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Tiger Woods and 20 Athletes Whose Careers Have Fallen Off the Tracks

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20 Athletes Whose Careers Crashed and Burned

Tiger Woods
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Tiger Woods was the world's best golfer and one of the biggest sports superstars out there until word got out about his multiple affairs on his wife. Sure, the affairs didn't have too much to do with his recent struggles, but they are a big reason the former No. 1 golfer is fading away -- well, that and injuries.

Who are some other top athletes who have seen their careers crash and burn for one reason or another?

Michael Vick

Michael Vick
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Michael Vick

Michael Vick
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Michael Vick was one of the most exciting players in the NFL until his arrest after a dog fighting scandal. Since then he has had just one solid season and is now a backup to a second-year NFL quarterback.

Tiger Woods

Tiger Woods
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Tiger Woods

Tiger Woods
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Having been one of the biggest superstars in sports history, Tiger Woods crumbled under the pressure of a failed marriage and multiple affairs. He hasn't quite been himself since and has won just one major championship since 2008.

Titus Young

Titus Young
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Titus Young

Titus Young
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Getting arrested three times in a span of a week is enough to earn you a spot on this list -- and that's exactly why Titus Young is here. Since those arrests, the once-promising talent has found himself out of football.

Ray Rice

Ray Rice
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Ray Rice

Ray Rice
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Sure, Rice isn't exactly done with football just yet, but he's pretty close after his recent assault of then-fiance Janay Palmer in an elevator. After the video was released of Rice punching Palmer, the Ravens released him.

Gilbert Arenas

Gilbert Arenas
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Gilbert Arenas

Gilbert Arenas
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Gilbert Arenas scored himself a record contract and then drifted out of the NBA. It was all downhill after he was caught with a handgun in the Wizards' locker room.

Dontrelle Willis

Dontrelle Willis
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Dontrelle Willis

Dontrelle Willis
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Dontrelle Willis was once a Cy Young runner-up in the National League with the Florida Marlins while winning a World Series and making two All-Star appearances. Since? Absolutely nothing but 11 different teams and an elevated ERA.

JaMarcus Russell

JaMarcus Russell
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JaMarcus Russell

JaMarcus Russell
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JaMarcus Russell could throw a ball over 50 yards sitting down. That was all people could talk about before the promising star got drafted. That talent never translated to the NFL.

Maurice Clarett

Maurice Clarett
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Maurice Clarett

Maurice Clarett
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Maurice Clarett was supposed to be the next big running back star at Ohio State and in the NFL, but legal troubles took all that away. Clarett felt that he was above the law when he filed a fake police report and took improper benefits totaling about ,000 in his only year with the Buckeyes.

Andy Roddick

Andy Roddick
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Andy Roddick

Andy Roddick
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Andy Roddick didn't do anything in particular to earn a spot on this list other than disappear from the tennis world and retire after being ranked No. 1 in the world in 2003. Roddick was considered the best in his sport for a bit.

Marion Jones

Marion Jones
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Marion Jones

Marion Jones
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Marion Jones was an American icon after winning multiple Olympic gold medals and dominating the 2000 Sydney Summer Olympics. However, she was disqualified and stripped of her medals after it was revealed that she took performance enhancing drugs.

Chad Johnson

Chad Johnson
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Chad Johnson

Chad Johnson
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Johnson, former Chad Ochocinco, was cut from the Miami Dolphins in 2012 when he was arrested for domestic abuse. That arrest eventually led to a failed marriage and a failed attempt to continue his NFL career. He's now playing in the CFL.

Todd Bertuzzi

Todd Bertuzzi
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Todd Bertuzzi

Todd Bertuzzi
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Steve Moore is one guy that is probably pretty happy that Todd Bertuzzi hasn't been the same player he once was. Moore was nearly paralyzed on the ice by Bertuzzi, but his career was ended because of a sucker punch. Bertuzzi never really earned his reputation back.

Ricky Williams

Ricky Williams
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Ricky Williams

Ricky Williams
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Ricky Williams was one of the NFL's best running backs before he decided to leave football in order to live in the woods, "study nature" and smoke weed for about a year. He did come back, but was never the same electric player.

Alex Rodriguez

Alex Rodriguez
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Alex Rodriguez

Alex Rodriguez
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Alex Rodriguez was on pace to break the all-time home run record, but he ran into some trouble when he was named in a report that accused him of using steroids regularly. Since then, he hasn't been the same and the Yankees are hoping to unload his huge contract.

Latrell Sprewell

Latrell Sprewell
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Latrell Sprewell

Latrell Sprewell
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Well, Sprewell choked his coach and declined a contract that was three years for million because it wasn't enough to "feed his family." No sign of him since.

Lance Armstrong

Lance Armstrong
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Lance Armstrong

Lance Armstrong
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Armstrong, like Marion Jones, was once an American hero before he lied to his nation and gave the United States a black eye. Lance will never regain his reputation nor his Tour de France victories.

Charles Rogers

Charles Rogers
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Charles Rogers

Charles Rogers
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Rogers was the No. 2 overall pick in the 2003 NFL Draft for the Detroit Lions and he was expected to be a star in the league. However, he suffered a slew of injuries and never lived to potential. He's been in legal trouble ever since.

Vince Young

Vince Young
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Vince Young

Vince Young
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Vince Young was a promising young quarterback who won the national championship in college for the Texas Longhorns, but he struggled to find a job in the NFL after being an emotional wreck.

Ryan Leaf

Ryan Leaf
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Ryan Leaf

Ryan Leaf
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Can you believe Ryan Leaf was thought by some to be a better quarterback than Peyton Manning in the 1998 NFL Draft. He never lived to potential and has been labeled as the biggest bust in sports history by many.

Terrelle Pryor

Terrelle Pryor
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Terrelle Pryor

Terrelle Pryor
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Coming out of high school, Terrelle Pryor had scholarship offers from dozens of top college programs. The talented quarterback picked Ohio State and ended up putting the school to shame and forcing his head coach to step down. Why did this happen? Because he sold his Big Ten title ring for a tattoo. Good choice, right?

Connor Muldowney is a columnist for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @Connormuldowney, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google. You can also reach him at [email protected].

Connor Muldowney is a writer for RantSports. Follow him on Twitter and like him on Facebook.
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