Biggest Chargers busts by position

OK, how many of you clicked this thread, thinking this would be an avatar competition between swoop and Red?

I posted a comment about Larry English stating that he would be the biggest linebacker bust in Chargers franchise history if he had another Buster Davis type season. That started me thinking about which Chargers (past and present) would qualify as the biggest Chargers position bust based upon their performance return relative to draft position, or free agents signed to big money contracts.


OFFENSE

QB: Really? Do I have to list him?

RB: Chuck Muncie (Trade with New Orleans in 1980). I know, hallowed ground here, but Chuck cut his own career short when he snorted away his last seasons and was cut by the Chargers after missing a team flight to Seattle.

WR: David Boston. (FA 2003) With all those physical tools and one of the most muscular WR's in league history, the Chargers signed Boston away from the Cardinals in 2003 and quickly found out why the Cards were willing to cut bait with a such a credentialed receiver. A head case, Boston's passion for the game was for whatever reason lukewarm... now, please don't ask why; no one quite knows the reason. ... But I think that the most likely reason of all... may have been that his heart was two sizes too small. One season with the Bolts and done.
Runner up: Craig "Buster" Davis (1st round, 2007 - 30th overall). Talk about living down to a nickname! Never saw the field for any extended play, was never able to beat out undrafted free agent Malcom Floyd.

TE: Rod Bernstine. (1st round 1987 - 24th overall) TE/RB tweener who couldn't grasp the TE position, despite sharing seasons with teammates Kellen Winslow, Pete Holohan, and Eric Sievers. Ended his career with the donkeys as a straight up style running back.

OT: John Clay (Trade from raiders 1988). Though Clay never played a down for the Chargers, he qualifies as the biggest Chargers OT bust due to whom then GM Steve Ortmayer traded to get Clay (All Pro tackle Jim Lachey).
Runner up: James Fitzpatrick (1st round, 1986 - 13th overall). His weight problems became evident early on after he was nicknamed "Fats-patrick" by his QB, Dan Fouts. Nuff said.

OG: Toniu Fonoti (2nd round, 2002 - 39th overall). Personified the term "Road-Grader" for the first two seasons of his career, then ate his way off the Chargers and out of the league.

CE: Jason Ball (UDFA 2002). Not really a bust in terms of money or draft position, but by the fact he had a chance to become the Charger's 3rd biggest UFDA find after Antonio Gates and Kris Dielman and out and out BLEW it. For three seasons Ball was a solid center for the Bolts, then his contract cane up and Ball grew a big head and priced himself off the team, and then burned his bridges by bad-mouthing the team and it's management.


DEFENSE

DT:

DE: Marcellus Wiley (FA from Buffalo 2001). John Butler loved his former Bills and couldn't resist the chance to bring Wiley on board shortly after Butler arrived in San Diego as the Chargers first competent GM in several seasons. Wiley gave the Chargers one decent season and parts of a 2nd, but had his eyes on too many other distractions to last a 3rd season.
Runner up: Marco Coleman (FA from Washington 1996). Highly touted former redskin, Coleman punched a clock and did little else in 3 seasons with the Chargers.

SA: Richard Stanley (1st round 1991 - 9th overall). The Sheriff turned Deputy Dawg when Jerry Rice and Terrell Owens torched him (and Darren Carrington) in Super Bowl XXIX. If that wasn't bad enough, 49er RB Ricky Waters punished him with the ground game for good measure. And to think, rookie Rodney Harrison sat on the bench in that debacle.

LB: Mike Guendling. (2nd round, 1984 - 33rd overall) Highly touted out of Northwestern, Guendling was to be the missing piece in the Chargers porous Air Coryell defense who, along with Billy Ray Smith, would give the Chargers their linebacking core for years. But Guendling tore his ACL and MCL in training camp and never played again. Along with Mossy Cade (see the next entry), the Chargers experienced one of their worst 1-2 draft selections in franchise history.
Runner up: Chip Banks. (FA from Cleveland 1987), Chip never displayed any heart to play for the Chargers after signing a fat contract. A few games into the season, Chip decided to retire.

CB: Mossy Cade. (1st round, 1984 - 6th overall) Cade refused to sign with the Chargers and his rights were traded the following season to the Green Bay Packers. After two seasons, Cade's career ended in 1987 after he was arrested (and convicted) for raping his aunt. This incident earned him the nickname "The Aunteater".
Runner up: Sammy Davis (1st round 2003 - 30th overall). AJ's 1st ever, 1st round draft pick as GM. The Candy Man played up to his nickname, but just barely. Last seen in 2006 at Candlestick Park as a 49er, futilely flailing at Rivers' passes after barking before the game that he would embarrass his old team. Hmm, something about AJ Smith drafting players named Davis with the 30th overall pick...

Granted. And I love the way Chuck finally straightened out and got his life back on track. For me it was more of the huge disappointment (and betrayal) I felt after Chuck gave into his demons and gave up on football. And really all of the players I listed are from the top of my head and my memories or the disappointment felt when they didn't live up to their billing. I guess even Natrone Means and John Cappelletti could be considered bigger busts than Muncie given their production, it's just that I felt it more from Muncie than any other RB who played for the Chargers

I kinda wash the whole roster from 1970-75 from memory because of all the drug scandals that proliferated on the team. (Hell, North Dallas Forty could have easily been about the 70's Chargers). Bob Rush? Guess I never considered him a flop because Macek was impossible to displace. Good call on Bo Mathews (forgot about him, but no surprise there).

Well, like I stated: I wrote it upon a fan's perspective based upon what the team gave up in terms of money, trades, or draft position/picks, correlated the minimal returns of the players listed. This thread was never about the numbers, it's about failed expectations, which is why I didn't bother listing any career stats.

To me, giving a ton of cash to a free agent and outbidding other teams for a player's services who then fails to perform is just as valid a bust as any 1st or 2nd round draft pick who fails to deliver on a similar premise of potential. C'mon, what Chargers fan wasn't excited all to hell when San Diego pulled the trigger on the David Boston signing? And who wasn't shocked and disappointed when Muncie was released and then failed to catch on with another team following an awesome run with the Chargers?

I knew when I wrote this a few folks would chime in to agree, but I knew more would respond to disagree over some of the players I mentioned, especially Muncie. And Muncie is the player who I really mulled over the most, but in all honesty I can't think of another Chargers running back who evoked the same level of disappointment. I was alternately angry at Muncie, GM Johnnie Sanders, even Coach Coryell for what happened the 2nd week of 1983. I really felt Chuck could have given the Chargers another 2 productive seasons and maybe Air Coryell might have had another shot at the Super Bowl in 83 or 84.