Receiver Marcus Nash was best known in the NFL for being one of coach Mike Shanahan’s various misfires, flaming out in Denver after being selected in the first round of the 1998 draft.

As a rookie, he won a Super Bowl ring with the Broncos.  Two years later, he won another one with the Ravens.  For his career, he had four catches.

Nash disappeared from the NFL thereafter, but has spent six seasons in the Arena Football League.  In 2004, he was named the league’s offensive player of the year, with 154 catches for 1,771 yards for the Las Vegas Gladiators.  His 46 receiving touchdowns tied a league record.

For the last two seasons, Nash has played for the Dallas Desperados.  He finished the 2008 season with 33 scores, most on the team.  It also was his fifth straight season with more than 1,000 yards receiving.

So why hasn’t he gotten another chance in the NFL?  He’s now 32 years old, which might be too old to get a shot at the highest level of the game.  But to go from being a first-round pick to a completely forgotten man despite solid performances in the Arena league seems a little odd, to say the least.

UPDATE:  It looks like that second chance in the NFL will never come for Nash.  As a friend of the site points out, Nash suffered a broken neck in last week’s playoff loss.  His career is likely over.