ozwego15
Pro-Bowler
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Reasons for picking Johnathan Sullivan- A key part of the 2002 Georgia team that won the Sugar Bowl, Sullivan had vastly improved every year, finishing the 2002 season with 4 sacks and 18 tackles for loss, while also being named First-team All-SEC. Though not initially thought of as a high-end pick, Sullivan established himself as a top prospect with a dominating combine that included a 5.03 40-yard dash, impressive numbers for a 300-pound man like Sullivan. The Saints, who had the #17 and #18 picks in the 2003 Draft, were looking to improve a defense that was ranked 27th overall in the league in 2002. As a result, they made a deal with the Arizona Cardinals: The Saints would trade the Cardinals the #17, #18 and #54 selection, in exchanged for Arizona’s #37 pick, #102 pick, and #6 pick, which they used to select Sullivan.
After holding out of training camp until the end of July, Sullivan signed a 7-year, $19 million contract that included a bonus of $11.4 million, a Saints franchise record. As a rookie, Sullivan looked as though he could actually live up to the hype, starting 12 games and finishing with 26 tackles and earning a place on the Pro Football Writers All-Rookie Team. However, Sullivan would never again show flashes of dominance, as he lost his starting job in 2004 after struggling with his weight and failing to match his production from 2003. In one unfortunate incident, after being declared inactive for a game against the Falcons, Sullivan sat in the press box of the Georgia Dome and ate burgers with members of the media. The Saints would go on to deactivate Sullivan for all but one of the remaining 8 games of the 2004 season, and he would not start another game for New Orleans. As a backup in 2005, he had 29 tackles, including 3 for loss, and 2 passes defended, but the Saints did not want Sullivan on the team in a depth role. In June 2006, he was traded to the Patriots in exchange for WR Bethel Johnson, but would face legal troubles after being arrested for marijuana possession. Though later cleared of all charges, Sullivan also failed the Patriots conditioning test at the start of training camp and could not practice immediately. He would be released in October 2006 without ever appearing in a game for New England.
