Official JaMarcus Russell Tracking Thread

[Goober]

I found this:

OAKLAND – For the first time in his football life, JaMarcus Russell was being told he wasn't good enough. That his mere presence on the field was essentially hurting his team. That he was being benched midway through the second quarter in Sunday's 38-0 loss to the New York Jets.

Was he angry? Did he throw a fit on the sideline? Did he plead his case? What, exactly, was his reaction?

"Really," answered a weary Tom Cable, who delivered the news to Russell, "there was no reaction. No reaction."

Wait, what?

Russell, the No. 1 overall pick of the 2007 draft, was told after five series and a 14-point deficit that journeyman Bruce Gradkowski gave the Raiders a better chance to beat the New York Jets and nothing more than a glazed look greeted Cable?

So there you have it. Further proof that Russell still doesn't get it.

No, he should not have thrown his helmet in a fit or cussed out his coach. But he should have done something. Anything to show his displeasure.

Instead, he became more animated on the sideline than he's ever appeared as Gradkowski's biggest, both literally and figuratively, cheerleader. He waved a white rally towel in support of his backup. He sat with him on the bench and playfully went over plays while the defense was on the field.

Good for him in not becoming a bigger distraction than the chorus of boos that accompany him on the field.

Unfortunately, he also still refused to take ownership for his poor play that put the Raiders in that early hole en route to the worst home loss in team history.

Russell committed three turnovers – a fumble on the game's first play and an interception that set the Jets up at Oakland's 4-yard line both times, and a pick in the Jets' end zone.

But to hear Russell tell it, his receivers were at fault.

And when the coach said Russell seemed "out of sorts" from the start – "the first play of the game he could not get the formation lined up the right way," Cable added – Russell disagreed.

"The first interception was a matter of a guy coming across my face and getting to the spot," he said. "I tried to get it down but it was too late.

"As far as the second (pick), I thought I gave the guy a chance to make a play on the ball … had a 50-50 chance."

Cable was quick to say this was not about teaching him a lesson.

But still, you have to wonder what Russell will glean from this.

"It depends on him, depends on how he looks it at," said running back Michael Bush. "If he tells himself, 'OK, we need to get going, pull myself up a little more,' instead of getting mad about it or thinking, 'That's not right,' then we'll be fine."

There have been very few success stories of purported franchise quarterbacks rallying back from early-career benchings to light the league on fire with the team that drafted him.

We're still waiting to see how Matt Leinart emerges from his skull session with humility in Arizona, and Alex Smith, based on one half of football with the 49ers on Sunday, seems on the right track.

Maybe that would get Russell's attention.

http://www.sacbee.com/raiders/story/2281226.html

 

[ralaw]

As bad as Russell has been IMO it won't serve the Raiders much putting all the blame on him. This team is just bad and it starts with the owner and goes into the coaching. This is just a bad situation.

 

[kbpsu]

I cant find the video either. I wish you all could see it though. I saw it a few times on ESPN, if I see it again Ill DVR it real quick and try to get it on the computer.

 

[kbpsu]

Heres all I could find:

OAKLAND – For the first time in his football life, JaMarcus Russell was being told he wasn't good enough. That his mere presence on the field was essentially hurting his team. That he was being benched midway through the second quarter in Sunday's 38-0 loss to the New York Jets.

Was he angry? Did he throw a fit on the sideline? Did he plead his case? What, exactly, was his reaction?

"Really," answered a weary Tom Cable, who delivered the news to Russell, "there was no reaction. No reaction."

Wait, what?

Russell, the No. 1 overall pick of the 2007 draft, was told after five series and a 14-point deficit that journeyman Bruce Gradkowski gave the Raiders a better chance to beat the New York Jets and nothing more than a glazed look greeted Cable?

So there you have it. Further proof that Russell still doesn't get it.

No, he should not have thrown his helmet in a fit or cussed out his coach. But he should have done something. Anything to show his displeasure.

Instead, he became more animated on the sideline than he's ever appeared as Gradkowski's biggest, both literally and figuratively, cheerleader. He waved a white rally towel in support of his backup. He sat with him on the bench and playfully went over plays while the defense was on the field.

Good for him in not becoming a bigger distraction than the chorus of boos that accompany him on the field.

Unfortunately, he also still refused to take ownership for his poor play that put the Raiders in that early hole en route to the worst home loss in team history.

Russell committed three turnovers – a fumble on the game's first play and an interception that set the Jets up at Oakland's 4-yard line both times, and a pick in the Jets' end zone.

But to hear Russell tell it, his receivers were at fault.

And when the coach said Russell seemed "out of sorts" from the start – "the first play of the game he could not get the formation lined up the right way," Cable added – Russell disagreed.

"The first interception was a matter of a guy coming across my face and getting to the spot," he said. "I tried to get it down but it was too late.

"As far as the second (pick), I thought I gave the guy a chance to make a play on the ball … had a 50-50 chance."

Cable was quick to say this was not about teaching him a lesson.

But still, you have to wonder what Russell will glean from this.

"It depends on him, depends on how he looks it at," said running back Michael Bush. "If he tells himself, 'OK, we need to get going, pull myself up a little more,' instead of getting mad about it or thinking, 'That's not right,' then we'll be fine."

There have been very few success stories of purported franchise quarterbacks rallying back from early-career benchings to light the league on fire with the team that drafted him.

We're still waiting to see how Matt Leinart emerges from his skull session with humility in Arizona, and Alex Smith, based on one half of football with the 49ers on Sunday, seems on the right track.

Maybe that would get Russell's attention.

http://www.sacbee.com/raiders/story/2281226.html/

The bolded part was what they showed on ESPN, and damn did he look dumb saying it.

Also,

"I don't think it's me personally, I really don't. It's a bad combination of one guy doesn't do something right one time, and he doesn't do... Ya know, it all plays in the play. But I personally don't think it's me. Do you think so? Sometimes. Alright," said Russell.

http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news/sports/pro/football&id=7084399

This was the funniest part. He actually asked the reporter if he thought so... hahaha. This video better be available soon.

 

[Tailback U]

As bad as Russell has been IMO it won't serve the Raiders much putting all the blame on him. This team is just bad and it starts with the owner and goes into the coaching. This is just a bad situation.

It's not his talent that people are questioning here, though, it's his work ethic and leadership - he has none of either.

The guy just doesn't get it. He doesn't understand what it takes to be successful at this level. He's had 3 years to figure it out and he still hasn't realized it, there's no way he ever will.

 

[Goober]

I don't know if I've ever seen a young quarterback regress as much as Russell has this year. He already has as many interceptions this year as he had all of last year.

 

[Sean]

Raiders have so much money invested in this guy, he could atleast buy a clue, or at the least, some Steroids, and maybe a better arm

 

[ralaw]

It's not his talent that people are questioning here, though, it's his work ethic and leadership - he has none of either.

The guy just doesn't get it. He doesn't understand what it takes to be successful at this level. He's had 3 years to figure it out and he still hasn't realized it, there's no way he ever will.

To be honest though the organization overall is just bad and has been going in the wrong direction for years. I understand that Russell is bad, but its not as if he's been surrounded by anything of any value either. It seems to me that the Raiders' players are in "every man for himself" mode, so expecting Russell to step up and take the blame for the organizations failures is asking too much. Russell certainly hasn't developed, but how much of that has to do with the coaching?

The team had the opportunity to draft a playmaker in Crabtree, but they instead go for a track guy who can't catch? There are holes throughout this team and organization, but as a Raiders fan you understand that, but again its just a bad situation all the way around and blaming Russell is just too easy of an out.

 

[Esjay]

Yeah I agree with you ralaw. Russell is completely abysmal I'm not disputing that, but he was doomed from the beginning. Never had a chance as soon as the Raiders drafted him.

Now, does that excuse his laziness? Absolutely not. Just something you have to consider.

 

[Tailback U]

To be honest though the organization overall is just bad and has been going in the wrong direction for years. I understand that Russell is bad, but its not as if he's been surrounded by anything of any value either. It seems to me that the Raiders' players are in "every man for himself" mode, so expecting Russell to step up and take the blame for the organizations failures is asking too much. Russell certainly hasn't developed, but how much of that has to do with the coaching?

The team had the opportunity to draft a playmaker in Crabtree, but they instead go for a track guy who can't catch? There are holes throughout this team and organization, but as a Raiders fan you understand that, but again its just a bad situation all the way around and blaming Russell is just too easy of an out.

I agree with what you are saying in that all the blame can't be put on Russell in regards to the mess that is the Raiders. Al Davis is at fault for the organization's failures moreso than anyone else, but Russell really is so bad that I can honestly say he is directly responsible for make the team on the field worse then it actually is.

His accuracy is god awful, the most inaccurate QB I have ever seen. His work ethic and leadership skills are nonexistent. His attitude is embarrassing. These are things that you can't blame anyone else for. Showing up to camp overweight, not taking the extra time to build chemistry with receivers, dogging it in team workouts, etc. Shit like that is in excusable for any football player, and even moreso for the quarterback and #1 overall pick.

And Russell actually has a very good QB coach in Paul Hackett.

The offensive scheme has changed a couple times for Russell but that really doesn't excuse his piss poor accuracy, work ethic, and attitude in general.

 

[ralaw]

His accuracy is god awful, the most inaccurate QB I have ever seen. His work ethic and leadership skills are nonexistent. His attitude is embarrassing. These are things that you can't blame anyone else for. Showing up to camp overweight, not taking the extra time to build chemistry with receivers, dogging it in team workouts, etc. Shit like that is in excusable for any football player, and even moreso for the quarterback and #1 overall pick.

Its funny though, because what you typed reminded me of the predraft report on him. As my father would say, "you cannot squeeze blood out of a turnip". ....?? Don't ask me what that means, but it makes sense.

 

[Tailback U]

Its funny though, because what you typed reminded me of the predraft report on him. As my father would say, "you cannot squeeze blood out of a turnip". ....?? Don't ask me what that means, but it makes sense.

You should know by now that Al Davis don't give a fuck about no predraft reports homey.

 

[Bear Pand]

bump?

 

[Woy]

JaMarcus Russell = Bronco killa!

 

[Bear Pand]

JaMarcus missed team meeting, but not Vegas

Posted by Gregg Rosenthal on January 5, 2010 4:56 PM ET

Jamarcus Russell and Richard Seymour were the only two Raiders to miss the team's year-end meeting Monday.

Since coach Tom Cable gave Russell a hall pass, saying he was excused for "personal reasons," we weren't even sure the news was postworthy. Now it is.

Going on a tip from a commenter, Oakland Tribune columnist Cam Inman dialed the Palms in Las Vegas to see if Russell was checked in. He was. (Tip to JaMarcus: Use the name "Ron Mexico" next time.)

Russell is free to do anything he wants in his free time. Maybe he even had a legitimate excuse to miss the meeting, then book it to Vegas.

But considering his disastrous season, not to mention his compensation, we'd think Russell would make damn sure he completed his obligations to his team and show up for the meeting like everyone else before hitting the slot machines.

We would say this should be the last straw for Russell in Oakland, but let's be real. The man covering for him Monday, Tom Cable, is a lot less likely to be a Raider in 2010.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.co...-missed-team-meeting-but-not-vegas/?related=1

:yep: still at it

 

[Tailback U]

lmao tom cable doesn't give a shit about jamarcus russell, which i love, but he's probably going to get canned.

i'm really hoping al davis isn't going to fire him just because he doesn't like russell.