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The 10 Worst Personnel Moves10) Steelers sign Donnell Wolford (1997)Wolford had been an all-pro CB with the Bears, but when he came to the Steelers to replace all-time great Rod Woodson, he was a joke. By season's end, Wolford was fifth on the depth chart at CB! He was waived that off-season. 9) Steelers draft in the second round (1997-99)How is this for three staright second round busts: Will Blackwell (1997), Jeremy Staat (1998), and Scott Shields (1999). Oh man, these were HUGE busts! The Steelers finally broke the jinx with the most recent two second round picks, Marvel Smith (2000) and Kendrell Bell (2001). 8) Steelers trade Buddy Dial for nothing (1964)It's not just the fact that the Steelers traded the guy who had led the team in receiving the previous four seasons. It's the fact that they traded him to Dallas for the draft rights to a player named Scott Appleton, who went and played in the AFL instead. 7) Steelers draft Jamain Stephens (1996)
Fresh off of a Super Bowl season, the Steelers needed help at OT to replace all-pro Leon Searcy, who had departed via free agency. So they decided to take Stephens, a massive tackle (6'6" 330) out of a tiny school (North Carolina A&T). They said it would take him years to develop. That should've been their first hint that this was a bad pick. In three seasons, Stephens barely played, and when he did he was horrible. On the first day of training camp in 1999, he collapsed during sprints (not because of heatstroke, but because he was an out-of-shape fatass). He was cut that evening. 6) Steelers draft John Reinstra (1986)In 1986, the Steelers had their highest draft pick since the early 70's (9th overall). They used it on a guard from Temple named John Reinstra. Needless to say this pick was a huge bust. Reinstra was a complete waste of space that couldn't block anything. This pick was one of the main reasons the Steelers completely went downhill the rest of the 80's. 5) Steelers draft Huey Richardson (1991)"Complete loser" is the best way to describe Richardson. He was a standout DL at the University of Florida, but he turned out to be useless on the pro football field. The Steelers cut him after just one season (in which he only played 5 games), and he was out of pro football for good the following season. Arguably the worst draft pick in team history. 4) Steelers pass on Dan Marino (1983)Danny Marino was a hero in this town, setting records at the University of Pittsburgh. He was still on the board when the Steelers selected Gabe Rivera, a DL from Texas Tech whose career ended after just one season when he was paralyzed in a car accident. Terry Bradshaw was still playing in 1983, and the Steelers had used their #1 pick three years earlier to select Mark Malone, so they didn't think they needed a QB. Well, they were seriously mistaken. Bradshaw retired at season's end, and Malone started a long line of crappy Steelers QB's that still lives on to some extent today. A lot of teams passed on Marino before the Dolphins finally selected him, but the thing that hurt the most is that he was raised on Pittsburgh football. We had him right in our own back yard and we let him get away. 3) Steelers draft Tim Worley and Tom Ricketts (1989)The Steelers not only had the 7th overall pick in 1989, but they had an additional first-round pick because of the Mike Merriweather trade. Then they went and used it on two bums. The worst of the two picks was Worley. He never materialized into even a decent RB, and he used to fumble like it was going out of style. "Woops" Worley, as we used to call him, also got into drug problems, just to put the icing on the cake. Ricketts was an OL from Pitt. The Steelers had this stupid thing where they NEVER drafted great players from Pitt (see bad decision #4), so they finally pick one and he turns out to be a bust. Ironically, the Steelers made the playoffs that year, no thanks to Worley and Ricketts.2) Steelers attempt to sign Scott Mitchell (2001)Fans of the Detroit Lions watched Mitchell single-handedly destroy their team. Then the Steelers watched as Mitchell continued his complete incompetence in their own division, first with Baltimore and then with Cincinnati. He is by far the worst quarterback of the modern era, and the Steelers witnessed this first-hand. So what do they do? They turn around and try to sign him!! It was absolutely unbelievable! What made it even worse is that the Bengals quickly re-signed him, and the Steelers were actually UPSET that they missed out on him!!! If they would've signed him, I would've been done as a Steelers fan. The fact that they even attempted it is why it's only #2 on the list. If you think this is too high on the list, then go talk to a Lions fan and ask their opinion. If you still have any teeth left after mentioning Mitchell's name in front of them, then maybe you'll reverse your stance.
1) Steelers cut Johnny Unitas (1955)This was a no-brainer. Unitas was a Western PA guy who wanted to play for his hometown team. Art Rooney's kids told their dad that Unitas was the best QB in camp that year (or so they claim). However, the people in charge did not agree. Unitas was cut and was playing semi-pro ball in Bloomfield when he got a call from the Baltimore Colts. The rest is history. The Colts went on the become one of the greatest teams ever, while the Steelers continued to lose for the next 20 years. Honorable Mentions:
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