In this series of sponsored posts, we'll be looking at the ten worst and ten best Atlanta Falcons draft picks of all time. Let's move on to the best. Today's choice is former running back William Andrews.
Despite their gruesome misses, the Falcons have actually cobbled together some very good drafts over the years. In this series of ten posts, we'll be honoring the best of the best.
A caveat. This list was exceptionally difficult to order, so keep in mind that it's just my opinion. That way, if you disagree, you can vent your spleen at me, which I hope is somewhat less disgusting than it sounds.
But moving on, what might have been! Had he not blown out his knee in 1984, William Andrews might have gone down as one of the greatest running backs in NFL history, so great was his talent. To get him in the second round with the 23rd pick is nothing short of a coup.
Andrews was one of the most explosive backs in the NFL in his six seasons with the Falcons, piling up 5,986 yards, averaging 4.6 yards per carry and scoring 30 touchdowns as the feature back for some very fun teams in the early 1980's. The aforementioned knee injury killed his career, and after one season playing mostly tight end in 1986, Andrews had to hang it up.
It doesn't matter. With his number retired, four Pro Bowl selections and great stats in a very short career, Andrews was the real deal and still goes down as one of the great players in Falcons history. He gets a spot on the list without question.
Reasonable alternatives for this spot could have included Gerald Riggs, Ken Reaves, Elbert Shelley and a host of others who missed out because we're limited to ten spots. Feel free to discuss here and check out our sponsored message after the jump.
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.