Pro Football Talk: NBC Sports The NFL hasn’t completely given up on Vernon Gholston yet. Gholston, the No. 6 overall pick of the 2008 NFL draft, worked out for the Texans on Tuesday. The fact that the Texans worked Gholston out doesn’t mean they’re close to signing him. Teams work out players all the time, and Gholston was one of six players the Texans worked out on Tuesday. The others were defensive end Keyunta Dawson and linebackers Antwan Applewhite, Alex Hall, David Vobora and Cyril Obiozor. But it’s noteworthy that even as unproductive as Gholston was with the Jets, and even after the Bears cut him in training camp, NFL teams are at least curious about what he has left. Gholston is a great athlete who’s still only 25 years old. There may still be a place for him in the NFL.
Gives "overtrained" a new poster child: Got drafted early (because he's was a physical freak)... cut by multiple teams now.
#6 pick in 2008 by the Jets. You'd think that being the #6 pick pretty much guarantees playing time but he sucked so hard that they wouldn't even put him out on the field except for special teams. Jets cut him in the offseason. Bears signed him and then cut him.
Rex Ryan AND Lovie Smith gave up on this guy, and that tells me everything I need to know. If two of the greatest defensive coaches in this league couldn't get this guy to be productive, then that's a MAJOR red flag. However, I wouldn't mind signing him for the minimum, and seeing if Wade could get him to produce a little bit. Maybe have him in on passing downs only, and let him try to tee off on the quarterback. He's never going to be a full-time starter for a team, but I bet he could contribute in a limited capacity.
There's not much risk to signing him, but I have a hard time giving him any playing time ahead of Mario, Barwin, and Brooks Reed.
I agree but those coaches do seem to have a different approach than Wade. Unfortunately, Gholston is probably just another case of a freakish athlete who simple doesnt know how to play the game.
The Jets gave up all hope of him playing LB - his football IQ was the pits, he was a bad joke in coverage, couldn't shed blocks, etc. There was an attempt to move him to end, but apparently it was a no go. Universally, his commitment to the game and improving as a player is questioned. Most think he's only dedicated to the weight room. If they want to give him a chance for small money to back up Smith/Watt, or even Cody, I'd be fine with it. Wade's system amounts to "just hit the gap and cause issues" for the D-Line. He's got the size, strength, and burst to make it work....if he wants to.
At 1st I was thinking , give him an incentive based 1 yr contract, to see if that motivates him....But as someone alluded to earlier, his sorry azz couldnt even get 1 sack to gain 9 million$ in his rookie contract...