Show Me the Money: 4 Memorable NFL Rookie Holdouts

By now you’ve probably heard about the holdouts of San Francisco 49ers WR Michael Crabtree and several other high profile players selected in the first round of Spring’s NFL draft. Every year, despite ridiculously large contract offers, these inevitable holdouts serve as harbingers of the eagerly anticipated NFL season. As commonplace as they are, it’s important that we don’t overlook these moments as history tells us that holdouts can signal the trajectory of a career. Here are some examples of how the careers of Crabtree and his fellow holdouts may end up.

Emmitt Smith- Smith, the 17th pick of the 1990’s draft, staged a 48 day holdout which was the longest in Cowboys history at the time. He eventually signed a four year deal for $5 millon, with a paltry by today’s standards $1 million signing bonus. More than a decade later, Smith is the NFL’s all-time leading rusher. It can safely be said that the iron will Smith showed during his holdout served him well in his NFL career. (AP)

Mossy Cade- Who the hell is Mossy Cade you ask? Exactly my point. He was the 6th pick in the 1984 draft of the San Diego Chargers and seemed to have a bright future after an All-American career at Texas. But he held out and wound up playing the USFL for a season. He eventually came back to the NFL, playing two unmemorable seasons for the Packers before getting convicted of the sexual assault of a woman he was related to by marriage and earning a nickname worthy of a man named Mossy Cade: The Aunteater.

Bo Jackson- drafted by the perennial loser Tampa Bay Buccaneers in their creamsicle days, Jackson had very little leverage. The year was 1986, well before the salary cap and free agency which severely limited Bo’s options. So he just did what any once in a generation athlete would do and decided leave to the Bucs to play baseball for the Kansas City Royals. He eventually returned to the NFL with the Raiders and a Tecmo Bowl legend was born. (ESPN)

Sammie Smith- Just ask a Dolphin fan how they feel about Smith, who was a colossal disapointment for Ace Ventura’s favorite team. But it all started with a holdout when he was drafted in 1989. Smith eventually played his rookie year and was moderately effective in his time with the Dolphins but always had trouble holding onto the football. He eventually washed out of the league and ended up selling crack. As is the norm with crack dealers Smith wound up on the wrong side of the law to the tune of a 32 count federal indictment.