One of the things we really like about the new NBC partnership is that we now have a large complement of eyeballs that are constantly scanning for stuff that would be worthy of consideration.
Most recently, one of our new NBC colleagues pointed out an item in Paul Gutierrez’s Raiders Blog at the Sacramento Bee.
Gutierrez, citing Michael Lombardi of NFP, points out that Raiders quarterback JaMarcus Russell ditched the last day of the team’s offseason program.
On the surface, some might say it’s no big deal. But this gets back to the point we made earlier in the offseason, when Oakland coach Tom Cable openly questioned whether the first overall pick in the 2007 draft will “accept the responsibility of being an NFL quarterback.”
Here’s what we said at the time, and we believe it even more today. (Besides, we’re too lazy to come up with a different way to say it.)
“Though raw athletic ability can carry players far at most other
positions, a quarterback has to be fully and completely immersed in
being the best quarterback he can be.
“Making the throw is the easy part. Figuring out where
to deliver the ball after comparing the play called by the sidelines
against the pre-snap defensive alignment and deciding while the play
clock counts down through single digits whether to change the play and
trying to predict which of the defenders might blitz and which ones
might not and then taking the ball and trying to notice and process the
movements of eleven large, strong men while scanning for teammates who
might or might not be doing what they’re supposed to be doing while
making sure that one or more of the defensive players hasn’t broken
free with designs on breaking his neck is the hard part.”
For Russell, missing a day won’t hamper his ability to manage that frenetic mix of skills. However, his absence is a symptom of a mindset that could keep him from being all that he can be.
True franchise quarterbacks take ownership of their teams. They show up for optional practices not simply because they realize it will help them perfect their craft, but also because they realize that their presence (and their effort) helps keep their teammates accountable and engaged.
By treating the last day of offseason workouts like Senior Skip Day, Russell confirmed that he’s not willing or able to become the true leader of his team.
It’s bad news for Russell and, over the long haul, bad news for the Raiders.
But it’s good news for Jeff Garcia — and, in a roundabout way, it could end up becoming very good news for the franchise, at least for the 2009 season. Because we think Garcia gives the Raiders a better chance to win more games than usual this year.
Raider fans screaming bias in 3…2…1…
You need not look any farther than who the story has originated from, Mike Lombardi is still pissed he was fired from the Riaders and hasn’t had a positive thing to say about them since, plus nobody else can even confirm the report, for all we know he didn’t miss or actually had a reason to be gone. Chill OUT!
everyone knows the best QB on the raiders is Garcia, except of course Al Davis. Until Davis is no longer in control of the Raider Nation they will continue to be the worst team in the west
Geez Florio, you’re really trying hard to label Jamarcus a bum LOL. You even go through the trouble of writing an article based on something someone said that Michael Lombardi said LOL. Michael Lombardi is a rat. He USED to work for the Raiders, but you know what Florio, you really think Al Davis will let any info leak out to a rat? From what I read in non Raider hater posts is that Jamarcus is giving his all this offseason, even going through the trouble of organizing a weeklong OTA for HIM (no other qbs, yea, apparently Jeff Garcia wasn’t going, he wanted to spend time w/his family) AND HIS RECEIVERS. Stop all the hatin Florio, doesn’t look good on you. Why don’t you write a story about how Rashard Mendenhall is gonna break down again this year w/a total of 0 TDs, yea the Steelers won the SB last year, but R.M. is the biggest bust so far, not McFadden, from last years draft LOL. GO RAIDERS!!!
Everything I heard was good about Russell this spring. He even held a personal workout with his receivers. Common Sense is probably right, Lombardi never has anything good to say about Oakland or Al Davis since he was canned. Lombardi even went to Denver and worked for free and was told to hit the road. I think his fat GUT has worked its way to his head and swollen it.
Bust! Thank god I’m not a Raiders fan!
The Raiders are a mess and will be until Al just turns this team over. He needs to retire and enjoy the things he has accomplished in his fine career. The Radiers need a new GM.
What about the fact Jeff Garcia has missed about five times as many voluntary practices? Why is he always praised as this great, hard-working leader while JaMarcus misses one session — perhaps with very good reason — and he gets bashed for lack of commitment?
I hope JaMarcus and the Raiders tear it up this year more than ever, so he and Al can take a giant dump on Raider haters everywhere.
Yeah, you Raiders fans are right. JaMarcus will win the NFL MVP this year and lead his “team” to the Super Bowl…
O yeah, for all you smartasses about to say McFadden was a bust last year, here’s a few stats for you: 499 yds rushing, 4.4 avg, 4 TD, 285 yds receiving, total 784 yds from scrimmage. Not bad for a rookie w/turf toe on both feet that DIDNT start every game. GO RAIDERS!!!
The sad part of this story is that Jamarcus probably missed the fewest OTA days of anybody on the entire Raiders squad and yet he is the only one being villified for it.
Get a life Florio…!
1 day doesn’t make a difference in OTA’s you have to remember moron, he did call for a non-official team practices during down time. Since he’s doing that, maybe he took his vacation or personal time on this day since he plans on being busy during the down time. You media people are retarded. I know people can say the media is being “biased” towards the Raiders, but you sit back and look how you people glorify in the Raiders failure. I understand no one likes Davis including my self, but bagging on Jamarcus like he’s Vince Young is uncalled for. I think he will prove a lot of people wrong. No he won’t be a great quarterback statistically, but one thing for sure is, he will manage games well! My Raiders will win at least…..8Games! Mark My Words!
If I was a Raiders fan I’d be pissed, but not worried because Jeff Garcia is a competent QB. If Garcia starts from Game 1 and for the rest of the season, the Raiders will have their best season in years. It sucks that 7 wins is gonna be their best season in years.
JaMarcus is a lost cause and it doesn’t matter what he does or doesn’t do.
Lombardi may not have anything nice to say simply because there is nothing nice to say about the Raiders. Can anyone remember the last good news to come out of that camp?
Wasn’t Mike Lombardi the one that said theres no way the Raiders would take Michael Crabtree because they wont draft a WR in the first round, he guarantees it will be a D line or O line move?
So how did that one work out for him.. hes about as credible as you Florio.
Must be a slow news day! You’re reporting that someone from the NBC staff reported to you that some guy on a blog reported that 2 weeks ago a guy who hates the Raiders reported that Russell missed a day of optional team activities. How about confirming that the first report was even accurate before ripping J.R? I know this is more a rumor site than a news site but this is quite a stretch.
By treating the last day of offseason workouts like Senior Skip Day, Russell confirmed that he’s not willing or able to become the true leader of his team.
Garcia is the BEST QB for this team!
Florio…I just laugh anymore when you say anything about the Raiders. True Raider fans know the dedication that JMac has for HIS team.
Raider Chic
if you have to ask me why I love my Raiders, then you don’t even understand the question.
Chadgoy,
You sure LOL alot. By any chance, are you the guy who lives under the Ben Franklin Bridge in Philly? I always see him begging for change and he seems to LOL a lot also. Just wondering.
Biggest problem with this story: OLD NEWS. I think I read this in three different blogs over the past two weeks.
This one’s for you, Al: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zzq5X-p2C0Y
Bias is screamed because it is real. Besides that…
This is an old story from the prince of Raider haters–MLombardi. Meanwhile you Florio seem to have a mini-woody for JRuss as well.
The FACT is, there is not enough data to support the bust label, as much as you mouthbreathing raider hate tribe wish it, hope it, and pray for it. After this season we will know, and as a fan of football and reading what is actually happening on the field versus the fantasy stories that mediots cook up during the offseason, I will wait to watch every game, something I do. You should try it haters.
Watching the games, JRuss has done enough to keep his job at this point and has shown flashes and an ability to protect the ball that few Rooks (many who ended up successful) have shown in their maiden seasons. I expect more this season and wins are more important than role call in voluntarys. You are all just picking through ant shit trying to find the negatives. The kid has more tools (loosing Kwame Brown was the best offseason “additon” any tema made), and a better system and coach than a year ago. Not to mention experience. Look at his last 6 games, when they took some of the reigns off.
Florio and the rest of you haters better remember these comments and articles in November when you have been effectively shut up. More things point to Russell being at least serviceable than a bust. Quit flaunting your bias and lack of football knowledge here and everywhere else. It is getting embarassing.
Florio
Are you still in high school? This nothing but he said she said bullsh*t. Al you have done is regurgitate someone else’s regurgitation of someone else’s nonsense.
Have some integrity. NBC is watching.
Never posted before, but this is a bit ridiculous. I should probably more concerned with the way Florio is systematically trying to convince the public of someone’s involvement in a murder….but I’ll stick to football related beefs.
I’m a Chiefs fan, so I could care less whether the Raiders win. But just because you think JaMarcus is not a hard worker, doesn’t mean you can ignore evidence to the contrary. The article you cite (yeah some people actually read the originals of the stories that you regurgitate) admits that he has been doing great all season and this is the only time he’s missed. it even says:
“Indeed, since the end of last season, Russell had been a constant around Raiders headquarters with the exception of when his uncle Ray passed away.”
Aren’t you a lawyer? Don’t you have to prove good reading comprehension to pass the LSAT? I guess legal work is about twisting words to fit a certain angle. Fortunately, “journalism” is mostly the same thing in the internet age, so you won’t have a problem making plenty of that $$$$$.
malgor
Kevin from Philly:
No, i’ve never been to your lil stinkhole town. And no, I work for a living, I don’t bother people for change, yet alone hang out under bridges (can’t say the same about yourself there Boxcar Kevin LOL) I’m actually a Canadian Raider fan, (can’t say i know any eagle fans here or anywhere). Are you mad Kevin, mad at the fact that the Eagles are the Bills of this decade – but WORSE! The only diff is they make it to the NFC showdown, and LOSE, whereas the Bills would lose the SuperBowl. Either way, both LOSERS! To this I say LOL sir…LOL!!!!!
GO RAIDERS, 3 SUPERBOWLS AND COUNTING!!!!!
JSpicoli says:
July 8, 2009 3:12 PM
Bias is screamed because it is real. Besides that…
This is an old story from the prince of Raider haters–MLombardi. Meanwhile you Florio seem to have a mini-woody for JRuss as well.
The FACT is, there is not enough data to support the bust label, as much as you mouthbreathing raider hate tribe wish it, hope it, and pray for it. After this season we will know, and as a fan of football and reading what is actually happening on the field versus the fantasy stories that mediots cook up during the offseason, I will wait to watch every game, something I do. You should try it haters.
Watching the games, JRuss has done enough to keep his job at this point and has shown flashes and an ability to protect the ball that few Rooks (many who ended up successful) have shown in their maiden seasons. I expect more this season and wins are more important than role call in voluntarys. You are all just picking through ant shit trying to find the negatives. The kid has more tools (loosing Kwame Brown was the best offseason “additon” any tema made), and a better system and coach than a year ago. Not to mention experience. Look at his last 6 games, when they took some of the reigns off.
Florio and the rest of you haters better remember these comments and articles in November when you have been effectively shut up. More things point to Russell being at least serviceable than a bust. Quit flaunting your bias and lack of football knowledge here and everywhere else. It is getting embarassing.
—————————
I agree with some of what you’re saying, but there’s also some that’s a little inaccurate. I think you’re looking only at INTs when you say he’s shown “an ability to protect the ball that few Rooks (many who ended up successful) have shown in their maiden seasons.” Don’t forget he had 12 fumbles last year in addition to the INTs.
Russell strikes me as the type of guy who might be a little over his head as an NFL QB. I haven’t seen much of his play, but I wouldn’t be too excited to see him QBing my team.
However, I agree that it’s tough to label a guy a bust (especially a QB) after only 16 starts. A lot of those guys need some time to develop.
The biggest red flag I see in looking at him is his accuracy. He finished 31st in the league in completion percentage last season. Yeah, he was essentially a rookie. But his completion percentage should be higher. Hovering around 50% will not get it done.
Quarterbacks who hold out of camp their rookie season always suck. You can never regain that learning tool.
It is clear that Russell is not cut out to be an NFL quarterback. So what if he can throw a ball 65 yards from one knee? The quarterback must be a leader, just look at all the great QB’s out there.
Tom Brady took command from the moment he first stepped onto the field eight years ago. He always puts in the time (as evidenced by the fact that he has always earned the parking spot right next to the stadium). Since the QB is always going to be the face of the franchise, the rest of the team will always be looking up to him.
The same applies to the other great QB’s in the league (Manning, Roethlisberger, McNabb, and Ryan).
Russell has all the talent in the world but does not live up to it. Maybe part of it has to do with playing for such a perpetually pathetic franchise (the Raiders) with a senile old fool of an owner who has nothing better to do but complain about being hoodwinked in the Randy Moss deal of 2007, but he’s out of excuses.
What the… ? This news is a little over a week old already. Where have you been Florio? Hell, it was even reported on this site during one of the “morning one liners”, with a link to the story.
It’s already well know that, yes, he did miss the last day of OTA’s, but it’s not as big a deal as the media and haters are trying ot make it out to be. The only thing of fault he did, was not making sure some of the higher ups knew he wasn’t going to be there that day. Many knew he wasn’t, but the main people who needed to know did not.
I’m forced to pull for the guy, but he wasn’t my first choice to lead the Raiders. I’m stuck with him now and can only hope he makes most of you eat crow. Either way, the Raiders will be better this year, even if by default. The Chiefs aren’t going to improve all that much, and Denver is swirling the drain.
@ patsSB44champs
Perpetually pathetic franchise? That coming from a fan of a team, that before this decade, and a few short years here and there in between, was the stench of the AFC East, let alone one of the worst franchises in all of the NFL. Don’t let the recent success of your team go to your head. It won’t be long before Bean Town is back to not giving a shit about the NFL and only caring about the Sox, Bruins, and Celtics. It’ll be just like the old days again for you guys. Sundays will be for church, and football will be an afterthought. That’s right, most of you bandwagon chumps wouldn’t remember that, let alone know anything about the NFL beyond the past few years.
I am sure many of us NFL fans will make sure to kick your little chump-ass fan base while your down as well. Patriot fans are some of the most pathetic piles of dung in all of sports. Even Jets fans have more class than you.
Thank you, and have a nice day.
This thread is so awesome.
“Florio…I just laugh anymore when you say anything about the Raiders. True Raider fans know the dedication that JMac has for HIS team. ”
Yes, yes, tell us, True Raider Fan! We’re waiting for a big helping of your inside knowledge!
I gotta hand it to you all. You’re the most consistently reality-averse fanbase in sport, with maybe the exception of the Golden Domers. That has to take some work.
Cecil sees a reality-adverse fanbase. Raider fan sees a dedicated fanbase. Once you’ve experienced a supreme level of success, you want to experience it again, even if it is only as a fan. A previous comment referred to “Ryan” as a great quarterback. The only “Ryan” that comes to mind is Atlanta’s Ryan. Anyone that lists him as a great quarterback is as delusional and premature as the ones that proclaim Russell is a quieter Ryan Leaf. Oh wait, that’s another Ryan.
it was one friggin practice. he doesn’t even have to be there. if it was any other qb in the league no one would even care, but since hes a Raider he must be failing miserably by not showing up. There is still 2 months until he plays a game in what is really his second season. Give the kid a break. He wont break records, but he should do fine. The team doesn’t have much above .500 overall talent anyway.