I’m a former No.3 overall NFL Draft pick – but I was dubbed a bust after throwing more INTs than touchdowns in my career
FORMER NFL quarterback Akili Smith is considered one of the greatest busts in league history.
The Oregon star signed an eye-watering contract worth up to $56 million after being drafted No. 3 by the Cincinnati Bengals in 1999.
But Smith started just 17 games during his four years at the Bengals, throwing five touchdown passes and 13 interceptions in a dismal 3-14 record.
The Bengals were so keen to sign Smith that they turned down nine draft picks from the New Orleans Saints to land the quarterback.
Under Mike Ditka, the Saints were determined to land running back Ricky Williams and needed a trade as they only had the No. 12 pick.
The Saints offered the Bengals their entire 1999 Draft picks, plus their 2000 and 2001 first-round choices and a second-rounder in 2002.
Read more on the NFL
The Bengals declined and the Saints ended up making a deal with the Washington Redskins, who had the No. 5 pick.
It would prove a fateful choice, with Smith proving a massive letdown.
The Bengals had concerns over Smith right from the start.
“There were a whole bunch of [quarterbacks] that came out that year – and by far Akili was at the bottom of our list,” head coach Bruce Coslet told the Cincinnati Enquirer.
Most read in American Football
“I can still remember the coach, I want to say his name was Mike (Bellotti), his coach in college, I can still remember Kenny Anderson and I sitting in his office and we flat asked him, ‘Why did Akili only play one year?’
"And (Bellotti) said the reason is that I couldn’t trust him. Well, that was a big red flag for me.
"Then we drafted him anyway.”
Things got worse when Smith, under the representation of agent Leigh Steinberg, held out for 27 days before signing a then record contract, which included a $10.8 million signing bonus.
Smith missing out on a month of practice with the team during training camp proved a catastrophic mistake.
“I was the one that ended up suffering for it," Smith recalled.
Smith was accused of not putting in the work to make it as an NFL quarterback and partying too hard in his down time.
The QB ended up getting benched for much of his time at the team, going 12-for-33 for 117 yards and an interception in his final game in 2002.
“It was just a bad deal,” Smith said.
"I didn’t make it no better with the off the field shenanigans.
"It just didn’t work out in Cincinnati.”
Smith was released in May of 2003 and did not play again in the NFL after trying out for the Green Bay Packers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
He then had a short stint in NFL Europe and the Canadian Football League.
“When you look back on it, on your career or anything that you’ve been through, and you know that it was you that did something in the offseason and you know that the organization was not being ran right at the time as well, when you combine the two, after a while you understand that hey, you can be at peace with it,” said Smith.
“You screwed up in the offseason and you were partying too much and then at the time the organization wasn’t being ran correctly, so hey, I‘m finally at peace with it.
Read More on The US Sun
"It is what it is.”
Smith has since moved into coaching while his son Akili Smith Jr. is considered a top prospect after committing to Oregon.
