It's common knowledge that winning the Heisman Trophy, first awarded in 1935, is a gift and a curse for college football players.

It's a gift because you're acknowledged as the best at what you do. And it's a curse because most Heisman winners bomb in the NFL. Kind of like if Jennifer Lopez starred in a film that won at Cannes before starring in "big budget" films.

New St. Louis Ram Sam Bradford is a member of that fraternity. The winner of the 2008 Heisman, Bradford Thursday night became the 17th Heisman winner to be tapped at No. 1 in the NFL Draft and the seventh quarterback.

Bradford seems like a good guy. But if history is any indication, Bradford's career could resemble that of Macauley Culkin's.

Of the 75 Heisman winners, 17 have been chosen No. 1 in the NFL Draft. Of those 17, only three are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame - Earl Campbell, Paul Hornung and O.J. Simpson.

Seven of those 17 are quarterbacks. Hornung is the only one of those gunslingers to have been enshrined in Canton, Ohio. It remains to be seen if Cincinnati quarterback Carson Palmer - No. 1 in 2003 and still active - will have a Hall of Fame career.

Of the 75 total Heisman winners, only eight had Hall of Fame careers - Doak Walker, Hornung, Roger Staubach, Simpson, Tony Dorsett, Campbell, Marcus Allen and Barry Sanders.

Who ever would have thought winning such a prestigious award would mean so little for long-term prospects?

Hopefully, for Bradford's sake, he's able to buck a trend.