Russell has more raw ability then any QB in NFL history.
Does this make him automatically a good QB? Hell no.
But giving a person who has more natural talent then any QB who has ever played the game a min contract just to see if you can get it out of him is a good risk.
Being a failure in Oakland should hardly be reason to say its a hopeless cause.
Does this make him automatically a good QB? Hell no.
But giving a person who has more natural talent then any QB who has ever played the game a min contract just to see if you can get it out of him is a good risk.
Being a failure in Oakland should hardly be reason to say its a hopeless cause.
Him making a successful comeback is as far-fetched as anything we've seen in sports, but you just never know.
If this guy has reached a point in his life where he 'gets it', it's very possible he could turn it around since he's still fairly young...
If this guy has reached a point in his life where he 'gets it', it's very possible he could turn it around since he's still fairly young...
Its a great risk.
He had the greatest combine in NFL history and it was not even close.
He is still over 2 years younger then Brandon Weedon who was a 1st round pick in the last draft in April.
He would be signed at the NFL minimum.
What in the hell is wrong with having a look at a motivated, most raw talent QB in NFL history that is 2 years younger then a QB that was drafted just last year?
I have seen Russell when he was motivated.
He has the most amazing arm I have ever seen.
Saban talked well of his character when he was at LSU.
Saban believes that the right person could push the right buttons and make something of him.
Russell is the blame for many of his own failings but its not like he failed at N.E.
He was in Oakland and when he was pulled his replacements were just as bad or worse then him.
This guy has all the talent in the world which means he is worth a look.
I never understood why everyone thought this guy was so talented. The only real talent I ever noticed was a super strong arm and the fact that he was big and tall which the NFL loves. They is way more then that to make a great QB. He never seemed to be all that fast for a black QB either.
Chop, when you speak of this great combine, what was great about it?
Chop, when you speak of this great combine, what was great about it?
"I can't remember being in such awe of a quarterback in my decade of attending combines and pro days. Russell's passing session was the most impressive of all the pro days I've been to. His footwork for such a big quarterback was surprising. He was nimble in his dropbacks, rolling out and throwing on the run. The ball just explodes out of his hands."
-- ESPN's Todd McShay
Read More: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/mu...cus.russell.hype/content.1.html#ixzz2JPUR068W
"I think JaMarcus Russell to the Raiders scares me. I would have done the exact same thing Oakland did, to be sure. But the formula for early success is a bad one there. So much pressure on him to perform well early, with such a porous offensive line, and who knows what at wideout."
-- SI's Peter King
Read More: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/mu...cus.russell.hype/content.2.html#ixzz2JPUhQLvA
"JaMarcus Russell is going to immediately energize that fanbase, that football team -- on the practice field, in that locker room. Three years from now you could be looking at a guy that's certainly one of the elite top five quarterbacks in this league. ...You're talking about a 2-3 year period once he's under center. Look out because the skill level that he has is certainly John Elway-like."
-- ESPN's Mel Kiper
Read More: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/mu...cus.russell.hype/content.3.html#ixzz2JPUo8n86
"The workout Russell had was Star Wars. It was unbelievable."
Then-Tampa Bay Bucs coach Jon Gruden
Read More: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/mu...cus.russell.hype/content.4.html#ixzz2JPUuw8vu
"He's like a video game. There's not a throw he can't make and there's some he can make I'm not sure anyone else can make. That's exciting. But how many times does that happen in a game, making those long throws. Maybe twice in 16 games. I know seeing someone do that is a scout's dream, but it doesn't happen much. ... He seems very first class, very easy to get along with. No doubt he was a great leader [at LSU]. That's why everybody wants him now."
-- Then-Oakland Raiders coach Lane Kiffin
Read More: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/mu...cus.russell.hype/content.6.html#ixzz2JPVCLIwp
"This year, I can't get over how good and talented JaMarcus Russell is. It just blew me away. If I had the first, second, third, fourth, fifth pick in that draft, I would be tearing apart his personal life trying to figure out whether or not I could trust this kid with $10-million ... From a physical skill set perspective, I've never seen a college quarterback with more ability than Russell. You put the tape on and it's frightening. The only thing that's going to keep [Russell] from being great is him. What it comes down to is you've got to figure out whether or not this kid wants to be the best quarterback in football. If he wants to be the best quarterback in football, he can be."
-- NFL Network's Mike Mayock
Read More: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/mu...cus.russell.hype/content.7.html#ixzz2JPVPfNq5
"I've never seen a kid that big who can sit there and just have people hanging on him and make the throws he can make. He reminds me a little bit of Daunte Culpepper, but a little bigger. I'm sure he's going to continue to be a great player."
-- Houston Texans coach Gary Kubiak
Read More: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/mu...cus.russell.hype/content.8.html#ixzz2JPVYKeOK
if this guy "gets it" finally, and there was even a chance he could finally fulfill some of his potential, you would think it would have to be with a team with a solid coach and atmosphere, like a new england, or baltimore, green bay, pittsburgh, Giants, somewhere like that....doubt he could "find it" amid all the dysfunction in NY right now....
Shows how dumb the Raiders were. Can anyone remember a more "sure thing" wide receiver if there is such than Calvin Johnson? In my opinion, wide receiver is the toughest position to project to the NFL and usually, even great wide receivers may take a couple years to start to flourish but Calvin Johnson was regarded as such a can't miss prospect at a position where that term doesn't exist. he had a horrible quarterback at Georgia Tech in a run oriented offense but still put up numbers.
All Jamarcus had was size and a big innacurate arm. When the guy says 2 sentences, it isn't clear as day if you need to translate it. Throw in work ethic concerns and intelligence concerns, come on.
I am just more shocked they passed on calvin johnson esp. since he has the "flash" that dumbass Al Davis likes.
All Jamarcus had was size and a big innacurate arm. When the guy says 2 sentences, it isn't clear as day if you need to translate it. Throw in work ethic concerns and intelligence concerns, come on.
I am just more shocked they passed on calvin johnson esp. since he has the "flash" that dumbass Al Davis likes.
