In his third NFL season, Oakland Raiders quarterback JaMarcus Russell is worse than ever.
Russell, who has been benched for Bruce Gradkowski, has completed just 46.8 percent of his passes, worse than in either of his first two seasons. His average gain per pass, touchdown-to-interception ratio and quarterback rating are also the worst they've ever been.
Former Eagles quarterback and current ESPN analyst Ron Jaworski says this season's digression is a sign that Russell is never going to be the Raiders' franchise quarterback.
"I don't think it'll be in Oakland, I really don't." Jaworski said today on ESPN Radio, when asked if Russell can ever be a starter. "When you watch JaMarcus Russell you just don't see any improvement. That's the one thing as you watch quarterbacks, you know there's going to be an ebb and a flow to a young quarterback's career, but I just don't see him ascending. It's more flat or even descending."
Jaworski said that horrendous completion percentage is the biggest problem for Russell.
"Week in, week out, the poor throws," Jaworski said. "He's got the big, strong arm, but the accuracy is absolutely mind boggling. He's got guys open and he just can't hit them. Maybe when he gets sent to the bench, maybe he'll wake up, maybe he'll realize what it takes to be a pro, maybe he'll grow up and mature and realize the work ethic he needs to have. Maybe that will get him going. We'll find out."
But we probably won't find out in Oakland. There's not much reason for optimism that he'll ever be anything close to the quarterback the Raiders thought they were getting when they made him the first pick in the 2007 NFL draft.
No signs of improvement from JaMarcus Russell
Posted by Michael David Smith on November 20, 2009 9:04 AM ET
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JaMaximus got his money. For some guys, that's enough.
bigger bust than Ryan Leaf or Tim Couch
From Raider beat reporter Jerry McDonald's blog yesterday:
"Most interesting sight following practice -JaMarcus Russell, still on the field, doing some extra throwing, as Cable began a short session with the local media.
If that has been the case even once all year, I don’t remember it."
I hope this is his wakeup call. Will he keep doing that after every practice the rest of the year even if he doesn't see the field again? Will he put in the work in the off-season? As a Raider fan, I hope so. But, I know better than to be optimistic.
And if you non-Raider fans need any more insight into how f'd things are in Oaktown, this little blurb also from Jerry Mac should tell you all you need to know:
"You think it’s easy being Cable? Forget the concern over whether Gradkowski will make things better on Sunday. Instead, you worry about making it that far and without getting a phone call from the boss that says, “I changed my mind. JaMarcus is starting.”"
He figures that, having won the lottery when he was drafted first and got a big money contract, he doesn't have to (or want to) work another day in his life, so he can dedicate himself to his passion -- Big Macs.
Russell will never be the bust that Ryan Leaf was, simply because the Chargers gave away the equivalent of Elmer Fudd's mansion and a yacht in players and picks just to draft Leaf.
Worst starting QB in the NFL period now has become the worst backup QB in the NFL. I would not be surprised if Jemarcus Russell doesn't get signed when Oakland finally releases him. CFL, here comes another big name bust!!!
I gotta vote for Russell as the biggest bust ever in the nfl. A blind man would have a better completion percentage than this Big Mac of a QB.
Russell is the merely the latest example that a rookie wage scale is needed, and long overdue.
And by the way, he HAS regressed, facts are facts.
PFT knows who's *really* responsible for JaMarcus' poor performance, Tom Cable's anger issues, Kyle Orton's ankle, and global warming: Eric Mangini.
Calvin Johnson and Michael Crabtree >>>>> Jamarcus Russell and Darius Heyward-Bey.
Funny how just two draft picks would likely have turned this team around...
You would think he would have some pride, he's a freakin disgrace.
He's not playing, that's an improvement for the Radiers.
So to be hired by the Oakland Raiders you must either;
a. Want to be paid millions of dollars
b. Not care about winning
c. Be ready to retire
d. Suck at a skilled position
e. Beat women
f. All of the above
The biggest bust these days might actually be Al Davis.
For heavens sake, I get so tired of word use errors being done so often that they become accepted use. For example, "momentarily". Now it is DIGRESSION when people mean REGRESSION.
Posters on a website do it? Ehhh, I already know that schools suck these days. People who write for a living or write for a public audience who do it? Shameful.
Nothing earth shatter about this post...Another miserable year for a franchise that used to be AWESOME year in and year out.
As a Raider fan for DECADES I can safely say the problems with the Raiders run a HECK of a lot deeper than JR's completion percentage. He isn't Ryan Leaf or Tim Couch...He is a young man in a horrible situation.
He has the ability/talent to be a good QB...HOWEVER two things HAVE to happen:
1) He HAS re-dedicate himself (ala' how Vince Young looks like he has) to be a NFL QB.
AND
2) THE DAMN FRANCHISE HAS TO CHANGE THE WAY IT RUNS ITSELF FROM DRAFTING TO HIRING A REAL GM!!!!!
It's very easy to pile on this guy but lets take a step back and see why he's as bad as he is in the NFL.
#1: J.Russell is a victim of is own physical attributes, case in point he was the biggest player on his High School team strongest harm didn't have to work has hard as any other player things came very easy to him.
#2: J.Russell went to a College Football Power House, he was still the biggest player couple that with all the cupcakes LSU face while he played there, equal no adversity no need to develop a good work ethic because he was living a cushy lifestyle playing with 4 and 5 star recruits much like all the other QB that play for College Football Power Houses, no adversity he never had to scratch and claw to get a win in College. And the NFL is all about work ethic and going through the grind but when you're a QB that's bigger than a "DE" you never had to develop that type of work ethic thus he's doom to fail as a professional that's my take after watching J.Russell in College and now the NFL.
I'm not defending Russell, but please get your facts straight Florio. Russell has been the starting QB for two seasons, not three. Last season and this season. He did not play his first year, unless you count the two games at the end of the year. In addition to that, he did not attend any mini camps, ota's, training camp or play in any pre season games his first year. Also, he was a junior when he came out to the NFL. Please stop repeating the same non- facts that the rest of the media doles out. Again, I'm not defending Russell's poor performance, but this is his second season, not his third.
Anyone making remarks like Jamarcus is a bigger bust then Leaf is either totally ignorant of professional football or too young to remember how Leaf practically destroyed that team inside and out. Russell is terrible on the field and the fans hate him for it, but Leaf's play and off-the-field behavior made him the bane of fans, teamates, and the front office alike. Jamarcus may be a frequenter of the local clubs...Ryan Leaf used to go to Vegas during the week. Russell might be lazy, but Leaf faked injuries. Nope, Ryan Leaf is still the king of all busts, hands down. Oh, and for the record.....Jamarcus sucks.
They should try to make a lineman out of him. He has the frame and weight, and rushing the passer is easier than passing.
JRUSS has played 25 NFL games....Fact
JRUSS has all rookie WR's...Fact
JRUSS has a new QB Coach this Year..Fact.
Sitting will do him good and help all of us see how young our WR's are...
CKL says:
For heavens sake, I get so tired of word use errors being done so often that they become accepted use. For example, "momentarily". Now it is DIGRESSION when people mean REGRESSION.
Posters on a website do it? Ehhh, I already know that schools suck these days. People who write for a living or write for a public audience who do it? Shameful.
The Committee for Good Posting Standards (that's right, there IS a committee for that!) has met and determined that your post sucked, and we request that you refrain from posting as such in the future.
We already have a Grammar Nazi, two spell-check cops, and "Proper Usage" trainee.
Thank you.
RaiderRedleg as a life long raiders fan i agree with you completely!
PackerBacker1980 no one will ever be as big of a bust as ryan leaf. remember the colts were wavering between taking leaf or manning?
i too doubt that russell will be great as a raider. for one i wonder if al davis has seen enough of him. an uncapped year when be the perfect time to dump russell and his huge rookie contract.
he must grow up if he ever wants to succeed in this league.
Actually, it's his third. I mean, it's his third, period. This is his third NFL season. Holy crap BUNYAN.
I seem to remember a "un-named" former Raiders coach not liking Russel, and that some "un-named" Raiders Owner had the following to say:
"I do realize that you did not want to draft JaMarcus Russell. He is a great player. Get over it and coach this team on the field, that is what you were hired to do. We can win with this team!"
Russel may be a complete bust, but his name should never me mentioned without Al Davis's name right there as well.
Russell is not good - we all know that - but he also is playing with probably the worst receiving corps in the NFL.
BUNYAN says: November 20, 2009 9:58 AM
I'm not defending Russell, but please get your facts straight Florio. Russell has been the starting QB for two seasons, not three. Last season and this season. He did not play his first year, unless you count the two games at the end of the year. In addition to that, he did not attend any mini camps, ota's, training camp or play in any pre season games his first year.
---------------
I wonder what the correlation factor is between rookie QBs who hold out through camp, and QBs who wind up as busts? See: JaMarcus Russell, Brady Quinn, et al...
I will now refer to the worst Christmas gift I get every year as a JaMarcus Russell. Last year, my sister got me a JaMarcus Russell in the form of a spice rack.
He can throw it through a wall...but he can't spell it.
Hey at least he bought himself the classy #2 jersey necklace that he wears in most pictures.
He's already suckered the Raiders out of millions of dollars, why should he worry about life and being able to support himself or his family. He has an attitude where he just doesn't care. He thinks he can coast on what he did in college. Wake up Russell, duhhhhhhhh...........this is the big boys game now!! I always said you weren't worthy of being a first round draft pick and was opposed to the Raiders drafting you.
This headline seems less than timely. Think it's time for Russell to go back home to his Jamama.
Remember he held out to get more money. Haha once he got that huge contract there was no need to work for another contract year.
DarkHorse81:
"#2: J.Russell went to a College Football Power House, he was still the biggest player couple that with all the cupcakes LSU face while he played there, equal no adversity"
JaMarcus Russell isn't a bust because LSU played "cupcakes" during his time at the school.
In 2005 LSU faced:
#15 Arizona State on the road in a game played in Tempe because it was moved from Baton Rouge because of Hurricane Katrina. LSU won 21-17.
#10 Tennessee at home. LSU lost in Overtime.
#11 Florida - In the fourth quarter JaMarcus Russell led the Tigers on a 12-play, 75-yard TD drive for the win.
#16 Auburn - LSU won 20-17 in Overtime.
#4 Alabama (undefeated) until LSU defeated them in overtime on a TD pass by Russell.
#13 Georgia - LSU lost the SEC Championship
#9 Miami - Peach Bowl - LSU won (Russell did not play - injured.)
So in 2005 LSU played SEVEN teams in the top 16 in the polls. Any other teams in the nation faced that many highly ranked opponents in 2005? I think NOT!
2006 LSU Season:
at #4 Auburn - LSU lost 7-3
at #5 Florida - LSU lost 23-10
at #8 Tennessee - LSU won 28-24 (TD pass from Russell with nine seconds remaining for the win.)
at #5 Arkansas - LSU won 31-26
#11 Notre Dame - Sugar Bowl - LSU won 41-14
So in 2006 LSU played FIVE teams in the top 11 in the polls. Any other team faced that many highly ranked opponents in 2006? Maybe, but I don't think so.
In the two years that Russell was the LSU starting QB (he missed a cople of games due to injury), LSU played SEVEN games against top ten opponents and a total of twelve games against top 16 teams.
Russell may suck (although not as bad as the Raiders receivers), but it is NOT because LSU played "cupcakes". Russell had much better receivers at LSU than he does with the Raiders.
Who is your college team? And what "cupcakes" did they play in 2005 and 2006?
He will be playing for the UFL two years from now.
He has horrible receivers, a different coach every year, different offense every year, and never was regarded as being high on the mental capacity list. Sounds like a recipe for failure to me. He needs to go to another team with stability in the coaching staff and a good starting QB for him to sit behind and learn. I think only then would he make a Vince Young style turnaround.
BUNYAN says:
November 20, 2009 9:58 AM
I'm not defending Russell, but please get your facts straight Florio. Russell has been the starting QB for two seasons, not three. Last season and this season. He did not play his first year, unless you count the two games at the end of the year. In addition to that, he did not attend any mini camps, ota's, training camp or play in any pre season games his first year. Also, he was a junior when he came out to the NFL. Please stop repeating the same non- facts that the rest of the media doles out. Again, I'm not defending Russell's poor performance, but this is his second season, not his third.
------------------
He's been a starter for 2 seasons, but this is his third year. It's HIS FAULT he held out and missed mini camps, ota's, training camp, and pre-season games in 2007. So after he got that fat contract it was his responsability to catch up. He's making more than most of us fans ever will, yet from all accounts he showed up to practice once at 6:30 (Charlie Frye who was always there that early was suprised to see him) and he has stayed after practice once to throw to his receivers more.
Some of the problems Russell faces is the sorry state of the Wide Receiver position in Oakland. Russell had much better receivers at LSU than he does with the Raiders.
Raiders "top" receivers:
Darrius Heyward-Bey - 1st Round
Louis Murphy - 4th Round
Chaz Schilens - 7th Round
Todd Watkins - 7th Round
LSU receivers from 2005/2006:
Dwayne Bowe - 1st Round
Early Doucet - 3rd Round
Buster Davis - 1st Round (not successful yet in the NFL)
Brandon LaFell freshman in 2006 - still with LSU - likely 1st Round pick.
I don't think there is anyone in the NFL who would not take the second group over the first. (Yes I know Bowe is suspended, but he can still catch the ball better than anyone with the Raiders.)
Part of the problem with Russell, besides the not being able to hit the side of a barn with a football, is the piss poor quality of the Raiders receivers.
He needs to be coached in a high diciplien program, I think he could stll have a chance
-lose 15-20 lbs
- put in th ework
-a good experienced QB coach, OC
-an organization that doesn't take any shit
He's still a kid, he has about 1-2 more years left before all hope is lost.
yep it's all his fault.....he has all pro o-linemen, and veteran wr's that are great, and the best coaching staff in the nfl, . Oh I almost forgot to metion the best o-coordinator in the NFL....Plus with an all pro QB as a back up I would bench him to.
Yeah ,wippeee here comes BRUCE!!!
He's already suckered the Raiders out of millions of dollars, why should he worry about life and being able to support himself or his family. He has an attitude where he just doesn't care. He thinks he can coast on what he did in college. Wake up Russell, duhhhhhhhh...........this is the big boys game now!! I always said you weren't worthy of being a first round draft pick and was opposed to the Raiders drafting you.
“CKL says: November 20, 2009 9:43 AM
For heavens sake, I get so tired of word use errors…”
“Richm2256 says: November 20, 2009 10:12 AM
The Committee for Good Posting Standards (that's right, there IS a committee for that!) has met and determined that your post sucked, and we request that you refrain from posting as such in the future…”
CKL: remember- for the most part, quite a few people here don't care that Florio and his cohorts are paid professional writers and should actually write better than the average Jr. High school student. They don’t care that many PFT articles are rushed and not properly checked for grammar, spelling and for factual errors. In other words… in other words they are as discriminating as the average house plant and quite happy that way.
Good effort to try and make Florio (et al.) actually do what a paid professional journalist should do.
@dcfan - Russel is too slow to play even in the CFL :).
The CFL is generally a 3 or 5-step drop league. Russel is more like a random-waddle drop QB.
He has footwork suitable for a beer league.
I thought that you were talking about new news, but just picking at the same old scab.
Get a real story about what is happening NOW, instead of soem rehash of stats and your opines.
Team decided to not give Garcia a chance to start...some of these QB's need alot of time... McNair needed Krieg, VY appears better after having Kerry by his side.....add drafting the the 7-8th best WR in the first rd...coaching instability... Looks like Lane is having the last laugh at UT
Left offensive tackle Mario Henderson said it's business as usual for Russell.
"He hasn't changed," Henderson said. "You couldn't really tell if he's playing or not playing. That's a good thing. He's still keeping a positive attitude. Nothing changes with him when he comes in during practice. He's keeping the same demeanor, the same attitude."
--------
Anyone else think this is a good thing that he has not changed? Shouldn't he be showing some anger, some passion, some fire, something, anything other than just the same attitude. Winners and leaders show some kind of emotion, he has no heart and thats the bottom line.
LOL. I remember when JaMarcus Russell was picked #1. I saw him on tv saying that he “gave all glory to God!”. I heard him say that with his own mouth after being picked #1.
NOW, $32M-guaranteed later, & all the wealth & useless toys that he prayed to his god for ...look at him. I wonder who this god he glorifies actually is?
I wonder if his "god" is that "BLING wearing, cellphone carrying, Ipod listening, Hip Hop lovin’, Escalade drivin’, gigantic house having, oversized jewelry & watch wearing, posse havin’, xbox playing, Big Mac loving, hate to watch film, too tired to practice hard, we don’t give a rat’s ass that we are probably causing OTHER people to lose their jobs because we just can’t really get interested in football anymore because I’m too RICH, BITCH,” god?
“I jus’ give all glory to god…” lol. Hopefully, this ‘god’ is a vengeful god who will cause these freeloading hypocrites to go broke shortly after their NFL ‘careers’ are over.
“Thou shalt not come to the NFL with a shat work ethic”
“Thou shalt not pretend to be upset when thou doth sucketh, when thou doth not really giveth a shat”
“Thou shalt not cause coaches, nor other players to lose their jobs because of thy lack of devotion”
“Thou shalt not be thinking of how nice thy diamond earrings look as thy team is losing 38-0″
“Thou shalt not be more concerned with toys than thy playbook”
“Thou shalt not think that thou are “doing ok” when thou haveth a 47.8 (or whatever it is) passer rating”
“Thou shalt not pretend to be upset about being benched, when thou art secretly jumping for joy that thou no longer haveth to even PLAY to get paid”
“Thou shalt not dream about hotdogs & twinkies when thy team is losing 29-6, & thou hast only completed 6 passes for 32 yards or whatever it was”
“Thou shalt not permit POS BONEHEADED rookie WRs to get off easy when it is obvious that they, too, sucketh”
“Thou shalt not point up to me in the sky when thou finally maketh a play because I, your god, am embarassed by your awful play & do not drag me into your mess”
I knew this guy would be a bust the first time I heard him speak.