JaMarcus Russell will never succeed in the NFL
Growing up, many of us were told: “Never say never.”
But F-that – JaMarcus Russell will
During the Raiders’ putrid effort in a 16-10 loss to the Chiefs on Sunday, Oakland head coach Tom Cable benched Russell after the quarterback completed just nine of his 24 pass attempts for 67 yards. It was a typical Sunday outing for Russell, filled with accuracy issues, a complete disregard for pocket awareness and zero signs of being prepared.
After the game, Cable refused to commit to Russell as his starting quarterback moving forward and who could blame him? The former first overall pick’s 47.1 completion percentage and 5.5 YPA both rank him 30th in the NFL and he also has a 2:9 touchdown to interception ratio this season. He’s horrible, horrendous – awful.
But numbers aside, Russell will never succeed in this league because he doesn’t care. He misses open receivers and then he stands on the sidelines acting like he’s rotating in and out of a touch football game at a family barbecue. He has zero passion, zero emotion and I wonder if the guy truly even wants to play football or if he just has the occupation because he can throw a ball 70-plus yards.
That said, maybe he does care. Maybe he cares a lot but he knows he’s in a hopeless situation in Oakland and realizes that he’ll never win there. Maybe he’s just biding his time until his contract runs out or the Raiders cut him because he’s so completely inept as a quarterback. Maybe he’ll revive his career in another city playing for another team just like Cedric Benson did when he left Chicago and joined Cincinnati.
The problem with that argument, however, is that it would still mean that Russell isn’t trying to better himself as a player. If he knows he’s in a bad spot in Oakland, there are measures he can take to try and improve his situation instead of just accepting it. He could study more film, he could come to practice early and stay late and he could become a leader – all things that good players on good teams talk about being necessities in the NFL.
Russell certainly has the physical talent to succeed in this league. He just doesn’t have the attitude and desire to want to become successful and therefore, he never will.
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Posted in: NFL
Tags: 2009 NFL Week 10, 2009 NFL Week 11, Chiefs Raiders recap score, Chiefs vs. Raiders recap, Fire Tom Cable, JaMarcus Russell, JaMarcus Russell benched, JaMarcus Russell bust, JaMarcus Russell is a bust, JaMarcus Russell sucks, JaMarcus Russell will never succeed, Oakland Raiders, Raiders, Raiders should cut JaMarcus Russell, Tom Cable
Just another prime example of a system success in College who never put in the time, effort, or work to make it to the next level.
He may be able to throw it to Seattle, but it dont mean much if he’s aming for San Diego.
Doesn’t have all the physical talents required to play pro ball. Being big and having a strong arm aren’t enough….
OAK isn’t a sweet spot for a QB, but he has a good TE (Miller) and good pass-catching RB (McFadden). If he thinks he’s going to flip a switch and become great somewhere else he has another thing coming.
I think the Raiders are just not a top 20 team
and wont be with out someone taking some control
from Davis. To be serious you cant draft everyone who runs a 4.3 if they cant run routes, catch, or stay healthy. Speed is great, but not with out talent. Example Mcfadden/Heyward Bey.
Russel is just another Ryan Leaf, Cade Mcnown, ect… College is not the Pro’s and everyone is fast, big, strong ect…
I agree that Davis is the problem. He can spot talent at times, but he makes horrible decisions in efforts to acquire talent and talent alone and can’t find the right coach to keep everything together.
He’s a loose cannon.
He reminds me of a poor mans version of a post 2002 Daunte Culpepper. ( I just have to find a way to get some Viking link in everything, you understand Anthony)
Ha! You’re going to turn this into the TSR Vikings one of these days Ryan, I know it.