NFL Spin Zone
Fansided

One NFL player you wish never played for your favorite team

By Randy Gurzi

22 Aug 1998: Quarterback Ryan Leaf #16 of the San Diego Chargers standing around talking before the pre-season game against the Indianapolis Colts at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Chargers defeated the Colts 33-3. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Squ
22 Aug 1998: Quarterback Ryan Leaf #16 of the San Diego Chargers standing around talking before the pre-season game against the Indianapolis Colts at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Chargers defeated the Colts 33-3. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Squ /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
24 of 32
Next
2022 NFL
New York Giants’ running back Ron Dayne (L) is stopped by the Seattle Seahawks’ Marcus Robertson (R) and Reggie Tongue (C) after losing yardage in the first quarter at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford 22 September, 2002. AFP PHOTO Henny Ray Abrams (Photo by HENNY RAY ABRAMS / AFP) (Photo credit should read HENNY RAY ABRAMS/AFP via Getty Images) /

New York Giants: Ron Dayne, RB

A complete bulldozer for the Wisconsin Badgers, Ron Dayne twice topped 2,000-yards in a season during his collegiate days. He finished with 7,125 yards and 71 touchdowns in four seasons, which are both astronomical numbers.

It was no wonder the New York Giants took him at No. 11 overall in 2000 and hoped to pair him with Tiki Barber to give them a dangerous 1-2 punch. As a rookie, Dayne got a lot of carries and finished with 770 yards but he averaged just 3.4 yards per rush.

Things didn’t get much better for him as he averaged less than four yards per attempt in every season for the Giants and fans grew tired of seeing him still constantly getting the ball despite the fact that he wasn’t doing much with it.

On top of his ineffectiveness, there were complaints that Dayne was out of shape often and he clashed with head coach Jim Fassel.

Dayne did lose some weight when Tom Coughlin came on board in 2004 but he still had just 3.4 yards per rush and finished with 179 yards. He played for Denver for one season and then spent two years in Houston before retiring.

He was better in each of those spots, which makes it even more frustrating for New York fans who never saw a player worthy of the 11th overall pick.

Home/NFL