(NFL Head Coach) Player Profiles: Following the Careers of the Created Players

[MrNFL_FanIQ]

Cole Cameron was surprised to get a phone call the day after the Draft. It was from the 49ers, the defending Super Bowl champions. They had gone 10-6 and won as the 6 seed with Jordan Slocum, a rookie head coach. Alex Smith had finally had a good season at QB and was the comfortable starter.

But the 49ers didn't have much in terms of a backup, and Slocum saw something in the Cornell QB. "Hey, we really think you have the potential to be a NFL QB and would like give you a shot to make our roster."

Cameron was thrilled, he was going to have a chance to be in the NFL. He hoped that he could earn a spot on the 49ers, or at least raise his profile enough so that he could make a roster.

After a good preseason and a lot of promise shown by Cameron, the 49ers opted to carry only two quarterbacks on the entire roster. The coach had enough confidence in Cameron as the backup. Cameron was glad that his hard work payed off.

Over the first few weeks of the 2009 season, Alex Smith was off to a slow start, despite the team being successful. In week 5, Smith would throw 2 INTs for TDs and complete under 50% in a game against the Bears. At this point, Alex Smith was benched, and Cole Cameron took over.

He was unbelievably nervous, he was starting for the Super Bowl champs. After the two INTs, he threw his first TD pass to Mike Furrey, but the 49ers still fell short. Cameron was just happy to have gotten to play.

But he didn't imagine he'd be starting the rest of his rookie season...

[MrNFL_FanIQ]

"And the winner of the 2008 Heisman Trophy...DeMario Waddell!"

The Heisman Trophy is one of the most prestigious awards in sports, despite the fact that it often doesn't TRULY go to the best player in college football, but the best QB/HB on the top ranked team.

But DeMario Waddell was neither a QB/HB and he didn't play for the top ranked team. He was from the University of Washington, and he was a cornerback - primarily. He was the second ever defensive player to win the award, and he certainly was a stud at cornerback. He was very sound in both man and zone coverage, very smart, and a tremendous athlete.

But he won the Heisman on more than being a stud CB. He contributed both at wide receiver and on returns for the Huskies. He was a do it all player, which made him even more interesting of a prospect. There was no doubt that he would go top 10 or top 5. The question was, who would take him, and how would he be used?

[MrNFL_FanIQ]

"We'll play Morgan when we feel he's ready, and we don't think he is at this time."

New Ravens coach General Sanders was under the belief that Morgan Barnes would develop into a great quarterback if he learned some discipline. He flat out told him; you aren't ready for the big show quite yet. For the 2009 season, Joey Harrington would remain the starter for the Ravens.

Barnes was frustrated with this. He felt that he was the best QB on the roster easily, and that he could turn this team around. He did get one opportunity, one start in the 2009 season. He went 14-24, 126 yards, 2 TD and 2 INT. But as the season ended, Baltimore was 6-10, a 3 game improvement from 2008.

"I know it's my time and with me, the Ravens are off to good things"

Sanders wasn't quite sure if the loud Barnes was matured enough, yet got to start in 2010. He started 6 games that season, completing 120 of 217, 1580 yards, 8 TD and 10 INT. Not great by any stretch. After this and a slow start, the Ravens turned back to Joey Harrington.

The Ravens would finish 2010 with a 5-11 record, and Barnes was less than thrilled. He publicly attacked his coach, saying that benching him was a mistake that was costing the team wins. Obviously, the military man did not appreciate this. Sanders began to seriously question whether or not Barnes would ever mature.

As a message to Barnes, week 1 of 2011, Barnes was start the starter. Instead, veteran Kerry Collins was. Barnes would not see the field all of the 2011 season. Once again, Baltimore went 5-11.

Barnes continued to speak out against Sanders, citing the teams' record and lack of playing him as the reason for their struggles. The strong armed Barnes still hadn't matured enough in the minds of many, and had trouble learning the playbook.

With Sanders still at head coach, questions arose over the quarterback position. With over $8 million still committed to Barnes, and Collins retiring, it was looking like Barnes might finally be the starter by default...

[Yeah...THAT Guy]

Interesting, I don't even know who Barnes is in this game

[MrNFL_FanIQ]

DeMario Waddell was drafted 5th overall by the Washington Redskins. He was told by the new management of Romeo Crennel that he would only be used as a CB, which was fine for Waddell, he was ready to dominate the league.

And Waddell had plenty of success individually, but each season ended up being a new challenge, because the Redskins seemingly had a new coach each season. In his rookie year, the Redskins went 4-12, and after learning Crennel's 3-4, he was fired. Waddell had 65 tackles, 2 INT that season, as well as allowing 56% of passes thrown to him.

Enter Tony Sparano, who ran a different style of 3-4 defense. Waddell quickly learned it as well, and had 4 INT, and had improved his allowance to 53%. The Redskins went 5-11, and Sparano went fired. Waddell was a man who knew he was a stud, and he was getting frustrated.

He had a drastically different system to learn in 2011, as Lovie Smith came. Smith had struggled the past 3 years in Chicago, but he brought a solid Cover-2 style defense. Although Waddell was better in man, he adjusted to the zone with ease. In Lovie's first year, Washington made the playoffs at 9-7, and were eliminated by the Eagles.

But Waddell was happy, he knew that FINALLY he was going to get to win. His improvement continued, 4 INT, 52%, and his first career TD. But the Redskins would struggle a year later, going 5-11, despite Waddell having his best year. 6 INT, 2 FF, 1 FR, 79 tackles, 55%. But it didn't matter, Washington struggled, Lovie Smith was fired. Heading into 2013, he had a lot of questions. He had signed an extention, locking him in until 2017.

But would he ever get to know what winning was like in the NFL?

[MrNFL_FanIQ]

Falcons head coach Mike Smith told Chris Essex that he was unlikely to play his rookie year, and that was the case. Essex sat and watched as the Falcons went 4-12, and was ready to come in next season and bring success. But Mike Smith got fired, and the Falcons hired former Seahawk Special team coach Bruce DeHaven.

DeHaven was a traditionalist type of coach, and he wanted the pure pocket veteran passer, not the young, speedy alternative that Chris Essex presented. So he went out and signed Kurt Warner, and announced him the starter.

Essex began to wonder when he'd get his chance, and DeHaven told him, "You still have a LOT to learn Chris." So he sat and watched again in 2010, the Falcons went 1-15. For whatever reason, owner Arthur Blank didn't fire DeHaven, but most fans figured he'd get him to play Essex, with all of the money invested.

But he didn't, 2011 came by, Essex once again never saw the field, instead Warner did. Atlanta went 5-11, but DeHaven would get fired. Although Essex wasn't hateful, he was privately glad DeHaven was gone, because now he would get his chance. With his contract, he had to get his chance, right?

Former Ram head coach Scott Linehan came in, and evaluated Essex. Linehan expressed to Blank that "I just don't see an NFL QB out of this guy" For 2012, once again, Kurt Warner would start. Essex didn't see the field, the Falcons went 1-15, Linehan got fired.

In 2013, Jon Gruden returned from a year off after winning the Super Bowl with Tampa, and he became the head coach of the Falcons. With Essex in the last year of a huge deal, completely undeveloped, Gruden decided to go in a new direction. The team drafted QB Logan Axelrod from Notre Dame with the #1 pick, and Chris Essex was out of a job...

[MrNFL_FanIQ]

Cole Cameron would end up starting the rest of his 2009 rookie year for the 49ers, who went 12-4. Cameron had 15 TDs and 10 INT, 2466 yards, and a 63% completion. The 49ers entered the playoffs in the wild card round and won over the Giants 24-21. Then, in the divisional round, Cameron threw 4 TD in a win over the Eagles 38-24.

Now, he approached the conference final in his rookie season, something unimaginable for an undrafted rookie. He struggled against a powerful Tampa Bay defense, and the 49ers would lose 38-17. Tampa would lose in the Super Bowl to Denver.

Cameron would be the undisputed starter for 2010, starting in 13 games, missing 3 because of injury. He would throw 22 TDs, 12 INT, 2751 yards and complete 60%. San Fran was 14-2, led by a powerful defense.

Cameron wouldn't do much, but he didn't need to. He didn't throw one INT in the entire playoffs. San Fran beat the Giants 10-3, and the Buccaneers 17-13 to get to the Super Bowl, where they convincingly beat the Jaguars 27-3.

Cole Cameron was a Super Bowl champion.

The next season, Cameron would start 15 games, throw 22 TD, 10 INT, 3619 yards, 61% completion, his best season yet. Once again, San Fran would go 14-2. But Cameron struggled along with the entire offense, and they would get beat 17-15 by the Eagles in their first playoff game.

The season was a disappointment, but Cameron figured, "Oh well, better luck next year." The offseason began, and to the surprise of 49ers coach Jordan Slocum, Drew Brees was available for a very low price at his talent. Seeing a talented veteran like Brees was just too much, and he figured that he could put them over-the-top. (NOTE: I was ultimately right, I went unbeaten the next year)

To the surprise of Cameron, now he seemed to be out of the job. He didn't know what to do, saying that he would compete for the job with Brees. Then one day, he got a call:

"Hey Cole, it's coach Slocum. I wanted to thank you for all that you've done for us. You've been traded, you and (QB Dontae) Lott to the Panthers for LB Jon Beason."

Cole thanked him for giving him the shot to begin with, and packed his bags, getting ready for a new chapter with the 2-14 Carolina Panthers...

[MrNFL_FanIQ]

It wasn't hard for Mike Zazzali to understand the new offense that Jerry Gray installed. It was pretty basic in nature, a bit of singleback, I, and shotgun. Zazzali was told that he wouldn't be ask to make a lot of passes, and that his load would probably stay about the same.

"Run game and defense is how we do it, we need ball control success."

The 2012 season was the most efficient for Zazzali. Although he had a career low yardage (3026) and only 19 TDs, he threw a career best 12 INTs and completed a career best 62% of his 375 passes. But the season was the success. In the first year of Jerry Gray, the Cardinals had gone 11-5, earning a wild card spot, and the first playoff game for the franchise in nearly a decade.

Zazzali was prepared and ready for his playoff debut, and his first playoff game was a victory for the Cardinals. It was a hard fought, 20-17 win against the Vikings in Minnesota. And it was the best feeling Zazzali had ever had, playoff success.

The season would end in the next game, the Giants would prove well too much to handle, 35-13 final. But Zazzali was ready for the true fun to begin.

The next year, 2013, was his best season yet. 24 TDs (career high), 3338 yards, only 13 INTs, and a 60% completion. The Cardinals record was 9-7, but because the 49ers struggled with Al Saunders, 9-7 earned them the division title and the 4 seed.

They went to face the 11-5 Buccaneers as home underdogs, and the Cardinals shocked the world with a victory, 31-16. Monte Kiffin's great defense didn't fool Mike Zazzali.

The Cardinals then went to the Superdome, to face the Saints, who had from out of nowhere earned the #1 seed. And in part because of Zazzali's success, the Cardinals shocked the world again, winning 27-24. Now, despite the 9-7 regular season, Zazzali and the Cardinals were one game from the Super Bowl.

They faced the Eagles in Philadelphia, in a classic back and forth battle. Zazzali did all you can ask from a QB, but the Eagles ended up just being the better team, winning 23-20. Philly would lose in the Super Bowl to Indy.

Things were certainly looking up for Mike Zazzali, and he knew in his heart that soon enough, he'd be hoisting the Lombardi Trophy...