Shortest NFL playing career? (preseason, pay, coaches, games)
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Amazingly, not the shortest career but in what might be the most auspicious beginning Vikings 1999, $5.3M, #1 pick, Demitrius Underwood. While at Michigan State, Underwood missed most of his college senior year, and his coaches warned NFL scouts that he was not mentally stable enough to play in the NFL. Underwood was tormented by visions of the apocalypse. He used to write notes discussing the end of the world on pieces of paper the size of postage stamps.
Underwood walked out of training camp after one day saying he could not resolve the conflict between playing football and serving his faith. The Vikings released him later that month. He was claimed by Miami and played in one preseason game before getting injured.
In September 1999, Underwood was arrested by police for failure to pay child support. Within 24 hours, he attempted to commit suicide by slashing his own neck with a cutlass before repeatedly yelling "I'm not worthy of God".
Underwood later spent two months in protective care and was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. After he escaped from a psychiatric care facility, he was released from the Dolphins in December 1999. He later signed a two-year contract with the Dallas Cowboys. During the 2000-2001 seasons, Underwood had 21 tackles and four sacks in 19 games. In January 2001, he tried to kill himself for the second time by running into traffic twice on a busy suburban highway. The Cowboys released him later that month.
My favorite short-career player is former Baltimore Colt receiver Holden Smith, who ended his career by yelling, "Hey, everybody, watch THIS!!!", and dumping a big glass of soda and ice over coach Frank Kush's head at a training camp meal.
Amazingly, not the shortest career but in what might be the most auspicious beginning Vikings 1999, $5.3M, #1 pick, Demitrius Underwood. While at Michigan State, Underwood missed most of his college senior year, and his coaches warned NFL scouts that he was not mentally stable enough to play in the NFL. Underwood was tormented by visions of the apocalypse. He used to write notes discussing the end of the world on pieces of paper the size of postage stamps.
Underwood walked out of training camp after one day saying he could not resolve the conflict between playing football and serving his faith. The Vikings released him later that month. He was claimed by Miami and played in one preseason game before getting injured.
In September 1999, Underwood was arrested by police for failure to pay child support. Within 24 hours, he attempted to commit suicide by slashing his own neck with a cutlass before repeatedly yelling "I'm not worthy of God".
Underwood later spent two months in protective care and was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. After he escaped from a psychiatric care facility, he was released from the Dolphins in December 1999. He later signed a two-year contract with the Dallas Cowboys. During the 2000-2001 seasons, Underwood had 21 tackles and four sacks in 19 games. In January 2001, he tried to kill himself for the second time by running into traffic twice on a busy suburban highway. The Cowboys released him later that month.
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