What if … ? 55 years ago the football Cardinals drafted Joe Namath
On Nov. 28, 1964, the Big Red took "the Best Player Available" and drafted Joe Namath of the Alabama Crimson Tide. It was a great pick — but not for the Cardinals, who failed to sign the quarterback.
This year the Cardinals have the first pick in the NFL draft, this time as the Arizona Cardinals.
When it comes to the NFL drafts, our memories are filled with draft day reaches, busts and out-right whiffs — both by the Cardinals and the Rams. Here are the clips from some first-round mistakes that cost St. Louis football teams dearly.
1964 draft: Joe Namath
It wasn't so much of a miss on the talent. Is was the fact that Broadway Joe would never play a single down for the Big Red.
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1970: Larry Stegent
The Big Red reached for this pass-catching back out of Texas A&M. He would catch only one pass in his NFL career.
1977: Steve Pizarkiewicz
This former Mizzou star was supposed to take the starting quarterback job from Jim Hart. He started only four games for the Big Red.
1978: Steve Little
Who drafts a kicker in the first round? The Big Red couldn't resist drafting this duo-threat kicker and punter. He made fewer than half his field goals. Hours after the team cut him in 1980, he was involved in an auto accident that left him paralyzed.
1984 Clyde Duncan
This Tennessee wideout was the first receiver picked. But he held out, missed practices, separated his shoulder and never became a factor for the Cardinals.
1987: Kelly Stouffer
The final first round pick of the Big Red's stint in St. Louis held out his rookie season and never played. He was traded to Seattle, and the Cardinals left town.
1996: Lawrence Phillips
Rams officials insisted that they had one-on-one meetings with the troubled Phillips and swore his troubles were behind him.
2000: Trung Canidate
Instead of adding depth of filling needs, the world champion Rams played to Mike Martz's ego and drafted another Marshall Faulk. The problem? The already had one.
2009: Jason Smith
The second overall pick and supposed anchor of the offensive line for years to come was beaten out for a job by Roger Saffold.
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