J.T. Mapu's second stint with the Washington Redskins was just that.
The former University of Tennessee defensive end was released by Washington for the second time on Sunday after he was signed as a rookie free agent.
Mapu was signed Tuesday after the Redskins lost defensive ends Phillip Daniels and Alex Buzbee to season-ending injuries last Sunday. He had previously been released by the team on June 24.
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Comments » 22
BSweet writes:
Kosmo- Hef dropped off last year. I appreciate the man's years of playing for us, but he never lived up to his hype last year. Mapu was a beast before his missionary trip but was never the same after. Again, appreciate his dedication to the Vols, but I was disappointed he could never regain form. Before you write us off as not having any good players last year, let's see what Mayo and Cottam do. Besides, there are plenty of Vols in the NFL making a name for themselves. Besides Peyton Manning, the most obvious, you have guys like Witten, Omar Gaither, Gibril Wilson, Deon Grant, Donte Stallworth, John Henderson, Albert Haynesworth.... I'm sure you get the picture. We've had plenty of success at putting players in the pros. Don't let a couple of busts outshine the ones who did make it. They can't all be stars.
Moaninglikeheck writes:
I think you are overreacting Kosmo. Tennessee as well as every school (top tier or not) has players that don't make the cut. Some years we have more, some years we have less. It still stands that Tennessee has put more NFL talent in the pros than most (if not any) other schools for the past 20 years and currently has as many on NFL rosters as anyone.
TommyJack writes:
Kosmo: At the risk of defending Louisiana Moaning, many guys ARE very good in college and for whatever reason, don't cut it in the pros.
TommyJack writes:
ok, Kossyboy
BSweet writes:
Kosmo, a player can be great in college and just not translate in the NFL. For example, Heath Shuler. Great Vol, not great NFL qb. Look at all the Heisman winners that tore up the college ranks but never became star NFL players. I think your question does have an answer. Great in college does not mean great in the NFL. They're both fb but the styles are totally different.
Silent_Fulmer writes:
who
invisiblekid writes:
I read somewhere that Mapu injured a knee ligament and it was a numbers issue for the opening of training camp. He may still catch on somewhere.
Kosmo: John Pennington used to write a blog on here and did a few stories about the talent drop off at UT by using the numbers from recent NFL drafts to make his point. Hard to argue against it considering the Vols went 4 years, if memory serves, without a 1st round draft choice. We do appear to be on the upswing though.
Biggest problem IMO with Hefney and Mapu is they were just lacking in the overall physical talent needed for the NFL. Everyone is just a little bigger, stronger, and faster at the next level.
invisiblekid writes:
BSweet, no offense, but I don't believe Shuler is the best example of college talent not translating to the NFL. He suffered what amounted to a career-ending foot injury before he ever really got started. Also played under Norv Turner, one of a long line of mediocre coaches who just keeps getting recycled. He pretty much let the fans make the choice on starting QB when they rallied around Frerotte, the 7th round draft choice. It's like they always say, the 2nd string QB is always the most popular guy in town.
Bigger_Al writes:
JT's 2-year mission seems to have negatively affected his physique, which has negatively affected his short-term future in the NFL. Maybe he can put in more time in the weight room and catch on somewhere.
Bigger_Al writes:
By the way, haven't we had 4 1st rounders in the last 3 NFL drafts?
Bigger_Al writes:
AS A MATTER OF FACT:
Consider this - The four 1st rounders were:
Jason Allen: Lost for season in 5th game
Robert Meachem: Went pro after JR year
Justin Harrell: Lost for season in 2nd game (toughed out 3rd)
Jerod Mayo: Went pro after JR year
The Vols, despite having 4 1st round NFL picks, haven't had the good fortune of enjoying any of their SR years. Mr. Kaplan, maybe this would be a good topic for an article, except that it doesn't fit the agenda of the KNS sports department.
CoverOrange writes:
Don't overlook the fact that Mapu and Hefney didn't even set foot in camp. Obviously, the decision was made based on their college career (junior and senior years) and whether they managed to wow anybody at the combines. Hefney may have had good speed and Mapu good strength but nothing that stood out enough to overcome lackluster seasons.
Don't kid yourself, Hefney got burned at CB as a freshman many times and whiffed a lot of tackles as a junior and senior. He had the rep of a hard hitter and he tried to prove it every time which looked bad on film. The NFL doesn't allow time for projects (unless your are a Dan Marino project).
Shuler and Clausen were screwed by management.
CT_VOL writes:
Cosmopolitan, both Hefney and Mapu were complete busts at Tennessee. Where have you been? It’s a true testament to the NFL that they were quickly cut. Had they made it, I would have little respect for the NFL.
It was four years of disappointment with Hef and 2 years if disappointment with Mapu. Wake up!
Frank
gavol2572 writes:
one person who stands out to me that had a great college career but couldn't handle the pros was Mr. David Green. Granted he had alot of talent around him as well, but he didn't become one of the winningest QBs in the NCAA by just showing up. Couldn't even tote the clip board for the Seahawks. Just goes to show how the NFL shows no mercy, you either hang or you don't
Timed_vol (Inactive) writes:
bigger_al:
great posts.
Mapu was not at all the same player. think about it, you play ball all your life, then take 2 years off?? Maybe at wide receiver, but hard to do for a 'strength' position.
As for the Vols in the Pros: Phil puts a lot of guys in position to to have a chance. Quite a few have made teams as free agents and done pretty well.
Be fair in your criticism: Phil can make pansy-assed games decisions, but he dots do a good job training the players.
TommyJack writes:
For one thing, Hefney was vertically challenged. Hell, Nick Saban is taller.
txsvol#372416 writes:
Free agent signees are little more than practice fodder in the summer camps. I think that both Mapu and Hefney are fortunate to get cut now, so that they may have choices later if somebody gets injured. At the same time, it's hard for somebody not even on the 90 man squad to beat out somebody who makes the 53 man squad. Hefney is too small to play safety (look at how often Bob Sanders gets hurt). But, by playing safety for us, he did not work on the position he was most likely to play in the pros. He still may have a chance as a nickel back and punt returner, so I'm not writing his pro career off just yet. And the earlier poster was right about JT: he lost strength and conditioning following his mission. His last two years were but a shadow performance that his first two years promised. But the comment by CT_Vol about both being complete busts at UT is way off the mark! It shows little appreciation for two who gave their all for UT! Go Vols! SAVol
txsvol#372416 writes:
hiresanders, from the bilge you've spewed on this site for the past year or so, I'm not sure that you weren't flushed along with the toilet! SAVol
CT_VOL writes:
txvol, I am always appreciative of vol players but you cannot dismiss reality when sizing up NFL talent. Hef was out of position and giving up big scores as a freshman through his senior year. How can you not be dissapointed as a fan? To say that Mapu was not a bust post-mission, especially after losing his starting job, is also a denial of reality.
Frank
BigOrangeVol writes:
hiresanders/simmerman, I'm sure you eat at Krystal and McDonalds a lot.
After what you posted about Jimmy Streater last year...pray that we never meet in person and God help you if we do. Unless I see a genuine, remorseful and deeply sincere apology from you regarding that post; you will continue to be a little pi$$ant gauche coward in my book.
It is hard to fathom why you haven't been banned from the KNS and thrown out with the rest of the fetid trash. I think that I can speak for most Vol alumni, fans, players and coaches when I say that our very existence on this Earth would be much improved with the lack of yours.
BigOrangeVol writes:
We know what the P on your helmet stands for!
BigOrangeVol writes:
Not little and not yellow but you're more than welcome to come give it a go if you're man enough. Somehow I doubt you have it in you; anyone that takes cheap shots at people they didn't know who have passed away are nothing more than pu$$ies and pi$$ant cowards. Obviously you are both!
If you knew Jimmy then you would never have anything but love in your heart for him. I miss him every single day and I thank God he was my friend/brother.
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