JaMarcus Russell is still an Oakland Raider, but his impending absence has empowered some of his former teammates to speak openly about the No. 1 overall pick.
Here are some highlights of a recent Outside the Lines episode focusing on Russell, compiled by the San Francisco Chronicle and clip from ESPN.
1. Dominic Rhodes said Russell would often fall asleep in meetings: “Is that the guy that’s going to lead us? . . . I don’t think he has that mindset to be great.”
2. An anonymous ex-coach said Russell was a “binge eater.”
3. Former Raider offensive lineman Jeremy Newberry said Russell was way out of shape and “more comfortable with a role as a backup.”
4. Former Raiders quarterback Andrew Walter blamed the Raiders some: “If he was drafted by somebody else, it could be completely different,” Walter said.
Other than that, the report was fairly positive.