It is easy to get emotional with a persons team and make rash statements. So and so is a bust. So and so is the next HOF whoever.
Too many variables to write a guy off or hold him up on high until the results are in. I held out hope for Jason Smith until his last year here. I will never really declare a guy a bust because who knows what is going on behind the scenes. Someone like Pead may have put his personal, immaturity issues behind him and been ready to bust out, but, bad luck....got injured. If he never comes back, is he a bust? Who knows?
I thought it was just plain silly people who were calling for Quick to be cut or whatever. Still a young with massive physical talent who is young in the league. If you sign a guy who is 5 years in who is still carrying the "potential" tag....well, that is probably different. I thought it was silly to bash Pettis. He is a solid pro WR. I think what people do is see what someone else who plays the same position, makes the same money or is the same age is doing and make a linear comparison. Each player is different with their own learning curve and skill set. Just because someone taken the same year as Pettis is tearing it up, or just because he is not 6' 5" or does not run a 4.3 does not mean he has no role or no skill or no contribution.
(**I realize I am being hypocritical when it comes to Cook....where I constantly compare him to other TEs with time in the NFL and a high pay scale.)