most OVERRATED lions

[Jim Mullin]

Clarence Verdin! LOL!

[Lion Guy]

My vote for most over-rated Lion would go to Elsa from Born Free. She had lots of potential but fizzled after one film.

This of course is in comparison to Clarence the Cross-eyed Lion and the Lion of MGM fame.

Football - wise, no question

Andre Ware

[WestCoastJoe]

My vote for most over-rated Lion would go to Elsa from Born Free. She had lots of potential but fizzled after one film.

This of course is in comparison to Clarence the Cross-eyed Lion and the Lion of MGM fame.

Football - wise, no question

Andre Ware

"Androcles and the Lion" ... in this comedy, period-film of Roman times, the lions and the Christians in the Coliseum, the lion does not even have a name, and also gets second billing in the title. He is either overrated or underrated, not sure which.

Most overrated football Lion, I would suggest Matt Millen, so-called General Manager of the Detroit Lions.

[Robbie]

Football - wise, no question
Andre Ware

That said, would you consider the signing of Damon Allen to replace Andre Ware at starting QB to be a great improvement and consolation?

[David]

Not sure if he would be classified as "over-rated" or merely as disappointment, but Don Bunce came here as a Rose Bowl hero but played only one season at quarterback (1972) and didn't show much.

He guided Stanford to an improbable upset over the highly ranked Michigan Wolverines in the '72 Rose Bowl (completing 5 passes in the final minute to put Stanford in field goal range), but put up some lousy numbers here (40 of 92 and 6 TD passes) playing behind Don Moorhead.

After leaving the Lions - and football - Bunce became an orthopedic surgeon. Sadly, he suffered a heart attack 5 years ago and died and the young age of 54.

DH 8)

[TheLionKing]

Don Bunce wanted the Lions to get him admitted to the University of BC medical school before signing a contract.

[Lion Guy]

Football - wise, no question
Andre Ware

That said, would you consider the signing of Damon Allen to replace Andre Ware at starting QB to be a great improvement and consolation?

That said. what do Joe Kapp, Roy Dewalt, Kent Austin/Danny McManus, Damon Allen and Dave Dickenson all have in common?

[notahomer]

Football - wise, no question
Andre Ware

That said, would you consider the signing of Damon Allen to replace Andre Ware at starting QB to be a great improvement and consolation?

That said. what do Joe Kapp, Roy Dewalt, Kent Austin/Danny McManus, Damon Allen and Dave Dickenson all have in common?

Ex-BC Lion Starting QB's that have won a Grey Cup in a Lions uni? (my guess )

[TheLionKing]

They finished their careers with other teams.

[Lionut]

Blitz, did I read that right? Did you list Jamie Taras as overrated? You've got to be kidding me.

I was fortunate enough to see a copy of the "coaches' tape" of the 1994 Grey Cup, i.e. shot from up high and the end zone, focussing on line play. This the tape coaches watch when evaluating their own team, and scouting future opponents. Jamie put on a freaking clinic that day - in the biggest game of his career, against a defensive line that was predicted to eat the Lions alive, he would have received a near purrfect grade from the coaches. That's a long way from overrated in my books.

[TheLionKing]

Jamie Taras was certainly overrated as a running back He found his calling as an offensive lineman.

[Blitz]

No...I wasn't kidding regarding Jamie Taras.

Of course I could come on here easily and say popular things but I answered the topic honestly, from my point of view. Jamie Taras played fullback, guard, and centre for the B.C. Lions and was named to the B.C. Lions Dream Team at right guard.

Who couldn't lke Jamie Taras? He was a loyal soldier for the B.C. Lions and was a great team guy, hard working, always postive, dependable, and very likeable. He was also a good guard and much better center. However, Taras was only named once as an All-Star at the guard position. He wasn't big for a guard and was much better suited to the center position, where I thought he played outstanding.

However, I believe the choice of Taras as a member of the Dream Team at guard was a sentimental decision. Taras was a very good guard but not outstanding. He was an outstanding center and I could easily have voted for him there as Al Wilson, in terms of his play. However, I believe we've had better guards over the long history of our Leos and that's why I said he was overrated. Nothing against Taras, who I cheered for and like many others have a lot of respect for... and who is one of the most popular Leos of all time.

[TheLionKing]

I totally agree with Blitz regarding Taras being named to the Dream Team.

[SammyGreene]

Here's three from me:

Stewart Hill DE: High profile FA signing in the early 90s. UW grad put up big numbers with the Eskimos but did little with the Lions and was part of a horrific defensive unit that couldn't stop anybody.

Derek McCready DT: A highly touted 1st round draft pick out of Ohio State that never really lived up to expectations (or at least compared to another ex-Buckeye who would come along a decade later). Again was part of a woeful Lions defence in the early 90s.

Dave Dickenson: Okay, first let me say I admired and respected DD alot. He was as good as there was when he was on his game and healthy. But I can't recall a player who was one of the faces of the franchise for five years yet only managed to play one full season (2003). Adding to it is the team really didn't miss him when he was out thanks to the efforts and development of Casey Printers, Buck Pierce and Jarious Jackson.

[Robbie]

However, I believe the choice of Taras as a member of the Dream Team at guard was a sentimental decision. Taras was a very good guard but not outstanding. I believe we've had better guards over the long history of our Leos and that's why I said he was overrated.

The two guards who were selected in the 50th anniversary dream team were Jamie Taras and Tom Hinton. Jamie Taras was selected as a CFL all-star in 1995 and 1999, and a West Division all-star in 2001 and 2002.

If you don't think he should be selected on the dream team as a Guard, then which player who played GUARD do you think should be selected instead?

None of the Lions who won Most Outstanding Lineman played Guard - multiple winners Rob Murphy and Jim Mills were Tackles, while Al Wilson was a Centre. There are a few players who had a few solid seasons with the Lions in the Guard position such as Gerald Roper, Leo Groenwegen, Jamie Buis, and Dan Payne. However, I don't think any of them should overtake Taras in the Guard position as they didn't win any awards either and I don't think they received as many all-star selections as Taras.