Steelers “Sour 16” Bracket: 1986 John Rienstra vs. 1988 Aaron Jones

BTSC continues to look at the least successful first round selections since 1969 with a matchup between a top ten pick from Temple and one of the Bluegrass State’s elite.

But first, the tally from the tightest first round matchup yet. With 613 votes counted, 1985’s Darryl Sims garnered 52% of the vote and narrowly outscored Tim Worley from 1989 by 25 votes. Sims advances to face the individual who receives the most votes between Aaron Jones and John Rienstra.

1988 Round 1 Pick 18 DE Aaron Jones-Eastern Kentucky

It’s hard to believe that Jones spent nine seasons in the NFL and had 18 sacks for three franchises. For five seasons, the defensive end had 9.5 sacks for the Steelers before his stints with New England and Miami. Jones played at Eastern Kentucky, where he was a Division I-AA first-team All-America selection in 1987 and the Ohio Valley Defensive Player of the Year. Jones was inducted into the Kentucky Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2015. Unfortunately, his production was not what was expected for the Steelers.

1986 Round 1 Pick 9 G John Rienstra-Temple

With their highest pick since 1971, the Steelers reached across the Keystone State to select John Rienstra. By holding out 28-days as a rookie, Chuck Noll labeled the Tenple OL as a wasted pick. Rienstra battled numerous injuries and a stress disorder that caused him to walk away from training camp in 1988 to get counseling and start a career as a house painter, which one wouldn’t think it to be as lucrative as that of a NFL player. The man known as “Rhino” started 27 games in five years for the Steelers, but never had the success expected from the ninth player selected overall.

Will it be Jones or Rienstra that advances. Cast your vote and stick with BTSC to see who advances.