When a starting quarterback is benched, sometimes there is an outcry of support by his teammates.
That did not happen this week in Oakland.
Bruce Gradkowski has reportedly brought a new energy to Raiders practices, and his teammates appreciate it. Justin Fargas was asked what Gradkowski offers.
“One, a passion for the game. A love for the game that he shows in the way he plays, the way he calls plays,” Fargas told the local media. “The way he works on details of plays with players, in between. . . . It’s just, he’s a get-after-it type of guy.”
Interpret that comment as you wish, but Gradkowski brings something what Russell lacks. Of course, Russell’s arm may be just a tiny bit stronger.
“You want to make a play for your quarterback but when he shows that type of passion for the game, obviously guys are going to feed off it and try to give him that same effort,” Fargas said.
Lost in Russell’s scattershot arm is that his lack of leadership skills may have also hurt the offense. Tight end Zach Miller, probably the unit’s best player, is also on board with the move.
“It’s gone good. Bruce gives us the best chance to win right now,” Miller said. “We’ve got to be out there and play better football than we have in the last few games here.”
Miller said it well. The Raiders need more than improved quarterback play to hang with the Bengals Sunday.