immediately waived. After what he overcame just to be able to be in this position, could this really be the end of the line for Derrick?

Career Revival

That question remained unanswered until a month later, when some old friends came calling. The Minnesota Timberwolves signed Rose for the rest of the season, reuniting him with coach Tom Thibodeau and his Bulls teammates Jimmy Butler and Taj Gibson. The Timberwolves used Rose’s veteran presence to help solidify their spot in the playoffs. Despite the early exit, Rose contributed off the bench against James Harden and the top-seeded Houston Rockets. Minnesota decided to bring Rose back for another year. In return, he would gift the Timberwolves and the NBA as a whole to one of the greatest comeback stories ever told.

Halloween night, 2018. Derrick Rose gets his first start of the season with the T-Wolves against the Utah Jazz. And little did anyone know, it would arguably be his best. A 30-year old Rose scored his career high of 50 points and secured the 128-125 victory with a block on Utah’s final shot. Rose was immediately mobbed by his Minnesota teammates as MVP chants erupted from the crowd. He was understandably emotional in his postgame interview, fighting back tears when asked what this moment meant to him, responding “Everything. I worked my [expletive] off”. His longtime coach Tom Thibadou told the media that Rose is is among the most mentally tough people he had come across. There are very few games that I personally can remember where I was at when I watched them. Most are nail-biter playoff matchups or ridiculous buzzer-beaters to win it. This game was neither of those. We all collectively saw the culmination of a man’s perseverance over a tumultuous career filled with crushing injuries and heartbreaking setbacks. The man once dubbed the ‘Windy City Assassin’ turned back the clock to his all-star days in Chi-Town. It didn’t matter whether you were a Bulls fan, a Timberwolves fan, or even a fan of the game at all. Seeing the veteran Rose overcome all of what he’s been through to once again shine under the bright lights made us all fans of him for life. 

Minnesota struggled the rest of the way and would miss the playoffs, but the best story of the year had already been told. Rose averaged 18 points per game on 48% shooting, the best efficiency he’s had since his second season. He returned to Chicago in December and received MVP chants from the opposing Windy City crowd after recording 24 points and 8 dimes in the blowout win. Rose would have a similarly impressive season with Detroit the next season, although injuries continued to limit consistent time on the court. He’d get traded back to the Knicks in the middle of the 2020-2021 season where he’d get signed to a 3-year, $43 million contract, a much more reasonable contract for a former MVP. He now is on the Memphis Grizzlies roster for the 2023-24 season. Injuries have continued to hold him out at times, but teams still have him around for his newfound role as a mentor to the young guys on his team. Stars like Jimmy Butler and Julius Randle have previously praised Rose’s leadership skills and have used his wisdom to lead their own teams. In whatever way he can, Rose has found a way to positively contribute at all stages of his career. Derrick Rose’s impact on the modern NBA cannot be understated.

On April 28th, 2012, Derrick Rose fell. He seemed to fall time and time again, leaving us to wonder if he’d ever be what he once was. He even questioned it himself. So many times in his life, he’s had all odds stacked against him. And yet every single time Derrick fell, Derrick rose.

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Next week on Untapped Potential: baseball! Check out last week’s edition on former NFL wide receiver Josh Gordon. Stay tuned to Back Sports Page for more coverage and in-depth features on all things sports.

Andy Diederich is a contributor on Back Sports Page. He received a degree from The Ohio State University and now resides in Chicago, covering the Bulls and all things NBA. You can find Andy on Instagram at @tryspellingdiederich and on Twitter at @ndyDiederich.

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Many players enter the league and many only stay a short while. Some have a lot of potential, and oters are just serviceable players. However, all will agree that the chance to be a staple in the NFL is small and you can’t take advantage of it. Take Josh Gordon for example, a guy who was primed to be a star after a standout year in 2013. By 2014, Gordon’s opportunity to be a national star was right there in his grasp, and it slipped right through his fingers.  This is Untapped Potential.

Rookie Year (2012)

Gordon’s NFL career began when he was drafted in the second round of the 2012 supplemental draft. He had a good rookie season totalling 805 yards on 50 catches and 5 touchdowns. It took Gordon five weeks to earn his first touchdown, scoring two in the Browns’ week five matchup against the New York Giants.

Gordon’s rookie year showed flashes of what the receiver could do, but it was 2013 that got everyone’s hopes up.

2013 Season- The Breakout

Despite his solid rookie year, the NFL suspended Gordon to start the 2013 season for violating the substance-abuse policy, a sign of what was to come. Despite losing those two games, Gordon broke out in a major way. He should of his elite speed and body control all season, leading many to believe he was the next best thing at receiver.

He would finish the 2013 season with 87 catches, 1,646 yards, and 9 touchdowns. This includes two back-to-back games where Gordon caught for over 230 yards. Those numbers came on a team that had 3 different quarterbacks start 3 games or more during the season. Many began to wonder what Gordon could do with solid or at the very least, consistent quarterback play. He finished as a first-team all-pro with Brandon Weeden, Jason Campbell, and Brian Hoyer at the helm. Heading into 2014, many thought Gordon would continue his crazy production.

2014 Season- The beginning of the end

Before the 2014 season even began, Gordon was arrested for a DUI in North Carolina. About a month later, Gordon was officially suspended for a full season before an appeal reduced his suspension to just 10 games. Gordon would return against the Falcons in week 11, totaling 120 yards on eight catches. Gordon would play the next 4 games, however, he would not reach 100 yards again during 2014.

Coming into the last week of the season, Gordon was again suspended, this time by the team itself. This was due to a team rules violation, something that has happened before. Through just five games in 2014, Gordon finished with 24 catches and 303 yards, no touchdowns.

2015-2016 Seasons

2015 would start just like the year prior, as Gordon was once again suspended for the season. This was mainly because Gordon had pled guilty to his DUI a year prior. As a result, Gordon entered the NFL’s substance abuse program with hopes of turning things around.

During the offseason, Gordon’s initial reinstatement test failed after a positive drug test. By summer, however, Gordon was officially reinstated however, he was still suspended for the first four games of the season. Despite his reinstatement looming, Gordon chose to step away from football to focus on his health. He entered an in-patient rehabilitation facility in an attempt to try and get things right.

2017-2018 Seasons

Josh Gordon wouldn’t be reinstated again until November of 2017, He officially made his return in week 13 of the season, where he totaled four catches and 85 yards in his return. Gordon would play just five games again, finishing 2017 with 18 catches for 335 yards and a touchdown.

By 2018, many were hoping Gordon could keep it together for a full season. He would start week one for the Browns, before being cut the next week. The exact reason is not known, however, according to The Plain Dealer, the Browns had tried their hardest to stand by Gordon, but nothing seemed to be working. The team feared Gordon wasn’t sober anymore, and they moved on.

Gordon was then traded to the Tom Brady-led New England Patriots where he would have a mild resurgence. He had multiple 100-yard games and four touchdowns, one of which was Tom Brady’s 500th career touchdown pass.

Towards the end of the year, Gordon would officially announce he was stepping away to focus on mental health. Coincidentally, the NFL claimed Gordon was looking at a lifetime ban due to his repeated offenses. Gordon spent the 2018 offseason trying to get things right.

2019 and 2020

Josh Gordon was once again reinstated to start the 2019 season and the Patriots more than willingly kept him on the roster. In late October, Gordon was placed on IR, which would later lead to his appearance on waivers.

Gordon was immediately picked up by the Seattle Seahawks. Despite the opportunity, Gordon never caught more than 2 passes with the team and never reached more than 50 yards in a game. He would finish the 2019 season with 27 catches, 426 yards and one touchdown.

To make matters worse, in December 2019, Gordon was handed another suspension for the same issues as before. At this point, Gordon had totaled five suspensions, things were not looking good. Gordon would later resign with the Seahawks for the 2020 season. Gordon planned to return in mid-December but was shut down immediately by the league who once again, claimed Gordon was going against the league’s substance abuse policy.

2021 and Onward

During his suspension, Gordon played in the Fan-Controlled Football League. He played just two games, but in those two games, he once again showed why he had been given so many chances. He totaled seven catches for 100 yards and three touchdowns in those two games.

Gordon was reinstated into the league in 2021, signing with the Kansas City Chiefs. Due to a lack of production, Gordon was later released from the team during the 2022 offseason. He finished 2021 with just five catches for 14 yards and a touchdown.

Josh Gordon would make just one more appearance in the NFL after being signed by the Titans in 2022. He played just one game before being released by and NFL team for what seems to be the final time.

Nowadays, Josh Gordon is a member of the Seattle Sea Dragons in the XFL, where he played all ten games last season. While Gordon may not have made it in the NFL, he best chance now is to make the most of his XFL opportunities.

Untapped Potential is Back!!

Join us every Tuesday at 3PMEST going forward for a brand new edition of Untapped Potential! The series will rotate sports each week. Next week we head to the hardwood for our Untapped Potential player.

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Untapped potential can be described as nearly having an all world career, but never having that it factor to be able to take that player over the hump. That can be said about our focus player today in Albert Haynesworth. Coming out of the University of Tennessee Haynesworth had the making of a generational talent. But he just never lived up to that hype.

College Years

During his freshman season in 1999 Haynesworth didn’t have much production. He only played in seven games during this season. Next came his sophomore season. Haynesworth became a solid contributor during this season as he gained 18 tackles on 3.5 sacks. Entering his junior season Haynesworth looked to show just who he was. He did exactly that this season. His best game of the year came against his home state team in South Carolina. But this season wasn’t all good things. We saw a glimpse in the future with Haynesworth anger issues. During a practice this season he and a teammate got into a fight. Haynesworth left practice and came back later with a metal pole about to swing. Head Coach Phillip Fulmer and other assistants were able to put a stop to it before anything happened. Even with all this going on Haynesworth finished the season with second team All-Sec Honors.

Rookie Season (2002)

Haynesworth was highly sought after out of UT. So much so that the Titans traded for him from the New York Giants in the same draft. The Giants were the team who picked him but the Titans traded future all pro tight end Jeremy Shockey to the Giants. Haynesworth ended up with a solid rookie season. He was responsible for 30 tackles and a single sack this year. He also added in 7 tackles for loss.

2nd Season (2003)

Haynesworth played less games in his second season than he did his first. But his production saw a slight increase. He finished the year with 32 tackles and 2.5 sacks. By this point in his career he had earned the nickname “two plays” This came about because he had the tendency to only be on the field for two plays then he has to come off the field and collect his breath. Haynesworth would try his best to bounce back the next season.

3rd Season (2004)

Haynesworth saw his most limited action in this season. He was only able to suit up and play in ten games this year. But he made the most of his limited playing time. He racked up 37 tackles with one sack on the season. He battled injury problems throughout this season.

4th Season (2005) 

Haynesworth nearly saw a full season this year. He ended up playing and starting in 14 games this year. He finished the season with 52 tackles and 3 sacks. This surprisingly wasn’t enough to earn him a pro-bowl slot or an all pro team. But he was a force to be reckoned with this season.

5th Season (2006)

This season was shaping out to be a good one for Haynesworth. He was on pace to make his first Pro-Bowl. But that’s when he did the unthinkable. Cowboys running back Julius Jones scored a routine touchdown. But that wasn’t the focus of this play, Albert Haynesworth stomping the face of center Andre Gurode was. He was slapped with a 5 million dollar fine for the incident and suspended for the final 5 games of the season.

6th Season (2007) 

The next two years Haynesworth would see a career resurgence. He won the Defensive Player of the year award and he made his first Pro-Bowl. Haynesworth has six sacks with another 12 TFL’s. With his production the Titans would make a postseason run. Haynesworth would piggyback off this season with another highly productive season.

7th Season (2008) 

This was Haynesworth’s best season as a pro. He had 15 tackles for loss and added in 8.5 sacks. He also earned another Pro-Bowl selection and Defensive Player of the Year Award. This would earn Haynesworth a massive payday in the offseason. But now with some hindsight this is considered the worst contract of all time.

8th Season (2009) 

The Hundred Million Dollar man would see a career decline hard in his first season in Washington. This season he only netted 4 sacks and 37 total tackles. He also was only able to play in 12 games this season. Injuries and other off the field issues put a damper on this season for Haynesworth. The new scheme that Haynesworth was playing in didn’t help him either. Instead of being a dominant guy chasing the passer and stuffing runs, Washington just wanted him to eat blockers and take up space.

9th Season (2010) 

This season was one of his worst as a pro. He wasn’t able to physically do it anymore. He famously earned a reputation for giving no effort during some plays. One of his more famous moments came when he simply laid on the ground during a live play against the Eagles. He went to the ground and refused to get up and be apart of the play. This caused him to be traded just two years into his massive contract.

10th Season (2011) 

This season would be Haynesworth’s last. He split time between the Buccaneers and the New England Patriots. He would only recorded 23 tackles in 13 games played. Haynesworth decided to retire following this season.

What Went Wrong? 

So what happened? Haynesworth had an ego and it showed. He thought he was better than everyone else and the toxicity permeated through the building. Not only that but he had anger problems and that didn’t help either. Haynesworth had also been taking the toridol shot based on teammate advice to help stop his chronic pain. It helped in the moment but he now feels the effects from taking it for ten years. Years of injuries, ego issues, and other disputes throughout his career pushed him into early retirement and never allowed him to live to his full potential.

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Before he set the baseball world on fire in the World Baseball Classic, OF Lars Nootbaar was quietly becoming one of the biggest sleeper picks in Major League Baseball. A week one injury found Nootbaar on the Injured List, but with 140 games still to play, the sky remains the limit for Nootbaar’s 2023 campaign. He is looking to build off a productive WBC where he won it all with Samurai Japan.

He returned to the field recently and has hit the ground running, but a crowded outfield in St. Louis could take away some playing time.

On the Surface

2022 was Nootbaar’s sophomore season, where he played in 108 games and slashed .228/.340/.448, good for an OPS+ of 126. Lars also scored 53 times, stroked 14 homers, and drove in 40 runs while walking 51 times, striking out 71 times.  More famous for the vowels in his name than his on-field performance, most casual fans did not know who Nootbaar was until this spring.

A pedestrian batting average and unremarkable run production might make a Lars Nootbaar breakout seem more of a pipe dream than a real possibility, but it takes a look under the hood to see why Nootbaar is right where he needs to be. There is a good reason why he is an analytics darling.

Under the Hood

Nootbaar hit the ball hard at an elite level in 2022, recording an average exit velocity of 91.7 mph, placing him above the likes of OF Mike Trout (91.6), 3B Manny Machado (91.5), and OF Ronald Acuña jr. (91.2). At the same time, however, his batting average on balls in play was a disappointing .248, placing him in the company of 0F Anthony Santander (.248), C Carson Kelly (.247), and 2B Wilmer Flores (.246).  For reference, league-average BABIP is around .300, meaning Nootbaar was unlucky.

If Nootbaar keeps smoking the ball around the yard, some regression to the mean is in order. Lars’ hitting profile (combination of quality of contact, walk rates, and strikeout rates) in 2022 was most similar to C Sean Murphy, SS Carlos Correa, and OF Ronald Acuña Jr.

Beyond the batted ball, Nootbaar posted a 92nd percentile chase rate and 98th percentile walk rate, showing off his patience and ability to pick his pitches. Combine Nootbaar’s good eye and patience with a turn for the better in BABIP luck, it would not be surprising to see Nootbaar in the lineup for the National League in this year’s Midsummer Classic.

Despite stealing only four bases in 2022, Lars posted a 74th percentile sprint speed, and with MLB’s new rules promoting action on the base paths, an increase into the mid-teens or even 20 bases could be in the picture. Nootbaar’s speed is not on par with the elite speedsters like OF Corbin Carroll or SS Bobby Witt jr., but his 74th percentile places him firmly amongst players like SP Shohei Ohtani (75th), 1B Jake Cronenworth (73rd), and SS Anthony Volpe (73rd).

Going Forward

Nootbaar’s skillset is remarkably well rounded. Lars Nootbaar hits harder than Mike Trout, chases fewer pitches than OF Mookie Betts, draws more walks than OF Yordan Alvarez, and runs as fast as Shohei Ohtani. That sounds like a future star to me.

Lars Nootbaar finds himself on a loaded Cardinals roster where playing time can be hard to come by. Fellow outfielders Tyler O’Neill, Dylan Carlson, and Alec Burleson compete with Nootbaar for at-bats, a competition which just got much hotter following the promotion of top-prospect OF Jordan Walker. Walker came up as a third baseman but has moved to the grass since the hot corner is obviously blocked. If Nootbaar can continue to get consistent at-bats, it’s only a matter of time before his elite skillset translates to a breakout season.

Jordan Walker might prove Nootbaar’s biggest competitor for outfield reps. The rookie has started in seventeen of St. Louis’s nineteen games in right field and rode a twelve-game hitting streak to begin his career.  That is tied for the longest ever with OF Eddie Murphy (no joke) and higher than OF Ted Williams.  Walker understandably needs to work on his defense, but he should be a force in the Cardinals lineup for years to come alongside Nootbaar.

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J.R. Richard was a dominant starting pitcher in the 1970’s, but a stroke midway through the 1980 season left him unable to keep playing. Today we take a look at what his career could have been like if was able to continue.

The Early Days and Excitement Around J.R. Richard

Born James Rodney Richard in Vienna, Louisiana in 1950, the right hander became a flamethrower during his high school career at Lincoln High School in Ruston, LA. His talent clearly drew interest from the get-go. All the hype led him to be the No. 2 selection by the Houston Astros in the 1969 First-Year Player Draft. After a couple of dominant seasons in the minors, Richard got his first big break in 1971. In his first career start against the San Francisco Giants, Richard struck out 15 batters in a complete game, 5-3 win. He would make three more starts as a September call-up that season.

Back and Forth Between the Minors and the Big Leagues

After making four appearances (one start) the following year, Richard became a part of the starting rotation in 1973.  He would start 10 of 16 games he made an appearance in, compiling a 6-2 record with 75 strikeouts in 71.2 innings. His first full major league season wouldn’t come until 1975, however. Despite the Astros’ struggles that season, the flamethrower posted a statistically solid season. In 31 starts overall, the right hander put together a 12-10 record with a 4.39 ERA and 176 K’s in 203 innings. He also issued the most walks in the majors. Not great numbers, but not ones that would get him booed out of the Astrodome either.

1976-1977: A Mainstay and Flamethrower in Houston’s Rotation

After solidifying himself as a capable arm in the NL, Richard asserted his dominance even further in 1976. In 39 starts, the righty put together a 20-15 mark, throwing 291 innings with a 2.75 ERA and 214 strikeouts. Not only that, but Richard was a big physical presence on the mound. He received down-ballot support in the MVP and Cy Young voting for the first time. Standing 6-foot-8, hitters were often scared or even devastated by his hot fastball and nasty slider. As this New York Times article notes, one word to describe Richard was intimidating. Batters almost felt like the guy was standing on top of them, similar to Randy Johnson decades later.

Richard’s Intimidation Factor

The height and arm slot also made batters have to think more about how to attack an at-bat. So much so, even premier sluggers at that time would have a tough match-up. Just ask the Pittsburgh Pirates‘ Dave Parker. In a 1978 Sports Illustrated article, Parker noted, “When he pushes off the mound and lets that ball go, he looks like he’s 10 feet away from you instead of 60. It causes you to lean a little bit and makes you think you have to swing the bat quicker. That makes his off-speed stuff work better, too. I think once he improves his control, he’s going to be one of the best pitchers in the game.” 1976 would be the first of four consecutive 15 or more-win seasons for Richard. Not only that, but he would begin a four-season stretch of recording at least 200 strikeouts.

But Not All Pitchers Can Be Perfect

However, despite the sometimes-gaudy numbers, Richard would struggle with his control at points during games. In the same SI article, Richard noted, “It hasn’t been a strength or stamina problem. Because that same sort of thing has happened to me at the start of the game, or in the second inning, when I’m not tired at all. It’s more mental. I should be thinking, ‘just get the ball over the plate’, rather than trying to throw it 300 miles an hour. When your rhythm is right, it will take care of velocity. You’ve just got to think–and stay with it at all times.”

It is fascinating, 45 years later, how similar Richard sounds to pitchers today.  Many of the best pitchers in 2023 have amazing stuff on par with the Astro great but struggled to reign in their command. In an age where velocity comes easy but control is often a white whale, coaches instruct developing pitchers to “just throw it down the middle,” and the rest will sort itself out. J.R. Richard understood that in his heyday.

1978-1979: 300 K’s, And A Top ERA to Boot

In the 1978 season, Richard continued to roll, posting a 18-11 record with a 3.11 ERA and 303 strikeouts in just over 275 innings, including 16 complete games and 3 shutouts. 1979 was his statistically best season, compiling an 18-13 mark with a 2.71 ERA (tops in MLB), along with 313 K’s (also first) and 19 complete games across 292.1 innings. He would finish third in the NL Cy Young voting that season and in the top 20 for NL MVP.  Cutting down on walks was the key, as a drop from 141 in ’78 to 98 in’79 led to a 1.088 WHIP, the best of his career up to that point.

1980: Stroke Derails Career

At the start of the 1980 season, Richard looked to be right as rain and be on his way to a career year. However, in the middle of June, he would begin to feel some fatigue in his throwing arm, which raised some concern. His early season success (1.90 ERA) would net him his lone career All-Star appearance. He felt some nausea in a later start, and then, on July 30, 1980, Richard collapsed after a blood clot led to a stroke. He would never participate in a Major League Baseball game again.

Post-Career and Death

After retiring from baseball in 1984, Richard fell on hard times. He was divorced twice and found himself living under a bridge by 1994. However, he found good fortune by becoming a minister and giving back to the Houston community. He died due to complications of COVID-19 on August 4, 2021, at the age of 71.

What Could Have Been

So, as is always the case, people wonder with Untapped Potential what could have been for players’ careers. And today, if J.R. Richard never had his stroke, could he have been a Cy Young Winner? Unfortunately, that question will never receive an answer. And it’s a shame, too. There is a very good chance he would have, and continued dominance might have led to a trip to Cooperstown, as well. Richard will be remembered as a top-tier flame-throwing pitcher who never reached his true potential.

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High School 

Ballislife.com asked future first overall pick Anthony Edwards in 2019 about his toughest defensive assignment in high school.

“Cam Reddish,” Edwards immediately responded.

Reddish and the Westtown School faced off against Edwards and Holy Spirit Prep at the National HoopFest on December 10th in 2017 at Dematha Catholic High School in Washington, D.C. 

“I’m not gonna say how much he gave us but it was more than 40 points,” Edwards said.

Reddish scored a career-high 53 points against Holy Spirit Prep after scoring 34 points the day before against Georgetown Prep, while Edwards scored 23 points of his own.

Reddish finished that season as the third ranked high school prospect in the class of 2018 behind future Duke teammates R.J. Barrett and Zion Williamson.

College 

Third Fiddle

Reddish was touted as a surefire top-five pick in the 2019 NBA Draft before the 2018-2019 college basketball season along with Barrett and Williamson.

Teammates Barrett and Williamson dominated college basketball as freshmen. Both players averaged 22.6 points per game. On the other hand, Reddish was an afterthought who left scouts and fans alike wanting more out of him. Reddish was often criticized for being too deferential to his fellow freshmen. But Reddish thought differently about those criticisms.

Maria Taylor, a former reporter for ESPN asked Reddish about the biggest misconception of his game during a pre-draft interview.

“That I’m passive. I don’t think I’m passive,” Reddish said. “I just think I was in a different role trying to adjust throughout this year. But I think it was well needed. I think it’s going to prepare me for the next level.”

Inconsistency

Mike Schmitz, a former scout at DraftExpress and now an assistant general manager for the Portland Trail Blazers added to the narrative of Reddish’s up and down play.

“Reddish’s season was as uneven as any top recruit in recent memory with far too many no-show games, a 50.3 true shooting percentage, and the inability to offer any sense of consistency on a team that badly needed shooting and steady play,” said Schmitz.

Reddish averaged 13.5 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 1.6 steals a game on 35/33/77 shooting splits.

That “uneven” season caused many scouts and fans alike to have differing opinions on the type of pro he could eventually become.

Draft Prospect

Jonathan Givony, also a scout at DraftExpress had his own remarks regarding Reddish as a prospect.

“Cam is a polarizing player. Depending on which teams you talk to, some will tell you that he’s Rodney Hood and some will tell you that he’s Paul George,” said Givony. “He’s always taken a backseat his whole career to other players. Is he the type of guy you pick in the top five and you try to build your franchise around?”

Jay Williams, a Duke basketball legend and a current ESPN analyst, believed Reddish was the biggest wildcard in the 2019 NBA Draft and thought highly of his potential.

“Cam Reddish is the biggest enigma in the draft. Cam Reddish has the potential to be the best pro prospect in this class,” Williams said.

NBA

2019 NBA Draft

Reddish was drafted by the Atlanta Hawks with the tenth pick in the 2019 NBA Draft. Jay Bilas, an ESPN NBA Draft analyst, believed Reddish possessed the talent to be a higher pick than he actually was.

“I think Cam Reddish is a top five talent,” stated Bilas. “He checks every box in the NBA. He’s 6’9”, he’s got a wingspan of over seven feet, he’s got a beautiful shooting stroke, he’s got NBA range as a shooter. His length and athleticism really help him as a defender.”

Bilas’ main critique about Reddish was “consistency” or lack thereof. 

“Consistency is the issue. Consistency of effort, consistency of production” said Bilas. “He had the lowest player efficiency (13.6 PER) rating of any player in the lottery. He’s got to get more mature as a player. But he’s only 18-19 years old. He’s got a long way to go in that regard but so do a number of players in this draft. He’s got a ton of talent.”

A Cold Start In Hotlanta

The same consistency issues that analysts and scouts critiqued Reddish for throughout his freshman season at Duke followed him to the NBA. 

Through his first three months in the NBA, Reddish averaged 7.5 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 1.7 assists on 29/21/79 shooting splits.

Reddish started to look more like the tenth overall pick once the calendar turned to 2020 and it showed in his stats. Reddish averaged 14.2 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.3 assists on 46% from the field and 40% from three point range starting in January until the leagues stoppage on March 11th.

In an interview with former NBA player and current ESPN analyst Richard Jefferson, Reddish reflected on his rookie season.

“It was a rollercoaster. It went super fast. I just feel like I learned a ton. I started out horrible, slow…. so I can only go up,” Reddish said.

Sophomore Season

Reddish saw limited action during his second year as a pro after a promising end to his rookie season. Reddish played just 26 games through February 21st of 2021 for the Hawks before he was shut down for the remainder of the season with an achilles injury.

The former Blue Devil finished the regular season averaging 11.2 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.3 assists, and 1.3 steals on 36% from the field, 26% from three point range, and 81% from the free throw line.

Playoff Run

In his first career playoff game, Reddish scored eleven points in seventeen minutes in a 125-91 blowout at the Fiserv Forum against the Milwaukee Bucks.  

Although Reddish didn’t appear in the game three, he was up for the challenge in game four as he played smothering defense against Jrue Holiday and Khris Middleton. Both players were held to 6 for 17 shooting. Holiday and Middleton scored nineteen and sixteen points respectively. Reddish scored 12 points, grabbed five rebounds, and nabbed two steals.

Reddish didn’t have as much of a statistical impact in game five in the Hawks’ 123-112 loss but followed that up with his best playoff performance to date in game six with a chance to force game seven in Milwaukee.

The Pennsylvania product provided a spark off the bench in a comeback effort with the Hawks’ backs against the ropes. Reddish scored a playoff career-high 21 points while grabbing three rebounds, and dishing out three assists.

Unfortunately, the Hawks’ effort fell short as they fell to the Bucks in six games. Reddish finished the series averaging 12.8 points, 3.5 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.5 steals on 52% from the field, 64% from three point range and 80% from the free throw line.

Growing Pains

The Hawks were off to a slow start while Reddish showed marginal progression with some inconsistent performances. The Hawks held a 17-23 record through 40 games and were suffering through a three-game losing streak in the process. 

Reddish was traded right after to the New York Knicks with Solomon Hill, a 2025 second-round pick, and cash considerations for Kevin Knox and a protected future first-round pick. The trade reunited Reddish with former Duke teammate Barrett.

Make Or Break

MSG analyst Alan Hahn gave his assessment on a now 23-year-old Reddish before the 2022-2023 NBA season.

“He’s 23 years old now. He’s in the last season of his rookie deal, which means he’s literally playing for his future,” said Hahn. “If there’s ever a time for him to show up in the best shape of his life, in the best mindset and determined to take jobs and command playing time, it would be now.”

Hahn, like a lot of basketball analysts, acknowledged Reddish’s potential and physical tools but also noticed something missing from him.

“Ask any scout and they’ll tell you, Cam is an enigma” stated Hahn. “All the physical tools to be a prototype wing in today’s game and yet there’s something missing. Something inconsistent.”

More Flashes

Reddish looked every bit like the prospect analysts and scouts spoke highly of throughout his high school and college career on the opening night of the 2022-2023 season.

Reddish scored 22 points on an efficient 9 of 15 shooting; including a left corner three to force overtime.

Unfortunately, Reddish wouldn’t score twenty plus points again until November 13th in a 145-135 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder at Madison Square Garden. Reddish scored 26 points on 10 of 17 shooting while also grabbing four steals in a losing effort. 

Lost In The Shuffle

Reddish lost his starting job to second-year shooting guard Quentin Grimes after starting in eight consecutive games and fell out of Tom Thibodeau’s rotation along with Derrick Rose and Evan Fournier.

Reddish racked up thirty-three consecutive DNP-CDs (Did not play- coach’s decision) from December 4th to February 7th of 2023. 

Thibodeau explained his decision to shorten his rotation to be beneficial for the team.

“We’re always going to do what we think is best for the team,” Thibodeau said. “So I want to prioritize that. And that doesn’t mean it’s permanent. It just means that’s where we are right now. Whatever gives us the best chance to win, that’s what we’re going to do.”

Reddish finished his time for the Knicks averaging 8.4 points, 2.2 steals, 1.6 assists, and 1.0 steals a game on 44/30/87 shootings splits.

Rip City Reddish

Reddish was traded to the Trail Blazers in a four- team trade with the New York Knicks, Charlotte Hornets, and Philadelphia 76ers on February 9th.

Reddish’s new coach Chauncey Billups could relate to the experience of being shipped around the league while figuring out their niche in the NBA.

“I know where he’s at. I’ve been that in my career at a young age….given up on several times and really just trying to find my way,” Billups acknowledged.

Billups was a former lottery pick like Reddish who played on three different teams by the age of 23. However, Billups eventually turned his career and reputation around with the help of the late Flip Saunders who coached Billups in his fourth and fifth NBA stops, the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Detroit Pistons.

Billups believes he along with the rest of the Blazers’ staff can help turn Reddish’s career around as Saunders did for him.

“I think the kid has a ton of potential and I believe in our system,” Billups said. “I believe in our developmental program….our whole staff and we’ll just see.”

Reflecting on New York

Reddish’s career in New York didn’t go the way he or Knick fans hoped and he didn’t hold back on his true feelings on his experience as a Knick.

“I can shoot a shot—and in New York, I feel like I HAD to make it… Now I can relax and play my game. You’re going to see it. The more I’m on the court, the more I’m going to grow and play. I’m happy,” Reddish said.

Reddish acknowledged that he’s grateful for his new opportunity for the Blazers.

“I’m in a completely different place,” Reddish said. “Now I’m blessed. Not everybody gets another opportunity so it’s refreshing. I got some great teammates. Great staff. It’s real positive around here. Win, lose or draw. It’s not somebody beating you over your head — not that that was happening in New York—but it’s more my style.”

Signs of Promise

Reddish currently averages 10.9 points, 2.9 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 1.3 steals a game on 44% from the field, 33% from beyond the arc, and 83% from the free throw line in nineteen contests as a member of the Trail Blazers.

Reddish will become a free agent this summer without a contract extension on the table. Reddish’s recent performances will have teams including the Blazers determined to take a flyer on the 23-year-old.

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Last time on Untapped Potential we dove into the career of Garret Sparks and the potential he wasn’t able to reach of what could have been a lengthy career. Today, we are going over one of the most dynamic players at the tight end position the New England Patriots have had in team history, Aaron Hernandez.

Early Life

Aaron Hernandez was born on November 6, 1989 in Bristol, Connecticut. In addition to football, he played basketball at Bristol Central and AAU Basketball. His AAU coach was the infamous Geno Auriemma of the UCONN women’s basketball team.

College Ball

Hernandez played three seasons at the University of Florida. As a Gator, he had 1,382 receiving yards, 12 touchdowns, and 1,398 yards from scrimmage. He played from 2007 to 2009 before entering the NFL Draft. 2009 was his breakout year as he had 850 receiving yards and five touchdowns. He was also named to the Florida athletics Hall of Fame. He also won the National Championship in 2009 as he led the Gators in receiving yards with 57 on five receptions. That Gators national championship featured tons of NFL talent including Tim Tebow, Hernandez, Percy Harvin, the Pouncey twins and many more. That team is very deserving of a “ESPN 30 for 30” documentary one day.

NFL Draft

Hernandez decided to forgo his senior year at Florida and enter the 2010 NFL Draft. He then became a fourth round pick selected 113th overall by the New England Patriots.

2010-2011 (Rookie Year)

Hernandez started off his rookie season, starting seven of the 14 games he played in. He logged 563 receiving yards and seven touchdowns. He also had three rushes for 47 yards.

2011-2012 (Second Year)

In his second season he started 12 of the 14 games he played in. He had a career year as he had 79 catches for 910 receiving yards and seven touchdowns. Also, he had five rushes for 45 yards. In his lone Super Bowl appearance, he lost to the New York Giants.

2012-2013 (Last Season)

This was Hernandez’s last season as he started all ten games he played in. He had 483 receiving yards and five touchdowns. Hernandez also had one rush for five yards.

Why Did His Career End So Early?

Hernandez was suspected of the murder of Odin Lloyd who was dating his fiancée’s sister during the 2013 offseason. Lloyd was murdered on June 17, 2013. The Patriots once found out Hernandez was guilty, the team released him on June 26, 2013.

Killer Inside: The Mind of Aaron Hernandez Documentary

On January 15, 2020, Netflix released a documentary about Aaron Hernandez called “Killer Inside: The Mind of Aaron Hernandez.” The documentary detailed his early life in addition to the trial and aftermath of it when he was in jail. Family, friends, and teammates were also involved in the documentary. Hernandez was known to struggle with mental health at times and even dealt with CTE which will be mentioned later.

Greatest Tight End Duo of All-Time?

Also drafted earlier in the 2010 draft, was tight end Rob Gronkowski. Gronkowski is a five-time Pro Bowler and four-time Super Bowl Champion. Each year as teammates with Hernandez, Gronkowski put up double digit touchdowns including a league leading 17 in 2011. If the teammates played together a little longer, they could have easily been the greatest tight end duo of all-time.

Legacy Tarnished

Hernandez’s All-American brick at the University of Florida was removed as well as pictures of him in the locker room. He was also removed from the Madden football video game. After he was arrested in 2013, the New England Patriots allowed anyone with a Hernandez jersey to go to Gillette Stadium and swap jerseys for free.

Aaron Hernandez CTE Case

CTE otherwise known as Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy is one of the worst injuries one can suffer due to the impact it has on the brain. Some of the symptoms include memory and thinking problems, confusion, personality changes, and erratic behavior including aggression, depression, and suicidal thoughts. Doctors who studied Hernandez’s brain once he passed discovered he had the worst case of CTE ever found at Stage III.

What Happened to Aaron Hernandez

Hernandez hung himself on April 19, 2017. He left behind his fiancée who he had a daughter with in addition to his friends and family.

What His Family Is Doing Now

Hernandez’s fiancée Shayanna Jenkins now lives in Rhode Island and had a second child with former boxer and actor Dino Guilmette. His daughter Avielle was five years old when her father passed away and is now 11 and a half years old. His mother Terri Hernandez lives in Farmington, Connecticut working on projects raising money for National Suicide Prevention.

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OHL/Rookie Season

Garret Sparks was drafted in the 7th round in the 2011 NHL draft and was a solid goalie for the Guelph Storm (OHL). At the beginning of Sparks’ professional career, he bounced around the AHL and ECHL with the Marlies, and Solar Bears putting up very solid numbers. With his second season with the Marlies, he would post a 915 SV% in 21 games. Sparks would continue with these insane numbers as he would only finish with a below .910 SV% once and that was in his rookie season with the Marlies.

Bursting Onto the Scenes

Sparks would start gaining attraction from Leaf fans when he would make his NHL debut and got a shoutout, breaking past Leaf records. He would play 17 games and posted a .893 SV%. He would continue with the Marlies the following season, playing 31 games with a .922 SV%. Going into the 2017-18 season fans knew this Marlies team was special. One of the best goaltending tandem in the league, with great defense, and offense. Well, Sparks would live up to that hype and would appear in 43 games posting a .936 SV%, Winning AHL best goaltender, on route to winning the 2018 Calder Cup. Garret would get the respect he deserved and got a shot with the Leafs the following season.

Sparks during his time with the Maple Leafs. Image: Pension Plan Puppets

Becoming an NHL Goalie

Sparks’ first season as the Leafs backup would be very disappointing for a lot of fans. Sparks would play in 20 games with a 902 SV%. Fans would quickly get frustrated with the lack of saves when needed. It didn’t help that head coach Mike Babcock would play Sparks against the harder opponent during back-to-backs. The Leafs would eventually trade Sparks to the Golden Knights for David Clarkson and a 4th round pick in 2020. He would eventually be sent on waivers and would play 26 games with the Chicago Wolves posting a 908 SV%.

Back to the AHL/ECHL

After Sparks’ contract expired he signed with the Orlando Solar Bears. After having a great start to the season he would look to get back to his AHL form with the Stockton Heat. Appearing in 16 games and putting up a .913 SV%. He would continue in the backup role the following season with the Ontario Reign. He also played in 2 games for the Los Angeles Kings and put up a .936 SV%. Sparks is now under contract with the Orlando Solar Bears where he’s having a down year, appearing in 12 games with a .886 SV%.

My Thoughts

In my opinion, I think Sparks deserved an opportunity to keep developing at the NHL level. The team’s defense wasn’t great at the time, and yes the team couldn’t get a save when they needed it. But I think Sparks needed time to gain confidence at the NHL level. The last team he played on was a championship team with amazing defense so adjusting to a higher level of play and also not the best defense in the league obviously it would take time to get used to. In his first 20 games, Garret put up a .902 SV% so I really think with a bit more time developing I think we still could have seen sparks in the NHL.

Find other “Untapped Potential” articles here!

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Many Padres fans remember Chase Headley as a staple during constantly disappointing seasons. As a member of the Padres for 12 years, he would only be a part of two seasons above .500.

Of course, with records like that, it’s hard to find a player on those teams putting up numbers to be in the MVP conversation. Chase Headley would be the exception with his 2012 season.

2007 – 2011

Going into the 2007 season Chase Headley was widely regarded to be a top-five prospect in the Padres organization. At the time, San Diego’s farm system was similarly thin to its state today. He would go on to make his MLB debut in June of 2007

Headley was not known to be a top player in any one aspect of the game.

It would be fair to say that he had average numbers in his first five seasons in the majors. Headley sat with a slash line of .296/.343/.392 and a .735 OPS. He also had 506 hits, 36 home runs, 204 RBIs and 217 runs in that span.

At this point the most home runs he had hit in a season was 12 in 2009. Headley also never hit more than 70 RBIs in a season in this time frame.

He accumulated 8.1 oWAR in that time frame. Up to this point he had not won any awards.

What would happen in 2012 is something nobody saw coming.

2012 Breakout

The 2012 MLB season is a memorable one for the Padres. Maybe not because of their 76-86 record but because of one player’s performance.

In April Chase Headley started slow, only hitting for a .230 batting average, with just two home runs and 12 RBIs. He followed up in May–foreshadowing what we would see the rest of the season–by hitting .308, with eight home runs and 23 RBIs.

The rest of the season would be nothing shorts of amazing. He would end with a slash line of .286/.376/.498 and an OPS of .875, which all ended up being career highs.

Not to mention he secured career highs in hits (173), home runs (31), runs (95), total bases (301) and a league leading 115 RBIs.

Headley would also go on to collect a few awards. He was named National League Offensive Player of the Month in both August and September. He finished fifth in MVP voting as well as bringing home a Gold Glove and Silver Slugger.

At just 28 years old, the Padres looked like they might have finally developed a franchise player they had been so desperately needing.

2013 – 2018, the Decline of Chase Headley

2013 would be the final full season for Headley on the Padres. He certainly regressed in performance. foreshadowing rest of his career.

His numbers would drop to .250/.347/.400 with only 13 home runs, 50 RBIs, and 59 runs in 2013. That line was still above average but far from star caliber.

Just before the trade deadline in 2014 the Padres dealt Headley to the Yankees. San Diego was below .500 at the time while the Yanks were fighting for a Wild Card spot. Headley would remain in the Bronx through the 2017 season.

His time with the Yankees was nothing remarkable. In his four years in New York, he hit .262/.339/.387. He hit just 43 home runs, 191 RBIs, 437 hits and accumulated 7.7 oWAR in 1750 at-bats.

2018 is where he would come home to San Diego to finish his career. Unfortunately, he was able to play in only 27 games. He would finish his career with a 25.9 WAR, with 6.9 of it coming in 2012.

After his incredible 2012 season we would never see Headley collect another award or All-Star appearance in his career.  He was more than just a one-season wonder, but it is still disappointing that he never came close to repeating that performance.

For Padres fan though, he will always be remembered as a beacon of hope in a time of mediocrity.

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