Raiders release former No. 1 pick JaMarcus Russell

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=5168757

I would say that someone else will give him a chance, but I'm really not so sure that will happen. I guess it's possible that he never got the right coaching in Oakland.

Good riddance, big guy. Enjoy your $39 million.

You could make that claim considering he was #1 and Ryan Leaf was #2

He was a #2 pick, but started less than 10 games in his career. Detroit has picked some pretty overrated WRs over the years.

At QB, though Russell and Leaf are now in a class by themselves.

You are forgetting about the wonderful world of Boz

I'd have to put Russell 1st, not just because he didn't end up being a franchise QB, but I don't ever recall a QB being handed so much and putting in such little effort. Ever seen a non-lineman get to the NFL, be named starter, and proceed to put on 40-50 pounds of FAT??

and had a terrible work ethic.

they need another QB.

By all accounts he was an extremely lazy and stupid bastard. Still though, he's set for life, just for sucking. Fucker.

A Notre Dame team that had been overrated the entire year. I know Russell had a good senior season and all, but iirc it was that game that got people talking about him being the #1 overall pick. It never made sense to me.

Before that game everybody figured Brady Quinn to be the first QB taken--but one great game and suddenly Russell is not only the top QB but also the top pick.

Of course, it was a bad year for QBs in general, so that helped him too.

...then he showed up at NFL camp out of shape, and yet the raiders still took him.

For a little humor at how much these guys know..
http://youbeenblinded.com/revisiting-mel-kipers-jamarcus-russell-prediction/5489

"You’re talking about a 2-3 year period once he’s under center. Look out because skill level that he has is certainly John Elway like.”

You have to shell out a ton of money, and the track record is not all that great.

A team is much better off taking a pass rusher or an OL number one overall.

Joe Montana, Tom Brady, and Kurt Warner, all low rounds or not drafted at all. All won at least one SB. All went to multiple SBs. All heading to the HOF.

Yeah, and look at what's-his-name out of Georgia...Stafford...no indication he is gonna be anything more than medicore. Best to take someone lower who has potential and you can work with...even the best college quarterbacks need a lot of work to make it in the pros...far too many are just thrown out there right away.

Like Peyton Manning. However, overall I agree with your point. I submit a team is best off when it chooses the best athlete available that year, whatever the position. Linebacker, running back, tackle, safety; take the best football player with the number one pick, and find a way to get that talent on the field. Sometimes, very rarely but sometimes, the best football player in a year is a quarterback.

Gambling is great fun, but number one picks don't come along all the time. It's very unwise to make risky picks in the top ten. The fan base and local media will kill you for it. Still, almost every team can point to a top ten pick who was a bust over the last decade or two.

I wouldn't draft a kicker or a punter in the first round, though, no matter how good they are!